Celebrating Liturgical Seasons
Growing by Experiencing the Feasts and Seasons of the Church Year
Holy Week in Three MinutesWhy do Catholics wave palms on Palm Sunday, wash each other’s feet on Holy Thursday, or kiss the cross on Good Friday? In a BRAND NEW version of our classic video (with a bonus extra minute -- because there’s a lot going on this week!), Busted Halo explains the significance of the final week we spend preparing for Easter.
|
|
The Days of Holy Week
Holy Week is the last week of Lent; the week immediately preceding Easter Sunday. It is observed in many Christian churches as a time to commemorate and enact the suffering (Passion) and death of Jesus through various observances and services of worship.
|
Palm/Passion Sunday
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. This Sunday observes the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that was marked by the crowds who were in Jerusalem for Passover waving palm branches and proclaiming him as the messianic king. The Gospels tell us that Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, enacting the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, and in so doing emphasized the humility that was to characterize the Kingdom he proclaimed. The irony of his acceptance as the new Davidic King (Mark 11:10) by the crowds who would only five days later cry for his execution should be a sobering reminder of the human tendency to want God on our own terms. This Sunday is also known as Passion Sunday to commemorate the beginning of Holy Week and Jesus’ final agonizing journey to the cross. |
In Catholic tradition, the conclusion to the week is called the Easter Triduum (a triduum is a space of three days usually accompanying a church festival or holy days that are devoted to special prayer and observance). The Easter Triduum begins Thursday evening of Holy Week with Eucharist and concludes with evening prayers 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.
Holy Thursday
The events that are clustered on this last day before Jesus was arrested are commemorated in various ways in services of worship. These include Jesus' last meal together with his disciples, commemorated by the Mass of the Lord's Supper. In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), this last meal was a Passover meal, observing the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt when death "passed over" the Hebrew homes as the tenth plague fell upon the Egyptians. In John’s account the Passover would not be celebrated until the next day. And while the Synoptics recount the institution of Eucharist during this final meal, John instead tells us about Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet to illustrate humility and the spirit of servanthood. Later that night, as Jesus and His disciples were praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed, arrested and taken to the house of Caiaphas the High Priest. |
|
Good Friday (or Holy Friday)
Friday of Holy Week has been traditionally been called Good Friday or Holy Friday. On this day, the church commemorates Jesus’ arrest (since by Jewish customs of counting days from sundown to sundown it was already Friday), his trial, crucifixion and suffering, death, and burial. Since services on this day are to observe Jesus’ death, and since Eucharist is a celebration, there is traditionally no Mass on Good Friday. Usually, a Good Friday service is a series of Scripture readings, a short homily, and a time of meditation and prayer. The Stations of the Cross commemorate the events of Good Friday. The Way of the Cross: A Prayer for Hope and Healing Amidst a Global Pandemic is particularly appropriate this year. Other virtual Stations of the Cross can be found on our Lenten Season Page. |
Holy Saturday
This is the seventh day of the week, the day Jesus rested in the tomb. In the first three Gospel accounts this was the Jewish Sabbath, which provided appropriate symbolism of the seventh day rest. It is traditionally a day of quiet meditation as Christians contemplate the darkness of a world without a future and without hope apart from God and his grace.
This is the seventh day of the week, the day Jesus rested in the tomb. In the first three Gospel accounts this was the Jewish Sabbath, which provided appropriate symbolism of the seventh day rest. It is traditionally a day of quiet meditation as Christians contemplate the darkness of a world without a future and without hope apart from God and his grace.
Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday
Holy Week for the Rest of Us
In unsteady times, enter into the story of Christ as rest, not obligation.
If the idea of Holy Week, or following the Passion of Jesus through the days leading up to and into His crucifixion and resurrection feel fraught or even tiring, this guide is for you. In these days of suffering and confusion, Christ's story is a steady, deep, and, yes, even rest-full place for us to place our battered souls.
Click here to receive your FREE downloadable PDF of Holy Week: For the Rest of Us, a 40+ page ebook that guides you through the history, meaning, traditions and Scripture readings of Holy Week in readable, everyday language.
|
THE EASTER TRIDUUM WITH DAN SCHUTTE
Composer Dan Schutte created a virtual liturgical celebration of the Triduum in 2020. Visit Dan's website for liturgies for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.
The Church understands these days as being one extended liturgy, not three separate celebrations. The rituals of these days are filled with symbols that capture our imagination: a meal among friends, the washing of feet, a wooden cross, water, light, darkness, fire. Let the music of these days into your hearts. Let the prayer seep into your soul. And savor the images that can open us to the presence of a God who loves us to death.
|
Holy means “set apart.” Christians set apart an entire week - Holy Week - to recall the events surrounding the suffering, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. Find information and activities for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
This page from Loyola Press includes Devotions and 3-Minute Retreats, Activities and Articles to help you to make Holy Week Special. Click Here. |
Online Retreats and Reflections for Holy Week
The Passion of Christ in Iconography
Gospel Narration by Alexander Scourby This video tells the story of the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ told through Christian iconography, including icons from the Monastery Icons collection, as well as icons, frescoes , illuminations and mosaics from the Byzantine churches on Mt. Athos, in Serbia, and medieval churches in Italy and other classical sacred art. The narration is an abridged harmony of the Gospels, read by actor and narrator Alexander Scourby.
|
|
The Death of Jesus: Four Gospel Accounts, is an online, self-paced mini-course written and narrated by Philip A. Cunningham, former Executive Director of the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College, It is a collaborative project of the Center and STM Online: Crossroads.
|
Remembrance (Communion Song) - Matt Redman
|
|
|
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Chris Tomlin My chains are gone
I've been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy reigns Unending love, amazing grace |
He Grew The Tree
sung by Lori Lee-Ray
NOTHING TOOK HIS LIFE WITH LOVE HE GAVE IT.
HE WAS CRUCIFIED ON A TREE THAT HE CREATED. WITH GREAT LOVE FOR MAN GOD GAVE WITH HIS PLAN. HE GREW THE TREE SO THAT WE MIGHT GO FREE. This song was written by Chuck Lawrence in 1982 and
recorded by Barbara Mandrell. |
|
Holy Week Playlist
|