Just finished watching the beautiful, live coverage of Palm Sunday services from the Vatican. I have forgotten why the Latin Church reads the Passion on Palm Sunday. This is a day of joy - the triumphant arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem. The Passion does not take place until Friday, so why those readings today?
I wondered that myself, but it is perhaps due to the fact that Good Friday is not a day of obligation. That way, everyone hears the Passion account prior to mass on Easter next week.
It is still worth going to Good Friday service, though, because that is the only time we read the Passion from the Gospel of John, and because of all the differences between that service and a regular Sunday Mass. The Holy Thursday and Easter Vigil services are different too, and special.
I think it’s because Palm/Passion Sunday is the beginning of the Passion (Holy Week) and Holy Thursday/Good Friday are not Holy Days of Obligation. Not sure so don’t go by me. My 15 yr old asked that today also. Both she and her older sister were in The Passion Play (put on and produced by the teen youth group) so it confused her also.
Someone here may know the correct reason.
A day of joy, yes, and that is recalled in the Gospel at the beginning of Mass with the blessing of the palms and sprinkling of the congregation with Holy Water.
However, were not some of the same people who were singing “Hosanna in the highest” the same ones who a few days later were saying, “Crucifiy him.”
It is so realistic. The Passion according to St. John will be read on Good Friday.
There is no Mass performed on Good Friday, so maybe that’s why. Ans then on Easter it’ s ALL about celebrating the RISEN LORD.