By celebrating on Sunday of the twigs, on April 13, the Catholics will enter the “Holy Week”, which will culminate on April 20 with Easter. But what is the meaning of this special week?
It is undoubtedly the most important week of the liturgical year for Catholics. As of this Sunday, April 13, and until Sunday, April 20, the Church will commemorate both the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem, his arrest, his death and his resurrection.
During the celebration of Sunday branches, it is traditional that Catholics bring to the church of the boxwood or palm branches, which will be blessed during mass and that they will keep at home all year round. This symbol recalls the entrance of Christ to Jerusalem, where, according to the Gospels, it was welcomed as the king of the Jews by a jarrow stirring of the palms.
The “enema of the feet”, a highly symbolic rite
This festive day of the branches introduces a week in a more serious tone. In Jerusalem in fact, Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death. The “Holy Thursday” commemorates “the last Supper”, the last meal that Jesus shared with his disciples, during which, according to the Catholic faith, he instituted the Eucharist, by offering his body and his blood in bread and wine for the salvation of humanity.
The priest also fulfills the rite of “enema of the feet”, by washing the feet of 12 people from the Assembly, as a sign of Jesus’ love for men. At the end of this mass – which is also the feast of priests -, the bells of the churches are silent until the evening of the “Holy Saturday”, with the Pascale vigil.
Comes the more serious time of the “Pascal triduum”
We are entering the time of the “Pascal Tridum”, three days of mourning and waiting that remember the passion of Christ. The “Good Friday”, the faithful participate in the “Stations of the Cross”, representing through 12 “stations” – according to the term consecrated -, the journey of Jesus of his arrest, to his rise in Calvary, and his death on a cross, until his grave. They also celebrate the “passion” of Christ, where we read the whole story reported in the Gospels.
On Saturday evening, Easter watch, the resurrection vigil takes place, which begins on the forecourt of the churches. The celebrant lights a fire, and the whole assembly carries lumignons, symbolizing the victory of light over the darkness of death. To the sound of the bells launched on all three days of silence, we then sing the Gloria – glory to God -, which had been banished from the celebrations during the 40 days of Lent.
It is also the night when believers renew the “promises of their baptism”, and where adults who have prepared to receive this sacrament are baptized during the year. The next day, Easter Day, Catholics proclaim the resurrection of Christ, and greet themselves according to an ancient formula: “Christ is resurrected, Alleluia!” ; “It is really risen, Alleluia!”.
In Saint-Pierre de Rome, on the forecourt of the richly flowered basilica, the head of the Catholic church gives his famous blessing Urbi and Orbi-in the city and the world-reserved for the big days. This year Pope Francis could make a public appearance at the Vatican, if his state of health allows him.
