Holy Week

Today we begin the most solemn week of our faith: Holy Week. It begins with the commemoration of Christ’s Passion on Palm Sunday. This year we proclaim the Passion Narrative from Luke’s Gospel on Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. It accents Jesus Messianic entrance into Jerusalem. The Passion Narrative will be read dramatically in parts. In English, we have the Assembly participating as the “crowd”. The next three days are relatively quiet period in anticipation of the three most important celebrations of the week. On Tuesday, at San Fernando Cathedral, the Archbishop will bless the three oils that are used with various sacraments: The Oil of the Sick; the Oil of Catechumens and the Sacred Chrism. The Oil of the Sick is used for those who need strengthening before surgery, the aged or for a sickness or illness. The Oil of Catechumens is done on those adults – or children – preparing to enter the Catholic faith. These anointing's are often done with the RCIA groups. Finally, the Sacred Chrism is the chief anointing oil. It is used at Baptism, at Confirmation and the ordination of a man to Sacred Orders as priest or bishop. After these somewhat quiet three days – Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday – of Holy Week we enter into the Easter Triduum. We begin on Thursday with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This celebration is the traditional accent on the institution by Christ of both priesthood and the Eucharist. It is also an accent on service symbolized by the washing of feet and hands. Friday of the Passion of the Lord – Good Friday – is a continuation of the paschal mystery. We enter and exit in silence for these celebrations. We honor the gift of Jesus death for our sins in this part of the Easter Triduum. It includes the proclamation of John’s Passion Narrative, along with the Adoration of the Cross and Eucharist. Saturday is the Easter Vigil whereby we receive adults and sometimes children into our faith with either baptism or a profession of faith. It is a longer celebration and can last up to three (3) hours. But it flows beautifully and it doesn’t seem as long as sometimes a person expects. The Easter Vigil includes the Service of Light, the Liturgy of the Word, Baptisms, Professions of Faith, Confirmation and then the celebration of the Eucharist. Easter Sunday accents the Resurrection of the Lord. We add at each celebration the renewal of our own baptismal promises that for many of us were spoken by our parents and godparents. It provides the opportunity for us to renew what we have promised in our baptismal covenant. So, we enter into the most sacred time of our faith life. Enter into it with a sense of hope, prayer and faith. It provides us a reminder of just what Jesus did for us: His life, His death and His resurrection. He is the Son of God. And He has opened the gates of heaven for us all.