Holy Cross Catholic Church
March 24-March 31, 2024
PALM SUNDAY
The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” Matthew 21:9
Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified. On Palm Sunday weekend we have the Blessing and Procession of Palms, and the Reading of the Passion.
Palm Sunday is known as such because the faithful will often receive palm fronds which they use to participate in the reenactment of Christ's arrival in Jerusalem. In the Gospels, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a young donkey, and to the lavish praise of the townspeople who threw clothes, or possibly palms or small branches, in front of him as a sign of homage. This was a customary practice for people of great respect.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. " Matthew 16:24-25
The Triduum, meaning three days, consists of Holy Thursday (Mass of the Lord’s Supper), Good Friday (Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion) and Easter Sunday (Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord). The Triduum, though consisting of three chronological days, is one continuous liturgical day celebrating the revelation of Christ’s Paschal Mystery.
HOLY THURSDAY
Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you." Luke 22:19-20
HOLY THURSDAY – Mass of the Lord’s Supper – 7:00 p.m. We welcome the Passover of the Lord with the Liturgy of the Word, and the celebration of the Eucharist. At the presentation of the gifts, there will be a collection of the Rice Bowls which we have been contributing to throughout this season of Lent.
Holy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, when He established the sacrament of Holy Communion prior to his arrest and crucifixion. Jesus celebrated the dinner as a Passover feast. It was at this meal that Jesus says the words seen in the quote from the Gospel of Luke above that we hear at every Mass.
It also commemorates His institution of the priesthood with "The Greatest Commandment", to "love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34-35) . This establishment of the priesthood is reenacted at Mass with the priest washing the feet of several parishioners. Christ would fulfill His role as the Christian victim of the Passover for all to be saved by His final sacrifice.
GOOD FRIDAY
He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24
On Good Friday The Celebration of the Passion and Death of the Lord is at 3:00 p.m. We prostrate ourselves in silence. We listen to the Liturgy of the Word and Passion; we make intercessions for the whole world. We venerate the Cross and receive Communion reserved from last evening’s Mass. There will be a special collection for the Holy Land. (The Church will remain open all day for prayer). Today is a day of fast (ages 18-59) and abstinence (14 years and over). We will pray the Stations of the Cross at 7:00 p.m.
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The liturgical observance of this day of Christ's suffering, crucifixion and death evidently has been in existence from the earliest days of the Church. No Mass is celebrated on this day, but the service of Good Friday is called the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified because Communion (in the species of bread) which had already been consecrated on Holy Thursday is given to the people.
Traditionally, the organ is silent from Holy Thursday until the Alleluia at the Easter Vigil, as are all bells or other instruments, the only music during this period being unaccompanied chant.
The omission of the prayer of consecration deepens our sense of loss because Mass throughout the year reminds us of the Lord's triumph over death, the source of our joy and blessing. The desolate quality of the rites of this day reminds us of Christ's humiliation and suffering during his Passion.
EASTER VIGIL
(HOLY SATURDAY)
After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. Luke 23:53
On Holy Saturday we join in the solemn Celebration of the Easter Vigil at 7:00 p.m. (There will be no 4:00 p.m. Mass) We will gather for the lighting of the new fire and blessing of the Easter Candle. We listen to the age-old stories of our faith and sing the first Alleluias of Easter.
BRING A BELL – If you attend the Easter Vigil, please bring a bell from home to be rung when the Glory to God is sung and the Church bells are ringing. We have been focused on the coming of the Kingdom during our Lenten journey. We now celebrate the coming of the Kingdom through Jesus' Resurrection with the Return of Alleluia!
EASTER SUNDAY
THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD
"....He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.” Luke 24:6-7
EASTER MORNING – We celebrate the joy of Easter Day. Masses will be celebrated at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
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Easter is the celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead. His resurrection marks the triumph of good over evil, sin and death. Easter represents the fulfillment of God's promises to mankind, it is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar.
All at Holy Cross Parish
Wish you a Happy and Blessed Easter!