Holy Week, The Sacred Time Before Easter

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March 22, 2024

The purpose of this sacred time is to "reenact, relive, and participate in the Passion of Jesus."

by Wendy Butzerin.Christians memorialize and celebrate events in history when God intervened on their behalf. Easter Sunday is the special day when all the faithful remember and celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Before He rose from the dead, Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross and died for our sins. Our hope for salvation comes from Jesus, and this truth is shared by all followers of Jesus.[caption id="attachment_15223" align="aligncenter" width="300"]

Faith (123rf.com)[/caption]Many Christian denominations, including Catholics, celebrate the season of Lent, which is 40 days before Easter. During this time, participants prepare to enter into the solemnity and the Passion of Jesus by fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. These Lenten practices and this time of repentance originate from the Bible and mirror Jesus' temptation in the wilderness.(Matthew:4, Mark:1, Luke:4) The Catholic Church places special emphasis on Holy Week, which is observed during the last week before Easter. These days are full of rich liturgy and have been celebrated since the time of the early Church. These days include Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem, His betrayal, His death, and His resurrection. The purpose of this sacred time is to "reenact, relive, and participate in the Passion of Jesus." as stated by CNA (Catholic News Agency.) Members also display and wear crucifixes to help them remember Jesus' suffering on their behalf.

Holy Week

Holy Week leads up to—but does not include—Easter. This year, it is March 24 - 30, 2024. The whole week is called Holy Week; however, there are specific days set aside for worship.

Palm Sunday
Holy Thursday
Good Friday
Holy Saturday

Some Protestants celebrate Good Friday and/or Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday)Easter Sunday is not included in Holy Week because it starts a new liturgical season in the Catholic Church celebrating Jesus' Resurrection. The season immediately following Easter lasts for 50 days.

Why Does the Easter Date Change?

The date of Easter changes from year to year. Here is the origin of the formula for how it is calculated: At the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, Churches agreed that Easter, the Christian Passover, should be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox (on or after March 21st).

Holy Week Traditions

There are many important traditions and scriptural readings throughout Holy Week. Palm Sunday - First Day of Holy WeekMembers wave blessed palms as they move in procession together into the church. They recall Jesus riding on a donkey as He triumphantly entered Jerusalem. [caption id="attachment_15216" align="alignleft" width="256"]

Holy Week (123rf.com)[/caption]

The next day, the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the king of Israel!" (John 12:12-13)

Holy Thursday - The Last Supper and Jesus' betrayal by JudasThe priest washes some of the parishioners' feet, which imitates Jesus when He washed the feet of His Disciples on the night before He died. This act of humility is meant to teach the importance of service to others, particularly to model servant leadership. [caption id="attachment_15212" align="alignleft" width="241"]

Gace (Orne, Basse Normandie, France) - Interior of the Saint-Pierre church, in new gothic style: stained glass (123rf.com)[/caption]

Washing of the Feet"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside His garments, and girded Himself with a towel. Then He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded." (John 13: 3-5)

The Church also recalls the institution of the Eucharist (Holy Communion) when Jesus blessed the bread and wine at the Last Supper. The true presence of the Risen Jesus hidden under the appearance of the bread and wine is a core Catholic belief. [caption id="attachment_15217" align="aligncenter" width="463"]

The Last Supper of Christ by Giorgio Vasari, Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) in Florence, Italy (123rf.com)[/caption]

The Institution of the Lord's SupperWhile they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it, He broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26: 26-28)

Good Friday - The Church mourns Jesus' Crucifixion and Death[caption id="attachment_15213" align="aligncenter" width="327"]

Holy Week (123rf.com)[/caption]People venerate the cross and intercede for the world. The altar is stripped, the statues are covered, and people enter and leave the church solemnly.Jesus's Passion story is read aloud every year on this night from the Book of John (John, Starting with Chapter 18)Easter Vigil (Saturday) - A day of waitingThe church remembers Jesus being laid in the tomb. Easter Vigil is held late at night and often starts with a bonfire outside the church around sundown. [caption id="attachment_15221" align="aligncenter" width="380"]

Easter Vigil (123rf.com)[/caption]The vigil opens in darkness with candlelight. People hear the condensed story of salvation's history read from key narrative books in the Bible, from both the Old and New Testaments. This story culminates in the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. Traditionally, new members are baptized, and those coming into the full communion of the Catholic faith are welcomed into the church that night.