Now it begins… Now it all Begins: Holy Week

Catholic Online ^ | 4/5/09 | Deacon Keith Fournier

[tcg]

Good Liturgy is not a reenactment of something that happened over 2000 years ago but an actual participation in the events themselves. They are timeless and made present in our Liturgical celebrations and our reception of the Sacraments. Every Liturgy is an invitation to enter into the sacrifice of Calvary which occurred once and for all. It is re-presented at every Altar in every Holy Mass. Our Holy Week invites us to participate in the timeless Paschal Mystery, the saving life, suffering, passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Over the course of this Holy Week we attend the Last Supper and receive the gift of the Holy Eucharist, the Body, Blood Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. We enter into the deep meaning of the Holy priesthood and are invited to pour ourselves out like the water in the basins used to wash feet on Holy Thursday. We are asked with the disciples in the Gospel accounts we hear proclaimed to watch with the Lord and to enter with him into his anguish by imitating His Holy surrender in his Sacred Humanity in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Through the stark and solemn Liturgy of the Friday we call “Good”, we stand at the Altar of the Cross where heaven is rejoined to earth and earth to heaven, along with the Mother of the Lord. We enter into the moment that forever changed - and still changes – all human History, the great self gift of the Son of God who did for us what we could never do for ourselves by in the words of the ancient Exultet, “trampling on death by death”. We wait at the tomb and witness the Glory of the Resurrection and the beginning of the New Creation.

[tcg]

This week is Holy not only because of what we remember but because of what it can accomplish within each one of us as we give our voluntary “Yes” to its’ invitation.

[Mercat]

I love Holy Week... especially Good Friday. Started today though with a retired priest as celebrant who had that sort of constant whine of “caring” in his voice and spoke louder than and out of sync with the congregation. Our pastor has been telling us that he has his job - and we have ours and he isn’t going to do our responses anymore. It’s really very nice. But Father Dennis didn’t get the memo. Old drama queen my husband called him.

[Guns]

Did the U.N authorize this ? Wouldnt want it to conflict with any Islamic holidays.

[ex-snook]

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

[Salvation]

Now it begins… Now it all Begins: Holy Week
Spy Wednesday
Holy Week

Holy Week in the Catholic Tradition
Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil
Good Friday
Holy Thursday
Tenebræ

Holy Week and the Triduum
Passiontide and Holy Week
Why Do We Call it the Passion?
The Easter Triduum: Entering into the Paschal Mystery
Cardinal Arinze on How to Live Holy Week - Urges Spirit of Faith and Gratitude

We Will Relive the Passion, Death and Resurrection [Audience with Pope Benedict XVI]
Holy Week Recovers Celebration of Penance (at St. Peter's Basilica) - photos!
History of Holy Week (rooted in the 2nd century)
Holy Week Starts Today - Hosanna to the King of Kings!
The Meaning of Holy Week

[Ciexyz]

Here's hoping the blessings of Palm Sunday stay with us throughout Holy Week.

[cmj328]

Good Liturgy is not a reenactment of something that happened over 2000 years ago but an actual participation in the events themselves.

Bears repeating.