Sarah Mitchell
Holy Week is a time of devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ, commemorating the seven days leading up to Easter. It begins with Palm Sunday, which celebrates Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and ends with Easter Sunday, when Jesus rises from the grave. The days in between are known as Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday (or Spy Wednesday), Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday), Good Friday (Holy Friday), and Holy Saturday. This three-day span from nightfall on Holy Thursday to nightfall on Easter Sunday is known as the Triduum.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Days of Holy Week | Palm Sunday (or Passion Sunday), Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday (or Spy Wednesday), Maundy Thursday (or Holy Thursday), Good Friday (or Holy Friday), Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday |
| Holy Thursday | Jesus shares his last supper with the apostles, undergoes agony in the garden, is betrayed and arrested |
| Maundy Thursday | The foot-washing ritual is performed, where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples |
| Good Friday | Jesus' sacrifice is remembered, and he is thought to have died at 3 pm. It is a day of Fast and Abstinence. |
| Holy Saturday | A day of mourning for the Church, it is a somber and reserved day. It is encouraged to continue the fast and abstinence from Good Friday into Holy Saturday, but it is not obligatory. |
| Easter Sunday | The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated. It is the first day of the new season of the Great Fifty Days, or Eastertide. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Palm Sunday
The day is marked by special traditions and Mass readings, and it prepares Christians for Holy Week, and ultimately, Christ's death and resurrection. The Gospels of John and Luke tell of how Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem by crowds bearing palm branches, crying out:
> "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, (even) the king of Israel." (John 12:12-13)
The use of palm branches is highly symbolic, representing peace and victory. In Jesus' time, it was customary to pay homage to those owed great respect by laying palm branches, or even clothes, in front of them. The faithful receive palm branches at the beginning of Mass, followed by a procession, reenacting Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem. The palms are blessed and many people fashion them into small crosses or other items of personal devotion. These may be returned to the church or kept for the year, but they must not be discarded as trash. Instead, they are gathered at the church and incinerated to create the ashes used in the following year's Ash Wednesday observance.
The Good Catholic: A Satisfying Conclusion
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Daily Meditations with the Holy Spirit: Minute Meditations for Every Day Containing a Scripture, Reading, a Reflection, and a Prayer [Imitation Leather] Winkler O.F.M., Reverend Jude (Spiritual Life)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/816pmC4Bq9L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Holy Thursday
According to the Gospels of Luke and John, Jesus broke bread and shared wine with his disciples, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you," and "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." He also washed their feet and commanded them to love one another as he had loved them.
The day is marked by a special Mass in cathedral churches, attended by numerous priests from the diocese. The Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a key element, where the faithful remain in the presence of the Eucharist, mirroring the disciples' vigil with Christ. Catholics may also visit Jesus in the Eucharist at multiple churches in their area, a tradition unique to Holy Thursday.
Divorced Catholics' Perspective on Marriage: A Complex Affair
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Good Friday
The day is marked by suffering and sacrifice. Catholics are encouraged to enter into the Passion of Jesus by participating in the Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday. Many parishes have public Stations of the Cross, and some have a Commemoration of the Seven Last Words. The Service of the Great Three Hours' Agony is held from noon until 3 pm—the hours of darkness that covered the land until Jesus' death on the cross. In the evening, the Stations of the Cross are prayed, as on other Fridays during Lent.
The day is also marked by silence, with church bells muted and altars left bare. The solemn, muted atmosphere is preserved until the Easter Vigil.
Circumcision in Catholicism: Is It a Religious Obligation?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Holy Saturday
In the early Church, Holy Saturday was the only Saturday on which fasting was permitted, and the fast was one of special severity. An absolute fast from every kind of food was observed for the forty hours preceding the feast of Easter. The abstinence from food on Holy Saturday was general, although the moment assigned for breaking the fast at dawn on Sunday varied according to time and country.
The Easter Vigil service begins on Holy Saturday, providing a transition to the season of Eastertide. The Easter Vigil Mass is the first official celebration of Jesus Christ's Resurrection from the dead. This night's vigil is the greatest and most holy of all solemnities in the Catholic Church. On this holy night, the Church keeps watch, celebrating the Resurrection of Christ in the sacraments and awaiting his return in glory. The Easter Vigil does not correspond to the usual Saturday evening Mass and its character is unique in the cycle of the liturgical year.
In predominantly Catholic countries such as the Philippines and Poland, Holy Saturday is marked by traditions such as Święconka, or "the blessing of the Easter baskets". Baskets containing eggs, ham, bread, sweet breads, horseradish, and lamb cakes or butter lambs are brought to church to be blessed.
Who Elects the Pope? Cardinals and Dioceses Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Greek Orthodox Holy Week & Easter Services [A New English Translation]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71N9qpfgafL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Easter Sunday
Holy Week is the week before Easter Sunday, commemorating the seven days leading up to Easter. It begins with Palm Sunday, which celebrates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding a donkey. The people laid palm branches before him, a gesture reserved for triumphant leaders.
Palm Sunday is followed by Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, and Holy Wednesday (sometimes called 'Spy Wednesday', in reference to Judas' betrayal). On Holy Thursday, Jesus shares his last meal with the apostles, undergoes agony in the garden, is betrayed, and arrested. This is followed by Good Friday, a day of suffering and sacrifice, and Holy Saturday, a day of mourning for the Church.
On Easter Sunday, Catholics attend Mass to celebrate Jesus' Resurrection. They may also read the accounts of the Resurrection in the Gospels and spend time in prayer, meditating on the scenes. The day is filled with beautiful flowers and fireworks, and in some cultures, a dance drama is performed, enacting the victory of good over evil.
Unbaptized Babies: Catholic Views on Limbo
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Holy Week is the seven days leading up to Easter, commemorating the Passion, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The days of Holy Week include Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday); Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday), Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday), Good Friday (Holy Friday), and Holy Saturday.
Palm Sunday celebrates Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, the institution of Communion, and the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.
Good Friday is a day of Fast and Abstinence. It commemorates the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus Christ.
