Pope plans full schedule of liturgical events for Lent, Easter

January 29, 2013

Pope Benedict XVI will preside at all the usual liturgical ceremonies of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, the Vatican has announced. Although he requires more rest as he approaches his 86th birthday, and a degenerative joint condition has forced him to use a rolling platform during some ceremonies, the Holy Father plans to preside at all the traditional liturgical events of the season. The office of liturgical celebrations has announced that the following ceremonies are on the Pope’s schedule for February and March:

• Saturday, February 2: Mass in St. Peter’s basilica for the World Day of Consecrated Life;
• Monday, February 11: A consistory to release decrees regarding several causes for canonization;
• Ash Wednesday, February 13: The station and procession from the basilica of St. Anselm to that of St. Sabina, followed by the blessing and imposition of ashes;
• Sunday, February 17 through Saturday, February 23: the Lenten Retreat, to be held in the Redemptoris Mater chapel of the apostolic palace, with Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi as preacher and the Pope among those in attendance;
• Palm Sunday, March 24: Mass in St. Peter’s Square, with the blessing of palms and procession;
• Holy Thursday, March 28: The Mass of the Last Supper in the basilica of St. John Lateran;
• Good Friday, March 29: The commemoration of the Lord’s Passion in the Vatican basilica, followed later in the evening by the Way of the Cross in the Coliseum;
• Holy Saturday, March 30: The Easter Vigil in the Vatican basilica; and
• Easter Sunday, March 31: Morning Mass in St. Peter’s Square, followed at noon by the Urbi et Orbi message

 

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Further information:

• Liturgical Celebrations To Be Presided by Pope: February- March (VIS)