the paschal mystery

LENT

On Ash Wednesday, the Church begins the Holy Season of Lent: forty days of prayer and penance in preparation for the celebration of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The liturgy of Lent prepares both the catechumens and the faithful so that together they may celebrate the Paschal Mystery. It prepares the catechumens by gradually leading them towards Christian life, and it prepares the faithful by reminding them of the waters of their baptism and stirring them to repentance.

Pope Francis tells us that “Lent is a time to believe, or rather, a time to welcome God into our lives.” Therefore, fasting helps us to be freed from the burdens of life and to allow the Lord to dwell within us. The Pope emphasizes that “Lent is a time to hope,” and for this reason we should “be more attentive to speak words of encouragement - words that comfort, strengthen, console, and stimulate - rather than words that humiliate, sadden, irritate, or demean.” Pope Francis also insists that during Lent, Catholics should practice charity and care for those who are “in situations of suffering, abandonment, or fear.” (Message for Lent 2021).

During the Lenten season, the Church encourages Christians to read the Word of God, take part in the sacraments, and attend spiritual exercises. The Church also teaches that on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, all who have completed their eighteenth year and have not yet reached their sixtieth, and who are not excused for a serious reason, are bound to fast; while all who have completed their fourteenth year are obliged to abstain from eating meat or other foods they especially enjoy.

Lent and Holy Week at Lapsi Church

THE EASTER TRIDUUM

The Sacred Paschal Triduum of the Lord’s Passion and Resurrection stands as the summit of the entire liturgical year. For the work of redemption, by which Christ accomplished our salvation and gave perfect glory to God, was brought to completion above all through the Paschal Mystery: by his death he destroyed our death, and by his rising he restored us to life.

Accordingly, just as Sunday is the foremost day of the week, so too the Solemnity of Easter is the greatest and most noble of all the solemnities of the liturgical year.

The celebration of these most sacred days begins with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday. On Good Friday, in the commemoration of the Lord’s Passion - and, where circumstances permit, also on Holy Saturday - the sacred Paschal fast is everywhere observed.

The Easter Vigil, during the holy night when the Lord rose from the dead, is to be held as “the greatest and most noble of all solemn vigils.” On this night, the Church keeps watch, awaiting the Resurrection of Christ, and celebrates it in the sacraments. For this reason, the celebration of this most holy Vigil is to take place entirely during the night: it should begin after nightfall and conclude before the dawn of Easter Sunday.

Holy Thursday at Lapsi Church

EASTER

The fifty days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost are celebrated in joy and exultation as though they were one single feast day, indeed, as “one great Sunday.” The Sundays of this time are regarded as the Sundays of Easter. This sacred period of fifty days culminates with the Solemnity of Pentecost.

The first eight days of Easter Time make up the Octave of Easter and are celebrated as solemnities of the Lord. Forty days after Easter, the Church celebrates the Ascension of the Lord (traditionally known as Lapsi); however, where it is not observed as a holy day of obligation, this solemnity is transferred to the seventh Sunday of Easter. The ferial days following the Ascension until the Vigil of Pentecost are devoted to preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

The Għaqda Dilettanti Knisja ta’ Lapsi, San Ġiljan takes an active part in the organization of the various feasts celebrated throughout the year, foremost among them Holy Week and Easter, and decorates this church fittingly for these celebrations and throughout the entire liturgical year of the Church.

Eastertide at Lapsi Church and the feasts bringing Easter to a close

lent, holy week and the easter season at lapsi church

At Lapsi Church, the seasons of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter are observed with deep devotion, rich tradition, and a sense of community. These sacred times guide parishioners through the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection, offering opportunities for prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal.

During Lent, it is customary for Lapsi Church to host sacred music concerts that enhance the spiritual atmosphere. Every year, the Spinola Band presents a concert of sacred music and traditional funeral marches, reflecting on Christ’s Passion, while occasionally the St Julian’s Band performs similar programmes. Our voluntary organisation also organises special devotional programmes. A prime example is “Ave Crux, Spes Unica”, held in the Jubilee Year of Hope, an evening of reflection on the mystery of the Cross through sacred music, scripture readings, theological reflections, and spiritual texts. This event combined the beauty of music by Harpist Jacob Portelli & the Cordia String Ensemble with profound spiritual insights, offering parishioners a contemplative journey through the Passion of Christ and the hope of redemption. Musical performances by soloists and ensembles are harmoniously interwoven with readings from the Church Fathers, Popes, and contemporary authors, creating an atmosphere of deep meditation and devotion. These musical events are interwoven with the season of penance and reflection, allowing the faithful to meditate on the paschal mystery.

In Malta, Holy Week traditionally begins on the Friday preceding Palm Sunday with the devotional feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (id-Duluri). At Lapsi Church, this tradition is observed with the ‘Siegħa mad-Duluri’, originally written by Dun Anton Sciberras. This devotion includes readings from scripture, meditations on the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin, and prayer, creating a reflective and intimate atmosphere. The hour of prayer is enriched with sacred music, featuring music by Harpist Dr Lydia Buttigieg and the soprano voice of Rosabelle Bianchi. The devotional hour is followed by a celebratory Mass, uniting the community in prayer and preparing their hearts for the sacred events of Holy Week. 

Palm Sunday begins with the blessing of palms and the reading of the Gospel recounting Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, often at the back of the church near the devout crucifix. Following the proclamation this Gospel passage, a procession continues to the main altar, where the Passion narrative is solemnly proclaimed during mass. This celebration helps the faithful to enter deeply into the story of Christ’s suffering, setting the stage for the sacred days to come.

The highlight of Holy Week at Lapsi Church is Holy Thursday. The Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper commemorates the institution of the Eucharist and Christ’s commandment of love. At the end of this Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is processed to the Altar of Repose. Parishioners participate in the traditional seven visits, spending time in prayer, reflection, and adoration late into the night. 

Good Friday morning is dedicated to prayer and visits to the Blessed Sacrament at the Altar of Repose, which is lovingly decorated by members of the Għaqda Dilettanti Knisja ta’ Lapsi. Parishioners come for quiet adoration and reflection, honouring Christ’s Passion in a prayerful environment. 

Easter Sunday is the culmination of Holy Week and the Christian year. The church celebrates the Resurrection of Christ with joy and solemnity. Mass on Easter morning is festive and often accompanied by sacred music, creating an atmosphere of thanksgiving and celebration. The faithful reflect on the victory of Christ over death and the gift of new life. During the Easter Octave, the eight days following Easter Sunday, the community continues to celebrate the Resurrection with daily Masses, prayer, and reflection, allowing the faithful to enter more deeply into the mystery of Easter. The Octave comes to an end with the feast of the Divine Mercy celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter with Mass, followed by a special adoration.

The Easter season continues with celebrations that commemorate Christ’s Resurrection and the mission of the Church. The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, is especially significant at Lapsi Church and is deeply tied to its history. The term “Lapsi” comes from the Greek Alalapsis, meaning “the Ascension,” and the feast has been celebrated here for centuries. Traditionally, parishioners from nearby areas, including Birkirkara (of which San Ġiljan historically formed part), would visit the church to attend Mass and afterwards would participate in the first swim of the summer season along the coast. During the feast, the church is beautifully adorned, and Mass is celebrated in the presence of the faithful. The celebration is normally enriched by sacred music concerts, such as those performed by the Coro Bel Canto & String Ensemble under the direction Mro Hermann Farrugia Frantz, and sometimes accompanied by marching bands that process through the streets of the historic centre to the St Julian’s Aquatic Sports Club, where the traditional first swim of the season is held. This feast is an integral part of the identity of Lapsi Church and reflects centuries of devotional and cultural continuity.

The Solemnity of Pentecost (Għid il-Ħamsin), fifty days after Easter, commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Mary, marking the birth of the Church and the start of its universal mission. The following Sunday, the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity invites the faithful to contemplate the central mystery of Christian faith: one God in three Persons — and to live in communion, trust, and mission.

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi honours the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Celebrations in our parish include Mass and a Eucharistic procession, pausing at Lapsi church for the parish priest to renew the consecration of the parish to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, observed on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost, highlights Christ’s boundless love for humanity, inviting the faithful to approach Him with trust and live His love in daily life.