A Recap of Upcoming Changes

The past two weeks, I’ve highlighted some small changes to our masses that will begin next week, February 2, in conjunction with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas. Here, I’ll recap those changes in case you missed their announcements and provide some additional information and context to them.

At all masses beginning on the 2nd, the priest’s chalice will be vested, like the priest himself. The chalice will be “wearing” vestments in the corresponding liturgical color, in the form of the chalice veil and burse. The chalice veil in the Mass represents the veil of the Temple that was torn open as well as the metaphysical veil that hides Heaven from us until we are granted entry to it. The veil stays in place, hiding the full beauty of the chalice during the course of the Mass until that moment when it is time for it to be revealed and put to use. It is a symbol of “almost, but not yet” as we await the fullness of the joy of Heaven but experience a bit of it in the Holy Mass.

Further, it is a parallel to the Book of the Gospels and highlights the two primary halves of the Mass. The first half, called the Liturgy of the Word, has the Book of the Gospels as its main instrument, which is elegantly bound in leather and decorated with artwork on the covers. It is processed in at the beginning of the Mass by the Deacon and placed upon the altar until it is once again processed to the Ambo and then opened up to reveal Christ as the Word of God. The second half of the Mass, called the Liturgy of the Eucharist, has as its main instrument the chalice and paten. It is covered from the start of the Mass by the veil and burse until we reach the Liturgy of the Eucharist when the veil and burse are opened so we can encounter Christ in Holy Communion as the Word made Flesh.

Additionally, once a month at the Sunday 5:00pm Mass, beginning on the 2nd, a different experience of the Holy Mass will be offered by means of candlelight illuminating the Sanctuary, and our musicians utilizing different instruments to provide a prayerful and contemplative atmosphere to accompany us as we journey together to the threshold of Heaven. This once-a-month experience will help foster a deep encounter with the transcendent and beautiful realm above us, provide a respite from the busy world around us, and rejuvenate our hearts, minds, and souls for bearing witness to Christ in the upcoming week. As February 2 is the Feast of Candlemas, this 5pm Mass on that day will also be the time when we bless candles that will be used in our church throughout the year, symbolic of Christ as the Light of the World, as prophesied by Simeon when Christ was presented in the Temple.