With Holy Week coming, it is time for priests to refresh their memories and look again at the various ceremonies and their rubrics. Given that we will be using the new translation for the first time, it is advisable for all priests to read through the texts and rubrics very carefully because there are changes.
The most obvious concerns Good Friday and the adoration of the Cross (note adoration not veneration). According to the first form, the cross draped in purple, is processed in silence to the sanctuary, and there unveiled with the threefold "Ecce lignum Crucis". The second form consists in processing with the already unveiled cross and stopping for the threefold chant. The cross is not to be unveiled in procession.
Another change which must be noted: the priest, before he adores the cross, must remove his chasuble and shoes - he approaches the cross in his bare/stocking feet: an act of humility. That can only be good.
So, brothers, make sure you don't wear those colourful socks on Good Friday - I would suggest plain, black socks, and make sure there are no holes - nothing worse than a big, ugly toe sticking out for all the parish to see. I think it goes without saying that fresh, clean socks are a must. I would also suggest slip-on shoes, you can be sure that laces will become a problem when under pressure.
That said, I wonder how many of my brothers will follow this rubric, or indeed, how many of them will even know about it? And, in protest, will members of the ACP arrive with doc martens laced up to their armpits?
This is news to me Father. I'll be keen to see if it is observed locally. I suspect not.
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