THE HOLY WEEK

Holy Week, A week said to be the holiest and most important in the life of the Church, Where we recount with Sorrow the Events leading up to the Crucifixtion of Christ, our Lord.
It’s the week between Palm sunday and Easter, observed with special solemnity as a time of devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ. In the Greek and Roman liturgical books, it is called the Great Week because great deeds were done by God during this week. The name Holy Week was used in the 4th century by St. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, and St. Epiphanius of Constantia. Originally, only Good Friday and Holy Saturday were observed as holy days. Later, Wednesday was added as the day on which Judas plotted to betray Jesus, and by the beginning of the 3rd century the other days of the week had been added. The pre-Nicene church concentrated its attention on the celebration of one great feast, the Christian Passover, on the night between Saturday and Easter Sunday morning. By the later 4th century the practice had begun of separating the various events and commemorating them on the days of the week on which they occurred: Judas’s betrayal and the institution of the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday; the Passion and death of Christ on Good Friday; his burial on Saturday; and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

In most churches, the decorations are red to symbolize the blood of martyrdom, All Images and statues are removed from the Fifth Sunday of Lent, veiling anything that can’t be removed in black or purple. Holy water is also removed from the fonts in churches on Good Friday and Holy Saturday in preparation for the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil. This removal also corresponds to those days on which the Eucharist is not celebrated.

PALM SUNDAY

COLOUR OF VESTMENT – RED

The Holy week begins with the Palm Sunday on 14th April, 2019 as we mark the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem!

The liturgy begins with a blessing and procession of palms, but prime attention is given to a lengthy reading of the Passion, with parts taken by the priest, lectors, and congregation. The palms are often taken home by the members of the congregation to serve as sacramentals (sacred signs of the sacraments), and some of them are burned the following year to serve as the ashes for Ash Wednesday.

In the Byzantine liturgy the Eucharist on Palm Sunday is followed by a procession in which the priest carries the icon representing the events being commemorated.
Jesus’ triumphant return to Jerusalem is only one side of the story. By now many of the Jews are filled with hate for Our Lord. They want to see him stoned, calling Him a blasphemer, especially after offering proof of His Divinity during a winter visit to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Dedication.

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. The irony of his acceptance as the new Davidic King (Mark 11:10) by the crowds who would only five days later cry for his execution should be a sobering reminder of the human tendency to want God on our own terms.

HOLY MONDAY(GREAT MONDAY)

COLOUR OF VESTMENT – PURPLE

Jesus Cleansing the temple

Holy Monday is the second day of the holy week and a day after Palm Sunday.
On this day, The Gospels tell us of some of the events that actually occurred on the day of the Biblical Holy Monday. Some of the most notable and recognizable of these were the cursing of the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11:20-26), the questioning of Jesus’ authority (Matthew 21:23-27), the Cleansing of the Temple and some diverse parables, depending on which Gospel is read.

The following morning, Jesus returned with his disciples to Jerusalem. Along the way, he cursed a fig tree because it had failed to bear fruit. Some scholars believe this cursing of the fig tree represented God’s judgment on the spiritually dead religious leaders of Israel. Others believe the symbolism extended to all believers, demonstrating that genuine faith is more than just outward religiosity; true, living faith must bear spiritual fruit in a person’s life. On Monday evening Jesus stayed in Bethany again, probably in the home of his friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

Monday’s events are recorded in Matthew 21:12–22, Mark 11:15–19, Luke 19:45-48, and John 2:13-17.

HOLY TUESDAY

COLOUR OF VESTMENT – PURPLE

The Third day of the Holy week is Holy Tuesday.

On Tuesday morning, Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. They passed the withered fig tree on their way, and Jesus spoke to his companions about the importance of faith.

Back at the Temple, religious leaders were upset at Jesus for establishing himself as a spiritual authority. They organized an ambush with the intent to place him under arrest. But Jesus evaded their traps and pronounced harsh judgment on them, saying:

“Blind guides!…For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness…Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?” (Matthew 23:24-33)

Later that afternoon, Jesus left the city and went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives, which sits due east of the Temple and overlooks Jerusalem. Here Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse, an elaborate prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age. He speaks, as usual, in parables, using symbolic language about the end times events, including His Second Coming and the final judgment.

Scripture indicates that this Tuesday was also the day Judas Iscariot negotiated with the Sanhedrin, the rabbinical court of ancient Israel, to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16).

After a tiring day of confrontation and warnings about the future, once again, Jesus and the disciples returned to Bethany to stay the night.

Them tumultuous events of Tuesday and the Olivet Discourse are recorded in Matthew 21:23–24:51, Mark 11:20–13:37, Luke 20:1–21:36, and John 12:20–38.

On This day too, the Church also grants permission for a particular Diocese to have Chrism mass before holy Thursday due to the population of the Congregation. So is the Case of Lagos Archdiocese, as such there will be Chrism mass on Tuesday, 16th April, 2019, at Archangel’s Parish, Satellite Town. By 10am.

HOLY WEDNESDAY (SPY WEDNESDAY)

COLOUR OF VESTMENT – PURPLE

Judas Acting as a spy for the Sanhedrin and accepting a payment of 30 Pieces of silver

In the New Testament account of Holy Week, after Palm Sunday, the Sanhedrin gathered and plotted to kill Jesus before the feast of Pesach. On the Wednesday before his death, Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the Leper. As he sat at the supper table with his disciples, a woman named Mary anointed Jesus’ head and feet with a costly oil of spikenard. The disciples were indignant, asking why the oil was not instead sold and the money given to the poor. But Judas Iscariot wanted to keep the money for himself.Then Judas went to the Sanhedrin and offered to deliver Jesus to them in exchange for money. From this moment on, Judas sought an opportunity to betray Jesus.

In reference to Judas Iscariot’s intent to betray Jesus, formed on Holy Wednesday, the day is sometimes called “Spy Wednesday”(The word spy, as used in the term, means “ambush, ambuscade, snare”.)

HOLY THURSDAY(MAUNDY THURSDAY)

COLOUR OF VESTMENT – WHITE

The institution of the Eucharist by Jesus among his disciples

Archbishop of Lagos Archdiocese, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins Receiving the Holy Oils at the Chrism Mass 2018 at Archangels Parish, Satellite Town.

Jesus washing the feet of his disciples

Holy Week takes a sober turn as we enter the Easter tridum(Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday). It’s a day in which the Catholic Church celebrate the institution of the three pillars of the Catholic faith -Sacrament of Holy communion, the mass and the Holy priesthood.

Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, Sheer Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries, among other names) is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the foot washing (Maundy) and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles, as described in the canonical gospels. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday. The name comes from the Latin word mandatum, “commandment”, which comes from Jesus’ words “I give you a new commandment”.

The holy Thursday comprises of two major Liturgical Celebrations

-Chrism Mass

– Mass of the Lord’s Supper

THE CHRISM MASS

The Chrism mass will be celebrated by the Archbishop, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins at the Holy Cross Cathedral on this day by 10am and Concelebrated by All priests of the Archdiocese. The word ‘Chrism’ derived from the Greek word “khrisma” meaning ‘anointing’. Chrism Mass is an annual Eucharistic Celebration in which oils used for anointing during the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Order and the Anointing of the Sick are being blessed by the Bishop. The Oil of the Sick (Oleum infirmorum) for the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, Oil of Catechumens (Oleum cathecumenorum) for the Sacrament of Baptism and Oil of Chrism(Sacrum Chrisma) for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders, are blessed while the Oil of Chrism Is Concentrated during the Chrism mass.

The Concelebrating of the Chrism Mass by all priests of the diocese together with their Bishop and faithful is also the locus for the annual priestly promises to rededicate themselves to the priestly ministry, to celebrate the Eucharist and other liturgical rites, to discharge faithfully the sacred office of teaching, following Christ as the head and Shepherd. The faithful are also reminded to pray for their priests and bishop unceasingly.

MASS OF THE LAST SUPPER

“I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15-16, NLT)

As the Lamb of God, Jesus was about to fulfill the meaning of Passover by giving his body to be broken and his blood to be shed in sacrifice, freeing us from sin and death. During this Last Supper, Jesus established the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, instructing his followers to continually remember his sacrifice by sharing in the elements of bread and wine (Luke 22:19-20).

After, the homily, the feet of twelve persons already chosen are washed by the priest to commemorate Jesus display of Humility and servanthood.

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper commemorates the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion, and it ends with the removal of the Body of Christ from the tabernacle in the main body of the church. The Eucharist is carried in procession to another place where it is kept overnight, to be distributed during the commemoration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday (when no Mass is held, and therefore no hosts are consecrated).

After the procession, the altar is stripped bare, and all bells in the church are silent after the Gloria until the Gloria at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.

Late that evening in Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed with a kiss by Judas Iscariot and arrested by the Sanhedrin. He was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the whole council had gathered to begin making their case against Jesus.

Meanwhile, in the early morning hours, as Jesus’ trial was getting underway, Peter denied knowing his Master three times before the rooster crowed.

Thursday’s events are recorded in Matthew 26:17–75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-62, and John 13:1-38.

GOOD FRIDAY

COLOUR OF VESTMENT – RED

Jesus Crucified

Youths acting the Passion Drama

Veneration of the Cross during the Communion Service.

Good Friday is the most Sorrowful day of Passion Week. Christ’s journey turned treacherous and acutely painful in these final hours leading to his death.

According to Scripture, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who had betrayed Jesus, was overcome with remorse and hanged himself early Friday morning.

Meanwhile, before the third hour (9 a.m.), Jesus endured the shame of false accusations, condemnation, mockery, beatings, and abandonment. After multiple unlawful trials, he was sentenced to death by crucifixion, one of the most horrible and disgraceful methods of capital punishmentknown at the time.

Before Christ was led away, soldiers spit on him, tormented and mocked him, and pierced him with a crown of thorns. Then Jesus carried his own cross to Calvary where, again, he was mocked and insulted as Roman soldiers nailed him to the wooden cross.

Jesus spoke seven final statements from the cross. His first words were, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34, NIV). His last words were, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46, NIV)

Then, about the ninth hour (3 p.m.), Jesus breathed his last breath and died.

By 6 p.m. Friday evening, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ body down from the cross and lay it in a tomb.

Earlier.. A Tenebrae will be held in the church,which is a service of lights where 9 Candles are simultaneously extinguished after the 9 Psalms!

The next event that occurs is the Stations of the Cross, where the The whole Passion drama from the condemnation of Jesus at Caiphas and Pilate’s Palaces, eventual torture and Torment around the streets of Baruwa up to his Crucifixion will be acted by members of the CYON.

The third Event of the Good friday is the Communion service, which comprise of the Liturgy of the word, Veneration of the Cross and The Liturgy of the Communion.

Friday’s events are recorded in Matthew 27:1-62, Mark 15:1-47, Luke 22:63-23:56, and John 18:28-19:37.

HOLY SATURDAY

COLOUR OF VESTMENT – WHITE

The Service of Light

Baptism and Renewal of baptismal vows

The 7th day of the Holy Week, also known as Holy and Great Saturday, the Great Sabbath, Black Saturday, Joyous Saturday, or Easter Eve, and called “the Saturday of Light” among Coptic Christians, is the day after Good Friday. It is the day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week in which Christians prepare for Easter. It commemorates the day that Jesus‘ body lay in the tomb and the Harrowing of Hell.

Although celebrated Holy Saturday evening, it is the dramatic Easter vigil liturgy that marks the beginning of Easter. We are awaiting our master’s return with our lamps full and burning, so that he will find us awake and seat us at his table (cf. Luke 12:35ff). All Catholics should try to attend this beautiful service. The vigil is divided into four parts:

Service of Light,
Liturgy of the Word,
Liturgy of Baptism, and
Liturgy of the Eucharist.

1) Service of Light

The atmosphere in the church is different: the holy water fonts are drained, all the lights are out, the tabernacle is empty. The service begins outside the church. A new fire is lit and blessed.

A Paschal Candle is prepared with these words while the priest marks the candle:

Christ yesterday and today (vertical arm of the cross)
the Beginning and the End (horizontal arm of the cross)
the Alpha (alpha above the cross)
and the Omega (omega below the cross)
All time belongs to him(numeral 2 in upper left corner of cross)
and all the ages (numeral 1 in upper right corner of cross)
To him be glory and power (numeral 4 in lower left corner)
through every age and for ever. Amen (numeral 0 in lower right corner)

Then the priest may insert five grains of incense into the candle in the form of a cross, meanwhile saying:
1. By his holy
2. and glorious wounds,
3. may Christ the Lord
4. guard us
5. and protect us. Amen.

The priest lights the candle from the new fire, saying:

May the light of Christ, rising in glory,
dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.

The candle is then processed through the church, with the Priest/deacon lifting the candle at three different times, singing: The Light of Christ. (or Lumen Christi) and the congregation sings in reply: Thanks be to God (or Deo gratias). Everyone lights their candle from the Easter candle and continue in procession until the whole church is alight. The Paschal candle symbolizes Christ, the Light of the World.

Next follows the glorious Easter song of the Catholic Church: the Exsultet (Easter proclamation). “This magnificent hymn, which is remarkable for its lyric beauty and profound symbolism, announces the dignity and meaning of the mystery of Easter; it tells of man’s sin, of God’s mercy, and of the great love of the Redeemer for mankind, admonishing us in turn to thank the Trinity for all the graces that have been lavished upon us”.

2) Liturgy of the Word

During the Easter vigil, nine readings are provided: seven Old Testament and two New Testament. Not all are required to be read due to time constraints, but at least three Old Testament readings must be read, including Exodus 14. These readings help us meditate on the wonderful works of God for his people since the beginning of time. The readings are:

the story of creation, Gen 1:1-2; 2;
Abraham and Isaac, Gen 22:1-18;
Crossing of the Red Sea, Exodus 14:15–15:1;
Isaiah 54:5-14;
Isaiah 55:1-11;
Baruch 3:9-15.32–4:4;
Ezekiel 36:16-17.18-28;
Romans 6:3-11; and
Gospel reading Mark 16:1-7.

The Gloria is sung before the reading of the Epistle of the Romans, and the Alleluia is sung before the Gospel.

3) Liturgy of Baptism

During this time the Easter water is blessed, new members are brought into the Church through baptism, those that have been prepared in RCIA and have been going through series of Rites For the past few Sundays in the church. Part of the liturgy includes the Litany of the Saints. There are also those who were baptized, but haven’t received the other sacraments of initiation. The catechumens and these faithful are confirmed and will later receive the Holy Eucharist. Afterwards the faithful are blessed with water and all renew their baptismal promises.

4) Liturgy of Eucharist

So resumes the Mass, with the special prayers inserted during the Eucharist Prayer. The whole church is called to join at the sacrificial table that Christ prepared for us through his death and resurrection. The Mass ends with the glorious

V. The Mass is ended, go in peace, alleluia, alleluia.

R. Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.

On this Day, when the Gloria is sung , the church bells are rung again, the Altar will be decorated again with flowers and the Easter Season begins…

THE HOLY WEEK

PALM SUNDAY

The Holy week begins with the Palm Sunday on 14th April, 2019 as we mark the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem!

HOLY TUESDAY

HOLY WEDNESDAY (SPY WEDNESDAY)

HOLY THURSDAY(MAUNDY THURSDAY)

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

“LOVE IS THE VIRTUE THAT FIRES ONE THROUGH PRIESTHOOD”

Youth catechism: 29th November 2017 “My Spiritual Growth”

ENTRANCE OF THE MESSIAH; A CALL FOR PEACE

Novena for the Annunciation (Day5)

About Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church Baruwa