DENVER CATHOLIC | MARCH 12-25, 2016 9
A GUIDE TO
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in Lan-
HOLY WEEK
Catholics have honored the last week of Jesus’ life since the Apostles.
Holy Week, stretching from Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday, is a time
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ecrated
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to reflect on all that Jesus suffered for us. It is a time to worship him
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s. PHOTOS as our king, and remember the light he brings to a dark world.
ATHOLIC
PALM SUNDAY THE TRIDUUM
The beginning of Holy Week.
Throughout this week, the One liturgical day in which we relive Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. We observe three special liturgies:
congregation plays the part
of the people who welcomed
Jesus as king, realized he
MASS OF THE GOOD FRIDAY MASS OF THE
wasn’t the king they thought he LORD’S SUPPER OF THE LORD’S RESURRECTION OF
would be, and crucified him. (HOLY THURSDAY) PASSION THE LORD (EASTER)
• Rode into Jerusalem on • Participated in the Passover/ • Was betrayed and abandoned
a donkey, fulfilling Old Last Supper with his disciples by his friends and followers
Testament prophecies
WHAT JESUS DID
• Washed the disciples’ • Was scourged, crowned
• Established himself feet (again, not the with thorns and mockingly
as king. The people king they expected) hailed as a king
accepted this by
• Instituted the Eucharist • Made to carry his cross,
waving palms and
and new priesthood with a little help from
reciting Psalm 118,
Simon of Cyrene
which they would • Went to Gethsemane;
do for a king experienced Agony • Was crucified under a plaque
in the garden that read “King of the Jews”
• Rose from the dead
• Is betrayed by Judas • Darkness fell over Jerusalem
and arrested • Appeared to Mary
• Died and descended
Magdalene and others
• Heals a slave into Hell
• Have a special • With a joyful Mass, with • No sacraments, unless • Gather in the dark,
reading gratitude for the Eucharist it’s an emergency symbolizing the darkness
about his of the tomb and our sin
• Instead of a • Empty tabernacle and
entry into
final blessing, undecorated Church • Priest lights a fire and
Jerusalem
we have blesses it. We follow the
• Candles are only lit when
• Wave palm Adoration candle, like the Israelites
the Eucharist is present
HOW WE HONOR IT
fronds following the pillar of fire
• Priest strips
• Silent and solemn
• Sing psalms and and washes • Deacon sings the Exultet
procession for liturgy
hymns about the altar prayer, which is structurally
Christ the King • Read the Passion similar to what Jesus would
• All
according to St. John have prayed at the Last Supper
decorations
are • Pray for everyone through • Have nine readings and
removed Solemn Intercessions eight Psalms, which show
or shrouded the story behind the
• Receive the Eucharist,
Salvation Jesus won for us
• All candles extinguished, consecrated the day before
symbolizing darkness • During the Gloria,
• Venerate the
lights come on and we
• We have now moved from cross by kissing
decorate the Church to
the Last Supper to sitting it, kneeling
symbolize Jesus rising
with Jesus during his Agony before it, etc
• Those coming into the
Church are Baptized and
Confirmed. We all renew
our Baptismal promises
