Diocese of Honolulu 2013 Lenten Regulations

All members of the Christian faithful in their own way are bound to do penance in virtue of the divine law. In order that all may be joined in a common observance of penance, penitential days are prescribed in which the Christian faithful in a special way pray, exercise works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their responsibilities more faithfully, and especially by observing fast and abstinence according to the norm of the following canons. (Canon 1249)

All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the universal Church. (Canon 1250)

ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT

All persons who have completed their 14th year are bound by the law of abstinence from meat.

Complete abstinence is to be observed on Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent and Good Friday during the Triduum.

The faithful will not lightly excuse themselves from this obligation. On days of complete abstinence, meat and soup or gravy made from meat is not to be eaten.

FASTING

All adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their 60th year. According to Canon 97, #1, a person who has completed his or her 18th year is an adult.

The day of fast during Lent is Ash Wednesday (Feb. 13) and the day of fast during the Triduum is Good Friday (March 29).

The faithful will not lightly excuse themselves from this obligation.

PENANCE AND GOOD WORKS

The faithful are encouraged during the period of Lent to attend daily Mass, receive Holy Communion, participate in penance services, and receive sacramental absolution; to take part as frequently as possible in public and private exercises of piety, give generously to works of religion and charity, perform acts of kindness toward the sick, aged, and the poor; to practice voluntary self-denial, especially regarding food, drink, and worldly amusements; and to pray more fervently, particularly for the intentions of the Holy Father.

Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, falls this year on Feb. 13. Ashes are to be blessed as a sign of our entry into a season of conversion, repentance, and reconciliation. Ashes are to be blessed by a bishop, priest or deacon only. Others (extraordinary ministers or delegated laypersons) may be associated with the bishop, priests and deacons in the imposition of ashes.

Wedding Masses may not be celebrated on Ash Wednesday, on Sundays of Lent, during Holy Week, or during the Easter Triduum. It is also contrary to the penitential spirit of the season of Lent to request elaborate weddings with an excessive number of bridal attendants and lavish decorations.

Funeral Masses may not be celebrated on Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Saturday, nor on the Sundays of Lent. When pastoral reasons require that a funeral be celebrated on these days, a Funeral Outside of Mass, may be held.

EASTER DUTY

All the faithful, after they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year. This precept is to be fulfilled during the Easter Season unless it is fulfilled, for a just cause, at some other time during the year. This period is extended to include all the weeks of Lent and the Easter Season up to Trinity Sunday (May 26).

DEVOTIONS

To afford the faithful opportunities to participate in Lenten prayer services, pastors are encouraged to have such prayer services at least twice a week. The Way of the Cross is ideally conducted on Fridays. Benediction as part of a Eucharistic prayer service is encouraged. Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours is recommended. Evening Masses with a homily would be most desirable. A homily or instruction should be part of these devotions or liturgies.

BLESSING OF THE OILS AND CHRISM

In order to allow participation of Catholics throughout the State, the Holy Oils will be blessed during the Chrism Mass to be celebrated in several locations. All are encouraged to join in one of the following celebrations:

a. Big Island: Thursday, Feb. 28, 6 p.m., St. Joseph, Hilo.

b. Maui: Tuesday, March 12, 6 p.m., St. Anthony of Padua, Wailuku.

c. Kauai: Thursday, March 14, 7 p.m., St. Theresa, Kekaha.

d. Oahu: Thursday, March 21, 7 p.m., Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, Honolulu.

THE SACRED PASCHAL TRIDUUM

“Since Christ accomplished his work of human redemption and of the perfect glorification of God principally through his Paschal Mystery, in which by dying he has destroyed our death, and by rising restored our life, the sacred Paschal Triduum of the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord shines forth as the high point of the entire liturgical year. Therefore, the preeminence that Sunday has in the week, the Solemnity of Easter has in the liturgical year.” (Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, #18). Three major liturgical principles may be of help here:

a. The Triduum may be viewed a single liturgical action that occurs over a period of three days.

b. The Triduum is not part of Lent, but in its entirety, celebrates the Easter event.

c. The entire focus of the Triduum is on the Triumph of the Cross and the Resurrection.

When pastoral necessity requires it, the local Ordinary may allow duplicate liturgies on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, but not the Easter Vigil.