Reflection on Palm Sunday - April 5, 2020

I don’t even know how to begin this article.  During this turbulent and unknown time, it is hitting every aspect of life in some way.  While I feel incredibly honored to be able to assist in bringing the Mass to all of you through Live streaming on Facebook, it’s also incredibly sad to be doing that.  Tears welled up in my eyes as I read the latest instructions on the celebration of the Easter Triduum from the Archbishop.  I support and understand the new directives, but it’s just hard to envision it and to realize what we are missing out on this year.  I live in the hope that someday soon we will be celebrating again as one joined community within the walls of our church.  Until then, we will still celebrate as one joined community in prayer during this time, just not in a physical way.  The services during Holy Week may look a little different, but in essence, they are the same as always.  Our Church continues on.

I would also encourage you to participate in our Live Stream events – especially if you are a little hesitant about them.  This is a great opportunity for you to see what Adoration and Benediction ‘looks like’ during the streaming on Fridays at 3pm.  Come see what it is – and pray for a bit.  Don’t be afraid.  Come to the Good Friday service.  See what it is.  Then hopefully, the next time it’s done in the church, you’ll be able to join us comfortably, knowing what is going to happen.  Use this as an opportunity to get to know our faith better!

Today we begin what is typically referred to as ‘Holy Week’.  It is a time set aside by the Church for us to commemorate the events of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection.  I would highly encourage you to pray with us via our Facebook page at as many of the services this week as possible to fully engage in the Paschal Mystery that we are celebrating.  Following are excerpts from the Ceremonial of Bishops, 1984, regarding these services.

Palm Sunday:
On Passion Sunday [Palm Sunday] the Church enters upon the mystery of its crucified, buried, and risen Lord, who, by his entrance into Jerusalem, gave a glimpse of his own majesty.  Christians carry branches as a sign of the royal triumph that Christ won by his acceptance of the cross.  Since Saint Paul says: “Provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him,” the link between these two aspects of the paschal mystery should stand out clearly in the liturgical celebration and catechesis of Palm Sunday.  (#263)

We will be distributing blessed palms in our circle drive at POP from 12 – 2pm on Palm Sunday.  Staff and volunteers will hand out the palms as you drive through.  Please come and pick yours up!

The service on Holy Thursday begins the Easter Triduum – or ‘three days’ in Latin.  

Holy Thursday, 7pm: 
With this Mass, celebrated in the evening of the Thursday in Holy Week, the Church begins the sacred Easter Triduum and devotes itself to the remembrance of the Last Supper.  At this supper on the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus, loving those who were his own in the world even to the end, offered his body and blood to the Father under the appearances of bread and wine, gave them to the apostles to eat and drink, then enjoined the apostles and their successors in the priesthood to offer them in turn.

This Mass is, first of all, the memorial of the institution of the Eucharist, that is, of the memorial of the Lord’s Passover, by which under sacramental signs he perpetuated among us the sacrifice of the New Law.  The Mass of the Lord’s Supper is also the memorial of the institution of the priesthood, by which Christ’s mission and sacrifice are perpetuated in the world.  In addition this Mass is the memorial of that love by which the Lord loved us even to death…[By the faithful’s devotion may they] be able to deepen their grasp of such great mysteries and reflect them more faithfully in the conduct of their lives. (#297)

Good Friday, 3pm:
The wonderful works of God among the people of the Old Testament were a prelude to the work of Christ the Lord.  He achieved his task of redeeming humanity and giving perfect glory to God, principally by the paschal mystery of his blessed passion, resurrection from the dead, and glorious ascension, whereby ‘dying he destroyed our death and rising he restored our life’ (Preface for Easter).  For it was from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth the sublime sacrament of the whole Church.

In contemplating the cross of its Lord and Bridegroom, the Church commemorates its own origin and its mission to extend to all peoples the blessed effects of Christ’s passion that it celebrates on this day in a spirit of thanksgiving for his marvelous gift. (#312)

Easter Vigil, 8pm:
In accord with ancient tradition, this night is a night of vigil for the Lord, and, as the memorial of the holy night of Christ’s resurrection, the Vigil celebrated is “the mother of all holy vigils.”  The Church this night awaits the Lord’s resurrection and celebrates it with the sacrament of Christian initiation. (#332)

This year, due to the gathering restrictions in place, the candidates and catechumens will not be received into the church at this time.  That will be done at a later date when we can all gather together and celebrate the faith of these elect.

Please make every effort to join with us for these times of prayer.  Come and celebrate the mysteries of our faith and the Resurrection of our Lord!