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Holy Week Explained

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27th Mar 2021

Next week is Holy Week, the final build up to Easter. Here is an explanation provided by the Catholic Family Website (https://cathfamily.org/holy-week-explained/)

Holy Week is a wonderful season of services and Masses that enable us to reflect on the mystery of God’s love.

Easter can also make us uncomfortable because it challenges us to reflect on, and acknowledge our own sinfulness. We would rather believe that our weaknesses are acceptable, but this is the whole point.

Easter is the time for a new spiritual discipline; a chance to evaluate and meditate on our own imperfections and stand in awe of the radical love of God who died to set us free.

Palm Sunday (28-03-21)

The Service is slightly longer than a usual Sunday Mass which marks the beginning of Holy Week. We begin by reading a recount of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. Palms are blessed with holy water. This part of the service can take place outside, but if not practical, can take place inside before Mass begins.

The Gospel reading recounts the whole passion story, which is why this day is also known as “Passion Sunday”. Palm Sunday has a bitter-sweet tone. On the one hand the story is upbeat with the crowd joyfully proclaiming Christ as the long-promised Messiah, yet by the end of the week, he is executed brutally.

Holy Thursday (01-04-21)

In the morning is the Chrism Mass where the holy oils are blessed by the Bishop at the Cathedral, along with as many Diocesan priests as available, for use during the coming year.

In the evening is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This includes the washing of the feet. It is the night of Our Lord’s last meal with his Disciples; His torment in the Garden of Gethsemane; His betrayal by Judas, arrest and trial.

Mass is concluded with the stripping of the sanctuary of all decoration (flowers, altar cloth, banners etc) and by the transfer of the Eucharist from the tabernacle to the Altar of Repose (usually a side altar). Everyone is then invited to stay in church for a while afterwards to ‘keep watch’ with Christ, as Jesus asked His disciples to keep watch while he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (known as the Agony in the Garden).

Good Friday (02-04-21)

“It was now about the sixth hour and, with the sun eclipsed, a darkness came over the land until the ninth hour. The veil of the temple was torn right down the middle; and when Jesus had cried out in a loud voice, he said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ With these words he breathed his last.”  (Luke 22)

There are two services; the Stations of the Cross in the morning and the Lord’s Passion at 3pm.

  • Stations: There are a variety of traditions for encountering the Stations of the Cross and there are two approved versions. Most churches observe the tradition of having the 14 stations displayed on the walls of the church, a tradition dating back to St Francis of Assisi). Pope John Paul II instigated the Scriptural Way of the Cross which includes the Agony in the Garden and an optional 15th one for the Resurrection.
  • Celebration of the Lord’s Passion: This is not a Mass but is a communion service with the veneration of the Cross where the people are invited to kiss the feet of Jesus on a crucifix or show some other sign of reverence. The readings again recount the passion of Jesus and there is a sombre mood. The service takes place at 3pm as it is understood that this is the time at which Jesus died.

Holy Saturday (03-04-21)

The Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday is the peak service of the Church calendar and has four parts:

  1. Service of Light: the church is in darkness, the people gather around a large fire from which the new Paschal candle is lit. The light is then spread from person to person until all have a lit candle.
  2. Liturgy of the Word: There are nine readings on this night though some services will use less. They begin with the Creation and retell the story of redemption.
  3. Liturgy of Baptism and Confirmation:This is when new members to the Church are baptised/confirmed.
  4. Liturgy of the Eucharist:The newly baptised members present the bread and wine and make their first communion.

Easter Sunday (04-04-21)

This Mass is all about the Resurrection of Jesus! It is because Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday that Christians call Sunday, ‘The Day of the Lord’. This differentiates Christian tradition from the Jewish Sabbath which is on a Saturday. The word ‘Alleluia’, which has not been said at all during Lent returns as a victory cry!