Some Insights on Holy Week Ceremonies 

Easter is around the corner. From Ash Wednesday when we received ashes to remind us about our immortal nature, the need for humility and repentance, we have been journeying with Christ through the traditional Lenten observances of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. What is more, by following Jesus in the Via Dolorosa, (Stations of the Cross), the Church expects us to reflect on the lessons of this Holy Season. Ash Wednesday was principally supposed to prepare us spiritually for the Holy Week Ceremonies. I am, therefore, delighted to share some insights on holy week ceremonies with you.  

If we must reflect on the length of Lent, it is imperative to understand that this sublime and awesome season have irresistible spiritual meals for both private and public upliftment. While we try to understand the message of this season, we must also appreciate the fact that its lessons are inexhaustive and mystery unexplainable. To attempt a full grasp of what the Lenten and Easter season puts before us is to be eternal like God.

Indeed, for serious-minded Christians, the forty days fasting has been engaging. They must have also worn the breastplate of sanctity through prayer and almsgiving. This privilege to share in the sufferings of Christ is a sweet yoke which has further increased our chances of growing in holiness and charity. These days are meant to prepare us for the Holy Week in which Christ would face his passion. 

Palm/Passion Sunday

Palm or Passion Sunday sets the tone for the Holy Week Celebrations. It begins with the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (Cf. Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19) to face his passion. Liturgically, Christians process with palms as a sign of hope that his passion would lead to his resurrection. The celebration is an admixture of joy and sadness. Joy because Christ is publicly proclaimed as King from the Davidic dynasty and sadness because would die for the sins of the world.

The re-enactment of the paschal mysteries in a real and profound way (anamnesis) gives us an opportunity to share in his passion and grow in holiness. Holy Week ceremonies recall the desolate state of man before redemption occasioned by the first fall from the original state of blessedness; it then projects the restoration of fallen-humanity through Christ’s self-abnegation and supreme sacrifice on Calvary. In biblical typology, Christ became the new Adam and Mary his Mother, the new Eve so that what was lost by the old Adam and Eve respectively, are restored by the new.

Chrism Mass/Holy Thursday & Mass Lord’s Supper

The Sacred Paschal Triduum which “begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes  with evening prayer on Easter Sunday.’ This forms the crescendo of the paschal mystery. Chrism Mass through which sacramental oils of chrism (for baptism, ordination, consecration and dedication), catechumens (those preparing for baptism) and the sick, are blessed by the bishop for the Church’s use throughout the year, becomes the occasion where priests renew their priestly commitment before their bishop ‘to signify the unity of the presbyterate of the diocese...”

Most dioceses have their respective Chrism Masses on Tuesday of the Holy Week. This is to give priests ample opportunity to travel back to their parishes and prepare for the Triduum. It is the case of pastoral exigencies. Equally important is the cathedradicum (derived from the Latin cathedra, which stands for the bishop’s seat/chair in the cathedral from where he shepherd’s over the diocese) - The custom of parishes bringing gifts to the bishop for the poor and building of the diocese. As earlier stated, this takes place on the Tuesday of the Holy Week, Holy Thursday or as the local ordinary (bishop) deems fit.

At the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s super, Jesus’ washing of his disciples’ feet remains the paragon of servant leadership. On the night before he suffered, Christ instituted the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders. A sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace ordained by Christ. By saying: “Do this in memory of me,” he lives us with an ageless mandate for the strengthening and spiritual renewal of the Church. Ordination becomes the prerequisite for a valid celebration of the sacraments. 

Good Friday

Good Friday is so named because Christ died on this day to redeem humanity. The Church mourns him from Friday (when the last Stations of the Cross is observed or passion play is dramatised), through Holy Saturday to his triumphant resurrection. This is the only day in the life of the Church that Mass is not celebrated; this is because, Jesus’ bloody sacrifice at Calvary is one and the same with the bloodless sacrifice of the Mass. Rather, the veneration of the cross takes place. This symbolic gesture must not be associated with idolatry. Rather, it is akin to laying-in-state that takes place in most cultures when someone dies.