This simple guide to understanding Holy Week is a biblical journey through the week leading to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Begin each day with a prayer for clarity and understanding of the reading.
Prayers for Every Day During Holy Week
Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you through your reading and quiet time. Read each of the scriptures slowly. Take a few minutes to process what you have read. Reflect on what it teaches you about the character of God as revealed through His son, Jesus Christ.
PALM SUNDAY
On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem with the disciples riding a borrowed donkey. When Jesus arrived, He was greeted with celebration and shouts of Hosanna. This was the beginning of the end of his human life. Read and reflect on each of the accounts of this day.
HOLY MONDAY
On Holy Monday, as Jesus was traveling from Bethany, he cursed a fig tree for not bearing fruit. It is important to reflect on this passage and how this relates to your faith.
Jesus then enters the temple and asserts his authority by throwing everyone out who was doing business inside the temple complex. The Jewish leaders began plotting how to kill Jesus because of this display of power. Jesus was ruining their racket.
HOLY TUESDAY
On Holy Tuesday, the chief priest, temple leaders, and elders challenged Jesus’ knowledge of scripture. They raised a number of theological debates with him and questioned both his teaching and by which authority he has to teach his followers. Jesus responds in parables and directly warns his disciples against the teachers of the law.
SPY WEDNESDAY
On Spy Wednesday, Jesus continued his teaching. He spoke of the destruction of the temple and of the end times. He shared more parables and spoke of the withered fig tree. This continued to greatly upset the Jewish leaders.
Their anger continued to grow once they heard of the woman who honored Jesus by anointing him with really expensive oil. This also angered Judas and he went straight to the religious authorities and offered to deliver Jesus into their hands.
MAUNDY THURSDAY
On Maundy Thursday, Jesus celebrated the Passover, which is also known as the Last Supper, with his disciples. After they finished supper, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray and instructed the disciples to also pray that they do not fall into temptation.
This is where Judas finds Jesus and betrays Him by bringing the chief priest, temple leaders and elders. Jesus was arrested and tortured while Peter denied Him three times just as Jesus said He would.
GOOD FRIDAY
On Good Friday, the Jewish leaders, with the help of Pilate, presented Jesus to a crowd and held a mock trial that resulted in a death sentence for the one who would be called the King of the Jews. Jesus was crucified on the cross and one of Jesus’ disciples requested His body to properly prepare for burial.
HOLY SATURDAY
On Holy Saturday, since it was the day before the Sabbath, Jesus’ body was placed in a nearby tomb. The chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate requesting an order for the tomb to be made secure with a guard until the third day. They went and made the tomb secure by placing a large stone in front of the entrance and posting a guard outside.
EASTER SUNDAY
On Easter Sunday, a couple of women went to the tomb where Jesus’ body was kept to anoint Him with oil for burial. But when they arrived, He wasn’t there.
The tomb was empty and an angel greeted them with the news that Jesus was alive. The women hurried back to tell the others and Jesus surprised his grieving disciples by showing up in their midst.
Pray Like Jesus Prayed This Holy Week
Fr. Mike Schmitz
Holy Week customs
Palm crosses: From medieval times, people have believed that blessed palms formed into the shape of a cross would protect them from danger. The easiest way to make a cross from blessed palms is to cut two pieces of the palm, arrange in the shape of a cross, put a thumbtack in the middle, and attach the cross to a doorway or a bulletin board. Check Google for directions on how to braid or weave palms into more decorative crosses.
Housecleaning: In many cultures the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week are designated as days for vigorous housecleaning in preparation for Easter. This custom probably evolved from the Jewish custom of ritual cleaning before Passover.
Visiting churches: The custom of visiting several churches to say a prayer on Holy Thursday was a tradition that evolved from the practice of making pilgrimages to holy places.
Coloring eggs: Decorating eggs was a pagan symbol of rebirth at springtime for the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Persians and even the Chinese. Christians adopted the colored egg as a symbol of new life which comes with the Resurrection.
Sweet breads: In many cultures, Holy Week was traditionally a time for baking sweet breads, cakes and pastries that would be served on Easter Sunday.
New clothes: From the time of the early Christians, the newly baptized wore white garments made from new linen. In medieval times, it became a tradition for people to wear new clothes on Easter Sunday, symbolizing the “new life” that comes with the Resurrection. In some places it was believed that bad luck would come to those who could afford new Easter clothes but refused to buy them.
Easter lilies: The tradition of buying Easter lilies during Holy Week for use as decorations in homes and churches came into practice in the 1800s. The white flower is a symbol of purity and new life that heralds the resurrection of Jesus.
Blessing of Easter baskets: In many cultures, families bring food that will be eaten on Easter Sunday to church in a basket for a special blessing on Holy Saturday.
Holy Water blessings: Some families bring holy water containers to Mass on Easter so they can bring home some Easter water, which is blessed during the Easter Vigil, to bless their homes.
12 ways to make Holy Week more meaningful
1. THINK PRAYER. If you have to work or go to school during Holy Week, think about how you can incorporate prayer breaks into each day.
2. MAKE AN ADDITIONAL SACRIFICE by fasting and abstaining from meat on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday in addition to Good Friday.
3. DON’T WATCH TELEVISION from sundown on Holy Thursday until Easter morning.
4. GO to confession.
5. SET ASIDE 10 minutes every day to read Passion accounts in the Gospels.
6. Make it a point to FORGIVE someone on Good Friday.
7. PRAY the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
8. OFFER UP any pain or difficulties you experience during Holy Week and unite your sufferings with the pain of Christ.
9. PRAY the Stations of the Cross.
10. ATTEND all of the Triduum liturgies.
11. INVITE family members, friends and neighbors — especially people who have strayed from the church — to come to church with you.
12. VOLUNTEER to help decorate your parish on Holy Saturday for Easter.
2. MAKE AN ADDITIONAL SACRIFICE by fasting and abstaining from meat on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday in addition to Good Friday.
3. DON’T WATCH TELEVISION from sundown on Holy Thursday until Easter morning.
4. GO to confession.
5. SET ASIDE 10 minutes every day to read Passion accounts in the Gospels.
6. Make it a point to FORGIVE someone on Good Friday.
7. PRAY the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
8. OFFER UP any pain or difficulties you experience during Holy Week and unite your sufferings with the pain of Christ.
9. PRAY the Stations of the Cross.
10. ATTEND all of the Triduum liturgies.
11. INVITE family members, friends and neighbors — especially people who have strayed from the church — to come to church with you.
12. VOLUNTEER to help decorate your parish on Holy Saturday for Easter.
The Sacred Triduum
The word “Triduum” comes from the Latin word meaning “three days,” and encompasses the three most sacred days in the Church year. It begins at sundown on Holy Thursday, reaches a high point at the Easter Vigil,and concludes with evening prayer at sundown on Easter Sunday. The liturgical celebrations during the Triduum on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday are rich with symbolism and flow from one to another in a seamless way. While it may appear as if these liturgies are separate and distinct, they are actually intended to be one continuous celebration that commemorates the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. For this reason, Catholics are encouraged to observe the entire Triduum by attending all of the liturgies.
The Chrism Mass
During Holy Week bishops bless sacred oils in the diocesan cathedral at a special liturgy known as the Chrism Mass. The oil of chrism is used during baptisms, confirmation, ordination and the consecration of altars. The oil of catechumens is used at the Easter Vigil. The oil of the sick is used to anoint people during the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. The oils are then distributed to the parishes for sacramental celebrations throughout the year. As part of the liturgical reforms of Vatican II, the renewal of priestly promises was incorporated into the Chrism Mass. The Chrism Mass is an ancient celebration that traditionally takes place on Holy Thursday morning. But in recent years, many dioceses celebrate the Chrism Mass on an evening earlier in Holy Week so that more people can attend.
He is not here for He has risen Matthew 28:6
