My family doesn’t travel a lot due to a variety of reason but when we do it’s special. There’s excitement of the anticipation of going to a “new” place or a destination. But it also involves tons of angst and worry. It takes planning to make the trip go smoothly (and by smoothly I mean not a complete ship-wreck). As the kids have gotten older we have been able to travel more and more. Still not super far from home. Usually it’s a couple hours away to visit family and friends.
This weekend we are going to my son’s state basketball for Special Olympics. It’s been an event circled on our calendar for months now. Last year we went too and he got to eat Froot Loops for breaksfast at the hotel. We aren’t staying in a hotel this time but he wanted to keep things like last year and so I pick up a couple small bowls of Tuscan Sam’s favorite cereal. I think it helped with his anxiety. My son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and he can sometimes struggle with change. Consistency is key for him to stay regulated. And I suppose that’s the same for many of us.
We like to stick with what is familiar. To stay in the comfort of our daily routine and to know what to expect. And that is a good. It is good to have a habit and order in our lives. But it is not the highest good. When our need for control overcomes other goods and ultimately the highest Good (who is God) that is when it begins a problem.
I am writing this reflection on Palm Sunday, the start of the most important week of the liturgical calendar: Holy Week. The Cathoilic Church in Her wisdom has guided the faithful in preparing for this week during all of Lent. Lent is a time to fasting, increase our prayer, and be generous with our time, talents, and treasures. And we are called to an even deeper penance this Holy Week.
I think it is fitting that I am traveling while writing (I’m in the passenger seat so don’t worry) and it’s on Palm Sunday. As Catholics we are called to enter into the Mysery of the Lord’s Paschal Mystery.
Editor’s note: Article originally published on April 1, 2021.
Holy Thursday is a celebration of The Last Supper Jesus had with his Apostles before his death on the Cross. Matthew, Mark, and Luke contain narratives of this event in their Gospels. The Gospel of John gives a different account where Jesus washes the feet of his Apostles. During the Mass on Holy Thursday the priest washes the feet of parishioners as a sign of service.
This liturgical feast is one of my favorites in the entire church calendar. The institution of the Eucharist takes place on Holy Thursday. I also find the washing of feet as a profound gesture of love and service. Finally, the conclusion of the Mass sets up the stage for Good Friday― Jesus’ Death on the Cross.
Editor’s Note: Post originally published for Palm Sunday in 2023.
Palm Sunday Liturgy was long but fruitful (and funny due to my kids’ antics) Mass.
I have had to learn how to boil down the truths of our faith in simple and digestible ways for my kids to understand.
They help me grow as a teacher of our Catholic faith (it helps that I have a Master’s Degree in Theology 🙂).
Here’s a glimpse into the theology and (face)palming I experienced today as detailed via a Tweet-thread. Enjoy!
The context for this bit-o-shenanigans: last year my youngest daughter screamed NOOOO at the exact moment the narrator mentioned Malchus’ ear getting chopped off. Honestly, an excellent question from my daughter. Showed she was paying attention. 🙏🙂A logical question for Palm Sunday. 🌴Good question but a face-palm on the timing. 🤦Another 🤦. But after further reflection it is good she wanted to display reverence. 🙂🙏
Share your Palm Sunday experience with me in the comments section.
There is a moment in Lent when something subtle (or maybe not so subtle) changes.
You walk into church and notice that something feels different. The statues are covered. The crucifix is hidden behind a purple veil. The sanctuary feels quieter and more restrained, almost as if the Church herself is holding her breath.
We have entered Passiontide.
Passiontide begins on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, traditionally called Passion Sunday, and continues through Holy Week until the Easter Vigil. These final two weeks intensify the Church’s focus on Christ’s suffering and death. The readings, prayers, and liturgical customs all guide us toward the same destination: Calvary.
Lent has always been about repentance and conversion. Passiontide narrows the lens. Now we are invited to contemplate the Passion itself, the moment when Christ reveals the depth of God’s love through suffering.
Lord Jesus Christ, I come before You—broken yet hopeful, wounded yet seeking, fallen yet rising once more.
Through the waters of Baptism, I am Your servant. Through the gift of Your grace, I am Your child. Through the mystery of Your love, I am Yours.
When anxiety floods my heart, when doubt clouds my mind, when despair threatens my soul, I turn to Your Cross.
The Enemy whispers of failure. The Enemy stirs my self-loathing. The Enemy plants seeds of despair. But at the foot of Your Cross, these burdens grow lighter.
Saint Catherine of Sienna wrote, “Every great burden becomes light beneath this most holy yoke of the sweet will of God.” Pour forth Your Holy Spirit upon me:
That I might love myself as Your creation
That I might seek Your will with confidence
That I might offer myself wholly to You
My sins have wounded me deeply. My sins have damaged my earthly relationships. My sins have separated me from You, Most Holy Trinity.
Yet I lift my eyes to Golgotha. I behold You crucified. I witness Love poured out completely.
May Mary Intercede for Us
“It is through the atmosphere of Mary that we truly are able to receive the light of the Son.”
At Calvary’s darkest hour, You spoke words of eternal comfort: “Woman, behold, your son.” “Behold, your mother.”
In Your suffering, You gave us Your mother. In Your pain, You secured our adoption. In Your death, You ensured we would never journey alone.
When failures overwhelm me, I look to Your Cross. When trials surround me, I remember Your suffering. When doubts assail me, I unite myself to Your passion.
This pilgrim journey toward holiness is not walked alone. We stumble together. We rise together. We move toward You together—finding unexpected joy and surpassing peace even in our suffering.
Have you ever wondered about the week leading up to Easter? It’s called Holy Week, and it’s packed with traditions, history, and deep spiritual meaning. Even if you’ve been celebrating Easter your whole life, there might be some fascinating aspects of Holy Week you’ve never noticed before. Let’s take a closer look at this important time in the Church calendar and uncover some of its hidden gems.
What Exactly Is Holy Week?
Holy Week is the week right before Easter Sunday. It starts on Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Think of it as a special time to walk with Jesus through the last days of his life, from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem to his crucifixion and burial. The traditions of Holy Week developed in Jerusalem in the 4th century, when Christians wanted to re-enact the final scenes of Jesus’ life in a liturgical way. Because Holy Week is so important, the celebrations that happen during this time take precedence over any other celebrations.
Palm Sunday: A Day of Triumph and Foreboding
Have you ever experienced a day that starts with joy and ends with sorrow? Palm Sunday is like that. On this day, we remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and his Passion. The crowds waved palm branches to welcome him, which is why we use palm fronds in the liturgy on this day. But the joyful atmosphere quickly changes as we hear the Gospel reading about Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion. It’s a stark reminder that the road to glory passes through the Cross.
Maundy Thursday: A Night of Firsts and Farewells
Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is a night of significant events. It’s the day we commemorate the Last Supper Jesus had with his Apostles before his death on the Cross. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all contain narratives of this event. The Gospel of John gives a different account where Jesus washes the feet of his Apostles. During the Mass on Holy Thursday, the priest washes the feet of parishioners as a sign of service.
Institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood
One of the most important themes of the Holy Thursday Mass is service and the role of the priests. It was at the Last Supper “when the Lord Jesus gave to the Church the gift of the Eucharist, and with it instituted our priesthood”. The priest or deacon washing the feet of the laity recalls Christ’s act of service to Peter and the other Apostles.
The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” Those in RCIA might find a special appreciation for Holy Thursday as they have been slowly trekking through the teachings of the Church. The peak is the Eucharist― the gift of Jesus’ body, blood, soul, and divinity.
The Chrism Mass
On the morning of Holy Thursday (in some dioceses it may be another morning during Holy Week), the bishop and the priests of his diocese celebrate a “Chrism Mass,” in which the oils used in the sacraments are consecrated.
Stripping of the Altar
After the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the altar is stripped, the Eucharist is processed to a place of repose, and a period of silent Eucharistic adoration is held.
Good Friday: A Day of Sacrifice and Silence
Good Friday is a day of solemn remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. Mass is not celebrated on this day. Instead, a Communion service is held. This consists of a liturgy of the word, the veneration of the cross, and the distribution of holy Communion. During the Crucifixion, “from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour” — that is, from about noon to about 3 p.m. — at which point Jesus died.
Ven. Fulton Sheen reminds us, “Unless there is a Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday.”
Holy Saturday: Waiting in Hope
Holy Saturday is a day of waiting and anticipation. During the daytime hours, Mass is not celebrated, and holy Communion is given only to the dying. However, after nightfall, a vigil Mass commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter is celebrated. It is also customary for catechumens to be baptized and, in many places, for already baptized candidates to be received into the Church. They are also confirmed and receive their first holy Communion, completing the sacraments of Christian initiation.
St. Catherine of Siena encourages us: “He will provide the way and the means, such as you could never have imagined. Leave it all to Him, let go of yourself. Lose yourself on the Cross, and you will find yourself entirely.”
Easter Sunday: The Dawn of New Life
Easter Sunday is the day we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. In the Gospels, the disciples first learned of the Resurrection after the women went to the tomb and met angels, who revealed that it was empty. The Gospel reading is from John 20:1-9, which records the discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalen and how Peter and the beloved disciple ran to the site and found her report was true.
Embrace the Journey
Holy Week is a journey through the final days of Jesus’ life, from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem to his glorious Resurrection on Easter Sunday. It’s a time to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection for our lives. As St. Bruno said, “While the world changes, the Cross stands firm.”
Let’s celebrate Holy Week with a King-sized 👑 Catholic Meme Monday.
Soon the holy images will be unveiled.Palm Sunday humor! Stay awake. Be ready! 😊😆🙂More Palm Sunday funnies. 😆An early Easter morning meme. 🙏🙂The Word (Logos) always existed. Let’s set the record straight! #realchurchhistoryEven more Palm 🌴 Sunday humor. 😊🙂Pray for all the liturgical musicians in your parish this week. 🙏🙏🙏😊😆🙂WWJD This is accurate. 💪 😆 ✌️ 🤝#malchusear 🙂😆👂Darn! 🙂😊
That’s all I have this week. Stay tuned for next week’s Catholic Meme Monday. Receive updates straight to your email inbox by subscribing to The Simple Catholic blog.
