From the Friars: Holy Week

On Palm Sunday each year, my punning pastor was fond of preaching to the parish, “Remember, what Our Lord Jesus did during Holy Week, because we are all wholly weak.” It was an important reminder that this is the holiest week of the year, and that we are all sinners in need of salvation. It’s not possible to discuss with one page of prose these High Holy days, so I submit this pithy, poetic primer instead:

What are some of the sights and sounds; the smells, tastes and touches which we experience in the beautiful liturgies of Palm Sunday and the Easter Triduum?

Covered Statues and Stripped Altars. Intrigue. Peter in Tears. “My People, what have I done to you, answer Me?” Bronze Bells bellowing, “Gloria”. Cracking Clackers queuing Processions. Loneliness. Encroaching Darkness and the Light of Christ. Hypocrisy. Children singing, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” and Crowds shouting, “Crucify Him!” Plunged Paschal Pillars purifying Pools. Myrrh. Mourning Magdalene. Murder. Mercy. Sweet smelling Easter Lilies and the smell of Death. Mary in Silence. Nails and Thorns. John lying at the Breast of Jesus. Shrouded Mysteries and Mysteries of the Shroud. “This is the Night…when things of Heaven are wed to those of Earth.” “My, God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?” Falling and Rising. A Moon veiling the Sun. A Tomb unveiling the Risen One. “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” The Thief stealing Paradise. The Friend betrayed by a Kiss. The Banquet of Love and the Mock Trial. “I Thirst.” Washed Feet and Charcoal Fires. Catechumenal Oil. Sweat as Blood and Blood and Water. Prophecies fulfilled and false Prophets. Pilate perplexed. Passion. Pain. Glory. Stumbling Saints. Soaring Sinners. An Untorn Tunic woven Top-down. A Sanctuary Veil torn in two. Empty Tabernacles—“They have taken the Lord,…and we do not know where they put Him.” “Surely, it is not I, Lord?” “It is as you have said.”

Won’t you join us for the powerful liturgies of this Holy Week? Remain in prayer during this Passiontide.

Jesus saved us in Holy Week, because we are all wholly weak.

–Fr. Andrew