By Emmanuel Gandu
[“This effort is not only a spiritually based presentation but also a scripturally guided, referenced, and liturgical overview of the fall and rise of a phenomenon.
It’s about a Christ-Centered Movement that impacted the world in a magnitude never experienced before in the universe.
As we savour the moments and activities of the Holy Week, as we walk with Jesus in agony to the cross, as we remain with Christ in the vigil, as we share in the euphoria of the risen Lord, as we remain an Easter people, may we be steadfast in our resolve to be Christians not only in name but also in words, actions, and deeds.
May we be Christ-like.”]
Holy Week is the events of the days leading up to Easter Sunday beginning from Passion (Palm) Sunday.
Considered the holiest and most sacred of all the weeks during the entire church year, Holy Week is the most glorious in Christianity.
It is the pinnacle of the liturgical year, the finale of a journey that was embarked upon by the Prince of Peace in order to save humanity and bring forth the Christian religion.
The Holy Week is an invitation to Christians and indeed Catholics to deeply ponder the betrayal, arrest, passion, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Holy week is an opportunity for Catholics to re-enact, to live out, and to subsume themselves into those aspects of religiosity that makes them Catholic.
Palm Sunday
This is the day in the Holy Week when Catholics receive blessed palm branches to help them recall and re-enact Jesus’ Triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem by a ride on a donkey amid enthusiastic, dancing, and waving palm leaves crowd: Matthew 21: 1 – 11, Mark 11: 1 – 11, John 12: 12 – 19, Luke 19: 28 – 40
Holy Monday
On this day Catholics recall with solemnity Jesus’ visits to his friends in Bethany, and Mary’s anointing of his feet: Mathew 26: 6 – 13, Mark 14 : 3 – 9, John 12: 1 – 11
Holy Tuesday
✓Jesus foretells his betrayal by Judas: Matthew 26: 20 – 25, Mark 14: 17 – 21, Luke 22: 21 – 23, John 13: 21 – 35
✓Jesus predicts his denial by Peter: Matthew 26: 31 – 35, Mark 14: 27 – 31, Luke 22: 31 – 34, John 13: 36 – 38
Holy Wednesday
✓ The Chief priests and elders perfect their plans to arrest Jesus: Matthew 26:1 – 5, Mark 14:1 – 2, Luke 22: 1 – 2, John 11: 45 – 53
✓As Judas makes a deal with them by betraying Jesus with a paltry sum of 30 pieces of silver coins: Matthew 26: 14 – 16, Mark 14: 10 – 11, Luke 22 : 3 – 6
Holy Thursday
✓It is on Holy Thursday that Christians are again reminded of the last supper Jesus had with his Apostles.
On this same day, we remember the institution of the sacrament of the Eucharist, and the Priesthood: Matthew 26: 26 – 30, Mark 14: 22 – 26, Luke 22: 14 – 20, 1Corinth 11: 23 – 25
✓ Jesus washes the feet of his disciples: John 13: 1 – 15
Good Friday
✓ On this day Christians and indeed Catholics remember the arrest, suffering, and death on the cross of Jesus of Nazareth through the solemn prayers and ritual veneration of the cross: John 18: 1 – 14, Matthew 26: 47 – 56, Mark 14: 43 – 50, Luke 22: 47 – 53.
✓ Jesus is sentenced to death by crucifixion: Matthew 27: 15 – 31, Mark 15: 6 – 20, Luke 23: 13 – 25
✓ Jesus is crucified on the cross: Matthew 27: 32 – 44, Mark 15: 21 – 32, Luke 23: 26 – 43, John 19: 16 – 27
✓ Jesus dies on the cross: John 19: 28 – 37, Matthew 27: 45 – 56, Mark 15: 33 – 41, Luke 23: 44 – 49
✓ The burial of Jesus: Matthew 27: 57 – 61, John 19: 38 – 42, Mark 15: 42 – 47, Luke 23: 50 – 56
Holy Saturday
On the night of the Holy Saturday:
✓ The service of light takes preeminence as every Catholic lights his/her candle as the procession leads from the “Fireplace” into the church.
✓ The Easter Vigil Mass is celebrated with the Service of Light where the Paschal candle is lit up in every Catholic Church. This is to symbolize the light the risen Christ would bring forth to the world.
✓ The already baptized renew their baptismal commitment, while the newly baptized share in the Eucharistic celebration.
This exposition is a humble attempt by a lay faithful to contribute to the debate to address the various shades of opinion, views, and perceptions held by the general public about the subject of “Holy Week“ in the Catholic Church.
More importantly, this effort is not only a spiritually based presentation but also a scripturally guided, referenced, and liturgical overview of the fall and Rise of a phenomenon.
It’s about a Christ-Centered Movement that impacted the world in a magnificent magnitude never experienced before in the universe.
As we savour the moments and activities of the Holy Week, as we walk with Jesus in agony to the cross, as we remain with Christ in the Vigil, as we share in the euphoria of the risen Lord, as we remain an Easter people, may we, therefore, be steadfast in our resolve to be Christians not only in name but also in words, actions, and deeds.
May we be Christ-like.
I wish you a peaceful, blessed, and spiritually fulfilled Holy Week
Happy Easter
