+ La Settimana Santa +

Here are some picture of the Holy Week celebrations in Rome. It is difficult to summarize or explain how it felt to be in Rome for this very special week during which we are all invited to participate, thanks to the liturgy of the Church, to the death and Resurrection of our Lord. The Spirit intercedes during this Week in very intimate ways, with sighs often too deep for words.

+ Palm Sunday +

Holy Week started at St. Paul’s with an ecumenical procession with our Catholic and Romanian Orthodox brothers and sisters.

+ Holy Monday+

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On Holy Monday the Anglican Centre organized an ecumenical vigil of prayer. It was a prayerful moment that allowed us to enter into the mystery of this holiest week.

You can watch the video of the service by clicking on the following link: https://fb.watch/cJ0ocXW0Sv/

+ Holy Tuesday +

On Holy Tuesday a Chrismal Mass was celebrated at All Saints’ Anglican Church on the Via del Babuino. All Saints’ is the Church of England parish in Rome. Bishop Hamid celebrated and Archbishop Ian Ernest, Director of the Anglican Centre was also present. Many clergy of the Diocese in Europe were also present to renew their ordination vows.

You can watch the service on the Facebook Page of All Saints’ Anglican Church.

https://www.facebook.com/allsaintschurchrome

+ Holy Wednesday +

A Tenebrae Service was held at the St. Paul’s but I sunk so much into the prayerful atmosphere that I didn’t take any picture..!

+ Maundy Thursday +

On Maundy Thursday we celebrated the Last Supper of our Lord at St. Paul’s with the Washing of the Feet. In Rome on Giovedi Santo it is also customary to visit as many churches as possible as they are opened until late at night for the visitors to pray at their Altars of Repose.

Below you’ll see some picture of the nine churches (!) I visited with my roommate Edoardo that evening. Edoardo is Roman and knew exactly which one where particularly stunning! I particularly enjoyed the altar at the Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini. The Altar of Repose (Sepolcri in Italian and reposoir in French) is one of my favorite devotion during Holy Week. I am particularly touched by their peaceful atmosphere of surrender created by the garden and the lights.

“Yet not what I want but what you want.”

+ Good Friday +

On Good Friday, St. Paul’s organized a bilingual (English-Spanish) Via Crucis, followed by a Good Friday liturgy. You can watch the celebration of the liturgy on the following video.

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