A Liturgical Journey through the Holy Week

1. A Liturgical Journey through the Holy Week

2. The entire week between Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday is included in Holy Week • Holy Week observances, as they call us to move behind the joyful celebrations of Palm Sunday and Easter, and focus on the suffering, humiliation, and death of Christ

3. It is important to place the hope of the Resurrection, the promise of newness and life, against the background of death and endings.

4. It is only in walking through the shadows and darkness of Holy Week and Good Friday, only in realizing the horror and magnitude of sin and  its consequences in the world incarnated in the dying Jesus on the cross, only in contemplating the ending and despair that the disciples felt on Holy Saturday, that we can truly understand the light and hope of Easter Sunday morning!

5. Palm SundayCommemoration of the Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem

6. This Sunday is also known as Passion Sunday to commemorate the beginning of Holy Week and Jesus’ final agonizing journey to the cross.  The English word passioncomes from a Latin word that means "to suffer," the same word from which we derive the English word patient.

7. Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that was marked by the crowds, who were in Jerusalem for Passover, waving palm branches and proclaiming him as the messianic king

8. Red Colour Symbolizes blood; used on Palm Sunday to symbolize the death of Jesus

9. The liturgy • Blessing of palms • Gospel • Short Homily • Procession • The word of God • The Eucharistic sacrifice

10. The Gospels tell us that Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, enacting the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, and in so doing emphasized the humility that was to characterize the Kingdom he proclaimed.

11. Reading of the Passion of Christ For meditation during the whole of holy week

12. Easter Triduum The Easter Triduum begins Thursday evening of Holy Week with Eucharist and concludes with evening prayers Easter Sunday.

13. Holy Thursday/ Maundy Thursday - Evening Mass of the Lord’s supper

14. Traditionally in the Christian Church, this day is known as Maundy Thursday. The term Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (English word mandate), from a verb that means "to give," "to entrust," "to order“ or “to command”.

15. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, you also ought to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35):

16. Holy Thursday commemorates Various events - 1: • The washing of the feet • The betrayal by Judas • Jesus praying in Gethsemane

17. Holy Thursday commemorates Various events 2: • The last Supper / Passover meal; the institution of Eucharist • Passover meals / Seder meal – a commemoration of the delivery of the people of Israel from slavery to the Egyptians • Eucharist – Remembrance of our delivery from slavery to sin through the death of Christ

18. The Liturgy - 1 • Gloria – sung the last time before Easter Sunday • Washing of the Feet – Self abasement of Christ – servant hood and indicating the way Jesus will die • Eucharistic Sacrifice

19. The Liturgy - 2 • Transfer of the Holy Eucharist - Procession to the altar of the repose – “World in darkness without Christ” – darkness is the consequences of sin • “stripping of the altar” – abandonment of Jesus by the apostles and stripping of Jesus before crucifixion • Keeping vigil - “Silence”

20. The real focus of the celebration is the death and resurrection of Jesus.

21. Good Friday

22. On this day, the church commemorates Jesus’ arrest, his trial, crucifixion and suffering, death, and burial.

23. Service of Good Friday aimed at allowing worshippers to experience some sense of the pain, humiliation, and ending in the journey to the cross

24. How is the Church? • No candle, No cross, No bell • All pictures, statutes, and the cross are covered in mourning black • Bare altar • Minister prostrates or kneels

25. Part 1: Liturgy of the Word • We listen to the words of the scripture and strive to understand the true meaning of his suffering and the mind that was in him

26. Meditation on the 7 last words of Jesus • Father, forgive them . . . (Luke 23:34) • This day you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43) • Woman, behold your son . . .(John 19:26-27) • My God, my God . . . (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) • I thirst.  (John 19:28) • It is finished! (John 19:30) • Father into your hands . . . (Luke 23:46)

27. General intercession • We pray with his spirit for the needs of the whole world

28. Part 2: Veneration of the Cross • We worship the cross as the symbol of his triumph • It is a cross not a crucifix

29. Part 3: Holy Communion • We enter into sacramental communion with him who is our Saviour and our Life

30. Good Friday is not a day of celebration but of mourning, both for the death of Jesus and for the sins of the world that his death represents. Yet, although Friday is a solemn time, it is not without its own joy.

31. For while it is important to place the Resurrection against the darkness of Good Friday, likewise the somberness of Good Friday should always be seen with the hope of Resurrection Sunday. "It’s Friday.  But Sunday’s coming’!"

32. Holy Saturday

33. This is the seventh day of the week, the day Jesus rested in the tomb • a day of quiet meditation as Christians contemplate the darkness of a world without a future and without hope apart from God and his grace.

34. It is also a time to remember family and the faithful who have died as we await the resurrection, or to honor the martyrs who have given their lives for the cause of Christ in the world. • The last fasting on Holy Saturday is the climax of the season of Lent, the celebration of the resurrection is at hand! The fasting would end the feasting will begin.

35. Holy Saturday has traditionally been a time of reflection and waiting, the time of weeping that lasts for the night while awaiting the joy that comes in the morning (Ps 30:5).

36. Easter Vigil

37. Part 1: Service of light • Easter Vigil begins in darkness as a flame is lit; a "new fire" lit amid the darkness. • From this "new fire" all the other candles in the sanctuary are lit. Paschal Candle as the focal point for this part of the service. • All the worshippers light individual candles from the Paschal candle as they sing a song of praise.

38. Order of service of light • New fire is blessed: The “church” is in darkness • Blessing of Easter candle • Procession into the Church – “Christ our light” • Easter Proclamation – The “Exultet”

39. This return of light symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus from the grave and the light of salvation and hope God brought into the world through the resurrection, the triumph of the light of God’s grace and salvation over the darkness of death and sin.

40. Part 2: Liturgy of the Word • Reading form the old and new testament • Nine Readings • Unfolding of the revelation of God • The salvation history

41. A glance at the readings • Rd 1&2 – the creation of human and the universe • Rd 3 – Deliverance from Egypt • Rd 4 & 5 – God’s love delivers and new covenant • Rd 6 & 7 - calling to new way of life, cleansing & new heart • Rd 8 – Dying and rising with Christ • Gospel – The Account of Resurrection -the empty tomb.

42. Part 3: Liturgy of Baptism • A fitting day for baptism as Jesus delivers us from sin and darkness makes us the children of light through the washing of baptism. • An experience of dying and rising anew in Christ

43. The order of the Liturgy of Baptism • Litany of the saints • Blessing of water • Baptism • Renewal of Baptismal Promises • Baptism • Confirmation

44. Part 4: Liturgy of the Eucharist The celebration of the sacrament of Redemption that redeemed mankind

45. Easter Sunday – The day of Resurrection

46. A normal mass is celebrated with renewal of baptismal promises

47. Easter season • Lighted candle • Gloria • Alleluia • Greetings – “Jesus is risen” and with more emphasis “Jesus is indeed risen”