Holy Week 3-9 April 2023
Holy Week, the final week of Lent, is the most significant week of Catholicism. It begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before the celebration on Easter Sunday of Jesus’ Resurrection. Holy Week is a special week of prayer, reflection, and gratitude as we contemplate the innocent suffering Jesus endured for us and the hope of the Resurrection.
Resources
Loyola Press Holy Week for a range of resources HERE
Sacramental aspects of Praying in Holy Week HERE
Holy Week in three minutes video HERE
Hallow – Holy Week observances HERE
Ten Holy week activities HERE
Tenebrae - the liturgy of Shadows for Schools, home groups, communities.
Text of the liturgy HERE
Powerpoint to accompany HERE
The Paschal Triduum
From Holy Thursday to Easter Saturday, the Triduum marks the three days that are liturgically one day, unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery. This time leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.
To view a short video summarizing the Triduum HERE
6 April Thursday of the Lord’s supper
Holy Thursday is the first day of the Easter Triduum, the most sacred days of the Catholic faith. It begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, which commemorates the Last Supper celebrated by Jesus and his disciples on the Jewish holiday of Passover. It was during the Last Supper that Jesus taught his disciples that the Eucharist is truly His Body and Blood.
Readings
Ex 12:1-8, 11-14: The law for the Passover meal.
Ps 115:12-13, 15-18: R. Our blessing cup is a communion with the blood of Christ.
1Cor 11: 23-26: Until the Lord comes, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim his death.
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jn 13:1-15: To the end he showed his love for them.
Homily Studio podcast
Listen to a 30-minute conversation about the scriptures for Thursday HERE
Let us pray
Jesus, in these last few days leading up to Easter, as I recall your passion and death, let me remember that, above all, I am called to feed your sheep. You have given me a model of how to live; may I strive to be all that you created me for, spreading the love of God and the truth of our Catholic faith wherever I am able. You are the way, the truth, and the life. Amen.
Source: www.dynamiccatholic.com/lent/holy-week
Holy Thursday Video
View a short video (2.53) explaining Holy Thursday HERE
Chant: Ubi Caritas - Where love is
A Taize chant for Holy Thursday HERE
Holy Thursday liturgy for the home HERE
7 April Friday of the Passion of the Lord
Good Friday commemorates the day Jesus died. His death and resurrection on Easter is the most important event, which is why it’s called “good”. It's traditionally a day of solemn prayer.
The Image of Consolation
The depiction of Christ dying in pain on the cross “depicts him who bears our pains, by whose stripes we are healed. In the extremes of pain it represents the redemptive love of God." p.141 in ‘The Spirit of the Liturgy’ by Cardinal Ratzinger.
Readings
Is 52:13-53:12 He surrendered himself to death, while bearing the faults of many.
Ps R. (Lk 23:46) Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Heb 4:14-16;5:7-9 He learned obedience and became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
Verse before the Gospel. Phil 2:8-9
Christ become obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,
Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name.
Gospel Jn 18:1-19:42 The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Let us pray
Jesus, no one knows change better than you. You died on the cross, and three days later you rose from the dead. Forty days later you ascended into heaven and left the world transformed for the rest of time. Help me to transform my soul, to die to sin and death and be reborn in your love and eternal life. Amen.
Source: www.dynamiccatholic.com/lent/holy-week
Good Friday liturgy at home HERE
Christ the Paschal Mystery
‘The icon of Christ is the centre of sacred iconography. The centre of the icon of Christ is the Paschal Mystery: Christ is presented as the Crucified, the risen Lord, the One who will come again and who here and now hiddenly reigns over all. Every image of Christ must contain these three essential aspects of Christ, and in this sense, must be an image of Easter.’
From ‘Art and Liturgy’ p.146 ‘The Spirit of the Liturgy’ by Cardinal J Ratzinger.
The Tree of the Cross icon