Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Johanne Prosper
Published on 2024-03-31 14:30:59
“To be consecrated is to let oneself be acted upon by God in order to respond to His call. We are all consecrated through our baptism”: this was emphasized by the bishop of Port-Louis, Bishop Jean-Michaël Durhône, during the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday which he presided over for the first time in the Saint-Louis Cathedral, with co-celebrants including the emeritus bishop, Cardinal Maurice Piat, and the vicar general, Father Georgy Kenny.
This solemn mass, which took place in the presence of a large crowd of faithful, is an annual opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of priesthood and the institution of the Eucharist. On this occasion, all the priests of the diocese gather around their bishop to renew their priestly promises. The Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday is also the celebration during which the bishop blesses the Holy Oils – the Oil of the Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick, and the Sacred Chrism. These Holy Oils will be used for the administration of the sacraments until the next Holy Thursday.
Tribute to Cardinal Piat
Bishop Durhône took the opportunity to once again pay tribute to Cardinal Piat for his 32 years of episcopate at the helm of the diocese of Port-Louis. Quoting the Gospel of the Day from Saint Mark in which Christ proclaims, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; He has consecrated me by anointing,” Bishop Durhône declared that consecration is always “for a mission.” “The Spirit of the Lord has sent me to bring Good News to the poor…”
In parishes in the evening of Holy Thursday, the commemoration of the Lord’s Last Supper took place, including the episode of the washing of the feet. A touching gesture of charity that reveals to the faithful that the Promised Messiah did not come to be served, but to serve…
The 14 Stations
The next day, Good Friday, was the day of the commemoration of the Passion of Christ, from his arrest to his suffering on the Cross until his death. For this occasion, the faithful meditated on the Way of the Cross – in 14 stations – traveled by Christ until His last breath on the cross.
Yesterday, Holy Saturday, was the Easter Vigil in the parishes. Before the celebration of Easter, the resurrection of Christ, with grandeur at the end of the 40 days of the Christian Lent. And this Sunday, large crowds are still expected in churches to celebrate this most important Christian feast in the liturgical calendar.”
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
