Holy Week
March 29, 2021
Hey y'all!
I apologize for not posting the past couple Fridays, but I'm back this week to talk about Holy Week! I honestly cannot believe that it's here. The beginning of Lent seemed to go fairly slowly, but the second half of it flew by. I truly hope that this season has brought you closer to Christ. If it hasn't, fear not; He is waiting for you with open arms. What better time than Holy Week to recommit ourselves to a relationship with the person who loves us enough to suffer and die for us.
Let's walk through what happens in the Church during Holy Week. It started yesterday, Palm Sunday, where we commemorated Jesus's entrance into Jerusalem. Just days before He is condemned to death, He is given a king's welcome. At Mass, we read an extra Gospel story before the procession, and we received blessed palms.
The first readings today through Wednesday all come from Isaiah and include the servant songs, which teach us what the ideal servant leader is like. These servant songs are prophetic: a close reading reveals that they tell us about Jesus even though they were written long before He suffered and died for us. The Gospel today is about Mary, the sister of Lazarus, anointing Jesus's feet with costly oil and Judas getting upset about it. The Gospels tomorrow and Wednesday tell about Judas's betrayal of Jesus.
Then, we have Holy Thursday, where we commemorate the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood at the Last Supper. The Chrism Mass, where the bishop blesses the three oils that will be used throughout the coming year in the archdiocese, will be celebrated at the cathedral. At a regular Holy Thursday Mass, there is usually a foot washing, but because of COVID, that might not happen this year.
Good Friday is the only day of the year when Mass is not celebrated. Instead, we have a Communion service with hosts that are already consecrated. On Good Friday, adults have to fast. Fasting in the Catholic Church consists of having one regular sized meal and two smaller meals that do not add up to a regular sized meal. We do this to unite our suffering to that of Jesus on the Cross and to sacrifice for Him since He sacrificed His life for us.
On Holy Saturday, there is usually a food blessing in the morning. In the evening, there is the Easter Vigil Mass, during which those that have been going through the Rite of Christian Initiation are finally welcomed into the Church by receiving the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
Finally, we have Easter Sunday, which is the beginning of the Easter season. On this day, we celebrate Jesus’s resurrection from the dead and victory over sin and death.
There’s so much more I could say about this week, the holiest week of the year, but I figured I’d just give you an overview for now. Below, I have posted Divine Mercy’s schedule for Holy Week. If you’ve never been to one of these services, I encourage you to try to make it to at least one.
Penance Service Wednesday, March 31st
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Social Center at 695 College Avenue
This is a Prayer Service with individual Reconciliation following, NOT a general absolution. Both priests will be present.
**Eucharistic Adoration, 9:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m. **
Triduum Schedule
All held at 800 Marquette Avenue unless otherwise noted
Holy Thursday (April 1) at 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday (April 2) at noon and 3:00 p.m.
Stations of the Cross in church to follow each service. Those wishing to stay should remain seated.
Holy Saturday (April 3)
Food Blessing at 10:00 a.m.
Easter Vigil at 8:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday Masses (April 4)
6:28 a.m. (Sunrise outdoor Mass at College Ave.);
7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m.
(in Church at Marquette Avenue)
That’s all for now. I’m praying for you guys especially hard this week! Please keep me and this ministry in your prayers as well.
Peace of Christ,
Miss Jessica
A.M.D.G.