The Vatican reminds the bishops of the guidelines of Holy Week during the pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic approaches its first full year, the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments reminded bishops that the guidelines issued last year to celebrate Holy Week and Easter liturgies would still apply this year. . Local bishops have yet to decide the best way to celebrate this important week of the liturgical year in ways that are fruitful and beneficial for the people entrusted to them and that respect "the safeguarding of health and what is prescribed by the authorities responsible for the common good", the congregation said in a note published Feb.17. The congregation thanked the bishops and episcopal conferences around the world "for having responded in a pastoral way to a rapidly evolving situation during the year". “We are aware that the decisions taken have not always been easy for pastors or lay faithful to accept”, reads the note, signed by Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the congregation, and by Archbishop Arthur Roche, secretary. "However, we know they have been taken with the aim of ensuring that the sacred mysteries are celebrated in the most effective way possible for our communities, with respect for the common good and public health," he added.

This year, there are many countries under strict lockdown conditions, making it impossible for the faithful to attend church, while in other countries, "a more normal model of worship is recovering," he said. Because of the many different situations, the congregation stated that it wanted to "offer some simple guidelines to help bishops in their task of judging concrete situations and providing for the spiritual well-being of pastors and faithful". The congregation said it recognized how social media helped pastors offer support and closeness to their communities during the pandemic and yet "problematic aspects" were also observed. However, “for the celebration of Holy Week, it is suggested to facilitate and encourage the media coverage of the celebrations presided over by the bishop, encouraging the faithful who cannot attend their own church to follow the diocesan celebrations as a sign of unity. Adequate aid for families and personal prayer should be prepared and encouraged, he said, including making use of parts of the Liturgy of the Hours.

The bishops, in conjunction with their episcopal conference, should pay attention to "some particular moments and gestures, in accordance with health needs", as quoted in Cardinal Sarah's letter "Let us return to the Eucharist with joy!" published in August 2020. That letter said that as soon as circumstances permit, the faithful must "resume their place in the assembly" and those who have been "discouraged, frightened, absent or not involved for too long" must be invited and encouraged to return. However, the necessary "attention to hygiene and safety rules cannot lead to the sterilization of gestures and rites, to instill, even unconsciously, fear and insecurity in the faithful", the cardinal warns in the letter. The note released on February 17 states that the decree of the congregation issued by papal mandate in March 2020 with the guidelines for the celebration of Holy Week was also valid this year. Suggestions in the "Decree at the time of COVID-19" included: A bishop may decide to postpone the celebration of the Chrism Mass as it is not formally part of the Triduum, which are the evening liturgies of Good Thursday, Good Friday and Easter .

Where public masses have been canceled, bishops, in accordance with their bishops' conference, should ensure that Holy Week liturgies are celebrated in the cathedral and parish churches. The faithful should be informed of the times of the celebrations, so that they can pray at home at the same time. Live television or Internet broadcasts - not recorded - are useful. The congregation also said that bishops should advise the faithful of the timing of the celebrations, so that they can pray at home at the same time. On Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord's Supper is celebrated in the cathedral and in the parish churches even in the absence of the faithful. The washing of the feet, already optional, must be omitted when there are no faithful present and the traditional procession with the Blessed Sacrament is also omitted at the end of the Mass with the Eucharist placed directly in the tabernacle. For the celebration of the Easter Vigil without the faithful present, it was said, the preparation and lighting of the fire is omitted, but the Easter candle is still lit and the Easter announcement "Exsultet" is sung or recited. Processions and other traditional expressions of popular piety around the world during Holy Week can be transferred to another date.