Posted on 03/15/2008 11:42:59 PM PDT by Salvation
NAMES — In the Greek Church Holy Week bears the solemn title the "Sacred and Great Week" (He hagia kai megale hebdomas). In the Latin Church the official term is the "Greater Week" (hebdomada major). The popular names are "Great Week" among the Slavic nations, and "Holy Week" in other countries. The German name Karwoche means "Week of Mourning." In ancient times Holy Week was also called "Week of Remission," since the public sinners were absolved on Maundy Thursday. Another name was "Laborious Week" (semaine peineuse) because of the increased burden of penance and fasting. The faithful of the Eastern Churches also call it the "Week of Salvation."
OBSERVANCE — From the very beginning of Christianity it has always been devoted to a special commemoration of Christ's Passion and death through the practice of meditation, prayer, fasting, and penance. After the great persecutions, the Christian emperors of both the East and West Roman Empires issued various decrees forbidding not only amusements and games, but also regular work in trade, business, professions, and courts. The sacred days were to be spent free from worldly occupations, entirely devoted to religious exercises. Every year during Holy Week an imperial edict granted pardon to a majority of those detained in prison; in the courts many charges were withdrawn in honor of Christ's Passion.
Following this custom, kings and rulers in medieval days retired from all secular business during Holy Week to spend the time in recollection and prayer, often within the seclusion of a monastery. Farmers set aside their plows, artisans their tools, schools and government offices closed, and courts did not sit. Popular feeling caused the banning not only of music, dancing, and secular singing but also of hunting and any other kind of sport. It was truly a "quiet" and "holy" week even in public life.
The Sacred Triduum of Holy Week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) was a time of holyday obligation all through the Middle Ages. The Christian people, freed from servile work, were all present at the impressive ceremonies of these days. Due to the changed conditions of social life, however, Pope Urban VIII, in 1642, rescinded this obligation. Since then the last three days of Holy Week have been classified as working days, despite the sacred and important character they bear, which was powerfully stressed by the renewal of the liturgical order of Holy Week in 1955.
EASTER CLEANING — According to an ancient tradition, the three days after Palm Sunday are devoted in many countries to a thorough cleaning of the house, the most vigorous of the whole year. Carpets, couches, armchairs, and mattresses are carried into the open and every speck of dust beaten out of them. Women scrub and wax floors and furniture, change curtains, wash windows; the home is buzzing with activity. No time is wasted on the usual kitchen work; the meals are very casual and light. On Wednesday night everything has to be back in place, glossy and shining, ready for the great feast. In Poland and other Slavic countries people also decorate their homes with green plants and artificial flowers made of colored paper carrying out ancient designs.
This traditional spring cleaning is, of course, to make the home as neat as possible for the greatest holidays of the year, a custom taken over from the ancient Jewish practice of a ritual cleansing and sweeping of the whole house as prescribed in preparation for the Feast of Passover.
Activity Source: Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs by Francis X. Weiser, S.J., Harcourt, Brace and Company, New York, 1958
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Today, Holy Week is an opportunity for merchants to take in money. Wal-Mart's commercial shows children with their Easter baskets filled with chocolates ! I wonder how many of those children understand the true meaning of Easter.
One of the premier seafood restaurants in Albany, runs commercials this week recommending that you "book early reservations for Good Friday". Again one has to wonder if those planning to dine on lobster, fresh oysters and caviar, have even attended Good Friday services.
EASTER CLEANING — According to an ancient tradition, the three days after Palm Sunday are devoted in many countries to a thorough cleaning of the house, the most vigorous of the whole year. Carpets, couches, armchairs, and mattresses are carried into the open and every speck of dust beaten out of them. Women scrub and wax floors and furniture, change curtains, wash windows; the home is buzzing with activity. No time is wasted on the usual kitchen work; the meals are very casual and light. On Wednesday night everything has to be back in place, glossy and shining, ready for the great feast. In Poland and other Slavic countries people also decorate their homes with green plants and artificial flowers made of colored paper carrying out ancient designs.
Yesterday was our day to clean the Church. Do the parishioners clean your parish Church as well?
...traditional spring cleaning....
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In my Catholic school years — grade school and high school — we observed many special Lenten religious traditions, e.g., Friday Stations, during the school day. And my mother, busy as she was caring for her 9 children, always tried to attend Stations during Lent and Holy Thursday and Good Friday services.
But Mother also really took that spring cleaning part seriously. The entire house was thoroughly cleaned from attic to cellar! Of course, my 4 sisters and I eventually reached the point of being able to pitch in.
I have many joyful memories of the liturgies and of the spring cleaning labor.
“I have many joyful memories of the liturgies and of the spring cleaning labor.”
The food. One really appreciates the variety of food and sweets after Lent!
We would (and still do) give the money saved from food to the poor. Friday was always spent at stations of the cross. This year Adoration will be all week until Thursday night. I just love being able to wake from sleep and visit at Church at midnight or 3 in the morning.
Spring cleaning...that was the only time of the year my mother dismantled the chandelier in the dining room for washing. I got to put them all back up. Mmmmph...
I had to laugh when I saw “traditional spring cleaning,” because it isn’t happening at my house. LOL!
Give me another month to six weeks with a new hip! (And I’ll start.)
We did the church cleaning mostly on Monday. All the windows got washed, etc. etc. etc.
But it is something that happenes every year. We do have a spring day of yardwork at our parish to pull weeds and spread new bark dust and plant some annuals.
I figured that one of my hours of Adoration had to be a sacrifice, so I signed up for one of those early morning hours. Not necessarily my favorite, however. (I was also smart enough to sign up on Friday — so I have every First Friday covered!!!!)
I’m looking for Roman Catholics to comment on something I found very odd.
Yesterday’s mass during the reading of the Gospel stated the Jesus Christ was hung between two “revolutionaries”...WHat is THAT all about?
It was in the seasonal missalette. Since when did the two men change from thieves to revolutionaries?
I’m going to post this on other threads with Catholic themes to see if it was just my parish or if others noticed it.
bump to read
This is a New American Bible translation. I'm not very fond of the NAB. I like the Douay-Rheims translation better
Matthew 27:38 "Then were crucified with him two thieves: one on the right hand, and one on the left. "
The Latin Vulgate reads as such:
Matthew 27:38 " tunc crucifixi sunt cum eo duo latrones unus a dextris et unus a sinistris"
latrones means robber, brigand, bandit; plunderer;
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