Church of the Holy Rosary

Worship

Easter Tridium

March 26, 2024 / Ministry, Worship

The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery.

The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season, and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.

The liturgical services that take place during the Triduum are:

  • Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday
  • Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
  • Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord

HOLY THURSDAY

The evening Mass on Holy Thursday is referred to as The Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This is where the Church re-lives the institution of the Eucharist and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Last Supper, as well as the institution of the priesthood, which took place the evening before Jesus was crucified.

After the homily there is a “washing of the feet” ceremony, where the priest washes the feet of others to signify his role as servant—just as Jesus did with His disciples. Extra hosts are consecrated at this Mass to be used on Good Friday on which no Mass will be celebrated anywhere.

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday concludes with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the “altar of repose,” a place where the consecrated Host is kept, away from the main altar where Mass is normally celebrated, remembering Jesus’ request in the Garden of Gethsemane for someone to “watch and pray” with Him.

GOOD FRIDAY

Good Friday is a mandatory day of fasting and abstinence. This is the day of the crucifixion—the day Jesus died for the sins of the world.

The parish altar looks very different on Good Friday: it is plain and bare. There is no consecrated Host in the tabernacle at the main altar of the church; It was carried away on Holy Thursday night to the “altar of repose” to signify Jesus’ death. The candle by the tabernacle is blown out, and the tabernacle doors are left open to show that it is empty. Jesus is gone. This is quite dramatic. It reminds us that Good Friday is a solemn day of mourning and prayer.

The ceremony on Good Friday is not a Mass—it is a Communion Service using the consecrated hosts from Holy Thursday. Good Friday is the only day of the year on which no Masses are offered.

These Good Friday services often take place at 3 PM, the hour that Jesus breathed His last on the cross. Often the priest will begin the service by prostrating himself in front of the altar. Veneration of the Cross usually takes place at this service, in which the priest and the faithful kneel before a cross and kiss it.

HOLY SATURDAY

On this day Christ is in the tomb.

There is no daytime Mass on Holy Saturday. It is still a day of fasting and sorrow before the Easter Vigil begins that evening. We recall, with Mary and the disciples, that Jesus died and was separated from them for the first time as He lay in the tomb. The faithful often continue their Good Friday fast through Holy Saturday.

In the Apostles Creed we pray “He descended into hell” (translated hades, that is, the temporary abode of the dead—not the eternal lake of fire) which describes what Jesus did in the time between his burial and Resurrection. Jesus descended to the realm of the dead on Holy Saturday to save the righteous souls—the Old Testament patriarchs, for example—who died before his crucifixion.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls Jesus’ descent into the realm of the dead “the last phase of Jesus’ messianic mission,” during which he “opened heaven’s gates for the just who had gone before him.” Before Holy Saturday, there were no souls enjoying the beatific vision of God in heaven!

A vigil Mass is held after nightfall on Holy Saturday, in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. This is called the Easter Vigil: the most glorious, beautiful, and dramatic liturgy for the Church.

The vigil is divided into four parts: 1) the Service of Light, 2) the Liturgy of the Word, 3) the Liturgy of Baptism, and 4) the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

This is also the Mass in which many OCIA catechumens are brought into full communion with the Catholic Church.
–GoodCatholic.com

Message from Fr. Baker about Holy Week

March 20, 2024 / Father Baker

Dear Holy Rosary Parishioners,

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, and we begin Holy Week. It is indeed the holiest week of the year, and yet it can be easily lost in the busyness of life. The meaning of the victory of Easter is wrapped up in the defeat of Holy Week. Please make every effort to observe Holy Week both exteriorly by participating in the liturgies of the week as much as possible and interiorly by accompanying Jesus in your hearts through prayer and recollection. It is truly hard to believe that our God would die for us. He did. How does this happen? It happens in Holy Week. Come and see!

The very center of Holy Week is the Easter Vigil. There is no anticipated Mass at 5 p.m. on Holy Saturday. Instead, at 7:30 p.m. there is the heart of the Church’s year: the Easter Vigil. It has to begin in the dark so that accounts for the later time. This one liturgy really contains the entire Mystery of Faith. OK — it is long, but it is so powerful that new Christians and Catholics are born from the Church’s mysteries on this night.

Good Friday is the only day on which Mass is not celebrated. Instead, at 3 p.m. we share in the Passion of Jesus and venerate the Cross of Christ, receiving Holy Communion from the Eucharist which was instituted at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, celebrated the night before, prefiguring the bloody sacrifice of Calvary. In the Holy Thursday Mass at 7 p.m., the new commandment of charity is portrayed in the washing of the feet. We are also invited to watch with Jesus for one hour during his agony later in the night.

Earlier in the week is the Chrism Mass, which commemorates the institution of the priesthood. It is celebrated by the bishop in union with almost all the priests of the diocese. It will be at Sagrado Corazon on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. All of this begins with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday which so soon leads to His death on Good Friday. After a week like Holy Week, Easter makes so much more sense!

Faithfully,
Fr. Baker

Extra Confession Times for Lent Added

February 19, 2024 / Father Baker, Ministry, Parish News

Confession times have been added on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning for the rest of Lent. These are times when many will already be coming to church so I hope that will help. Please plan to come to confession at the beginning of these time periods. At the end of the announced times, I have to leave the confessional 15 minutes before Mass in order to prepare. I ask for your consideration. There is only one of me!

Confession is a time of mercy and of conversion. Please prepare with this in mind. The emphasis is on what God is doing, not on what you have done. There are examinations of conscience available in the rack by the confessional at all times. Please take and keep one in order to prepare yourself for this wonderful sacrament.
Faithfully, Fr Baker

Spanish Mass on Monday

January 30, 2024 / Father Baker, Parish News, Worship

As I mentioned when we launched the Monday evening Mass at 7 p.m. a few weeks ago, I want to try some different things from time to time at this Mass. This Monday, February 5, the Mass will be offered in Spanish. I remember when I was at Holy Rosary as a seminarian and as a newly ordained priest that this parish was the site of the only Spanish Masses celebrated in the diocese at that time. The Hispanic Ministry that grew and developed here ultimately evolved into the Sagrado Corazon community at the Catholic Pastoral Center, and yet we still have parishioners from the days when it all started here. I would like to honor that legacy, as well as to see how we as a parish can respond to the current reality of the growing Hispanic communities, both in language and in culture. 

In different parish assignments over the years, I have been enriched spiritually by these expressions of the Catholic faith. These experiences have also challenged me to grow. To the English speakers who attend the Monday Mass, I encourage you to give the Spanish Mass a try. It is the same Mass, of course!

Adorers still needed for first Friday all night adoration Beginning Friday, december 1st

November 30, 2023 / Parish News, Worship

SIGN UP FOR FRIDAY ADORATION USING OUR NEW ONLINE SIGNUP SYSTEM

As we come to the end of our liturgical year and prepare to begin the new year with the First Sunday of Advent, this is a wonderful time to spend some time in silence, stillness, and solitude before the Blessed Sacrament. We invite you to come prepare for the often busy and hectic holiday season by spending an hour with Jesus reflecting on the Advent message of “Waiting and Hoping” and the cry of all Christian people, “Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus”. Though we await His coming, we believe that the Lord, Jesus does indeed COME to us in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist.

This Friday we will have our First Friday 24-Hour Adoration continuing overnight into Saturday morning. We still have many times without a volunteer and would prefer to have two volunteers for every time due to unforeseen circumstances that may arise.
Please consider stopping by for a visit at any time during the 24-Hour Adoration and if you can, please consider signing up to volunteer for an hour by visiting the online adoration website at https://holyrosarynash.weadorehim.com/ By committing to a spot as a volunteer, YOU make this devotion possible for others to come as they can.

24-HOUR ADORATION BEGINS AFTER THE 7AM MASS ON FRIDAY. THE EUCHARIST WILL BE MOVED TO THE CONVENT CHAPEL AT 4:30PM. ADORATION WILL CONTINUE ALL NIGHT IN THE CHAPEL.

Update from Fr. Baker

November 30, 2023 / Father Baker, Parish News

I want to let the parish know about some very happy news. The priest of the Coptic Catholic community in Nashville, Fr. Saied, is now living here at Holy Rosary. He moved in last week. You may see him around the parish, and you will probably even see him from time to time at Mass. You will be sure to be greeted warmly when you do meet him. Even his name in Arabic means “happy.” It certainly fits him! He has graciously offered to help me with duties in the parish when he is able to, in addition to serving his own community. We welcome him to Holy Rosary.

The Coptic Church traces its roots to St. Mark in Alexandria, Egypt. It is therefore a very ancient Christian community. Most Coptic Christians are Orthodox, but there are also Catholic Copts. This is the community that Fr. Saied serves here in Nashville. The community meets for liturgy in one of the chapels in the Catholic Pastoral Center on McGavock Pike so living at Holy Rosary is very convenient. There are families from Father’s community whose children are in Holy Rosary Academy so we already have many connections. I know that you join me in welcoming Fr. Saied!

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

November 30, 2023 / Parish News, Worship

Friday, December 8th, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation.

The Immaculate Conception means that Mary was conceived without original sin or its stain—that’s what “immaculate” means: without stain. Mary was preserved from these defects by God’s grace; from the first instant of her existence she was in the state of sanctifying grace and was free from the corrupt nature original sin brings.

As Christians, we believe that one day we will all be raised in a glorious form – caught up and rendered immaculate to spend eternity with Jesus. As the first person to say “yes” to the good news of Jesus, Mary exemplifies the hope of the blessings we will all one day be given.

Please join us for Mass on this special solemnity to pray for the intercession of Mary, Immaculate!

Masses on Friday, December 8th
8am / 12 noon / 6pm

Adoration following the 8 am Mass will be in the Convent Chapel until Benediction at 5:30 pm. You may sign up for Adoration using our new Adoration Scheduler, “We Adore Him.”

Sign Up for November first friday 24-Hour Eucharistic Adoration

November 29, 2023 / Events, Worship

Please take a moment to sign up for our parish 24-hour eucharistic adoration beginning tomorrow, Friday, November 3rd following the 7am Mass until Saturday, November 4th before the 8am Mass

Spending time in Adoration draws us into intimacy with Jesus. And as we get closer to him, he gives us the wisdom and strength to serve his Church and the people he has placed in our lives. Please sign up for an hour of Adoration using the link below:

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR AN HOUR DURING OUR 24-HOUR ADORATION

Please note: The Eucharist will be moved to the Convent Chapel at 4:30pm. Adoration will continue throughout the night in the Chapel until the Eucharist is moved back to the Church on Saturday morning. Adoration and confession will continue in the Church until Benediction.