» Enjoy our Liturgical Seasons series of e-books!
Old Calendar: Palm Sunday ; Other Titles: Palm Sunday; Hosanna Sunday; Fig Sunday; Flowery Festival;
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass's colt (Jn 12:13-15)!"
Today we commemorate Christ's entry into Jerusalem for the completion of the Paschal Mystery. In the old calendar before Vatican II, the Church celebrated Passion Sunday two Sundays before Easter, and then Palm Sunday was the beginning of Holy Week. The Church has combined the two to reinforce the solemnity of Holy Week.
The Palm Sunday procession is formed of Christians who, in the "fullness of faith," make their own the gesture of the Jews and endow it with its full significance. Following the Jews' example we proclaim Christ as a Victor... Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. But by our faith we know, as they did not, all that His triumph stands for. He is the Messiah, the Son of David and the Son of God. He is the sign of contradiction, acclaimed by some and reviled by others. Sent into this world to wrest us from sin and the power of Satan, He underwent His Passion, the punishment for our sins, but issues forth triumphant from the tomb, the victor over death, making our peace with God and taking us with Him into the kingdom of His Father in heaven.
Liturgy for Palm SundayThe priests and deacons wear red vestments for Mass. There is a special entrance at the beginning of each Mass, either simple or solemn. This includes a blessing of the palms and the gospel reading of the entrance into Jerusalem (Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; John 12:12-16; Luke 19:28-40). The introduction by the priest explains the solemnity of Holy Week, and invites the faithful to take full part in the celebration:
Dear friends in Christ, for five weeks of Lent we have been preparing, by works of charity and self-sacrifice, for the celebration of our Lord's paschal mystery. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the whole Church throughout the world. Christ entered in triumph into his own city, to complete his work as our Messiah: to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us remember with devotion this entry which began his saving work and follow him with a lively faith. United with him in his suffering on the cross, may we share his resurrection and new life.
The palms are blessed with the following prayer:
Almighty God, we pray you bless these branches and make them holy. Today we joyfully acclaim Jesus our Messiah and King. May we reach one day the happiness of the new and everlasting Jerusalem by faithfully following him who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
As the faithful, we remember and dramatize Christ's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey. In Jesus' time, a huge crowd assembled, put their cloaks or branches on the ground, and waved palm branches, acclaiming Christ as the King of Israel, the Son of David. We now wave our palm branches and sing as the priest enters the church:
Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
These words of praise are echoed every day at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Sanctus (Holy, Holy).
Our joy is quickly subdued. We are jolted to reality and see the purpose of Christ coming to Jerusalem by the reading of the Passion at the Gospel. (Written by Jennifer Gregory Miller)
Things to Do:
The Station at Rome is in the church of St. John Lateran which represents the Holy City Jerusalem which Christ and we, His disciples, have just entered. It is the first cathedral of Rome, where Emperor Constantine allowed the Pope to set up the episcopal chair after 312.
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Not . . . something to be grasped. (Philippians 2:6)
Today is one of the most important days of the year. Its a day to fix our eyes on Jesus and watch him empty himself on a cross—for us and for our salvation. Its a day to honor the One whose entire life was one of giving, not grasping, one of healing and restoration, not division and rivalry. Its a day to praise Jesus for overcoming sin and death through his act of pure, sacrificial love.
By his humility and obedience, Jesus has undone Adams prideful attempt to become God—and every attempt that all of Adams children have made ever since. He has shown that the way to heaven is not by grasping for ourselves and striving against one another. Its not something we earn, and its not a kingdom we conquer. No, Jesus death on the cross proves that the way to heaven is one of receiving graciously instead of possessing selfishly.
This can sound so grandiose and heroic that we might think its out of our reach. But nothing can be further from the truth. God sees every act of self-sacrifice, every decision to put someone elses needs ahead of ours, every decision to empty ourselves. When we give up time to help our child with yet another math problem, God sees it. When we listen carefully to a spouse who tells us about her difficult day at work, even if ours was no better, God sees it. When we put down our car window and offer some food or money to a homeless person, God sees it. He sees them all, and he rewards them.
Every single act of self-giving is a reflection of the cross. And because of that, every act of self-giving warms our Fathers heart and moves him to raise us up a little bit more—just as he did for Jesus.
So fix your eyes on Jesus today, and let his self-giving love move you to be more like him.
Thank you, Jesus, for your cross! Lord, teach me to follow your path of love.
Mark 11:1-10
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24
Mark 14:115:47