Holy Week in the Catholic Church: A Detailed Journey Through the Liturgies from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday

Holy Week in the Catholic Church: A Detailed Journey Through the Liturgies from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday

Holy Week, the most sacred time in the Catholic liturgical calendar, commemorates the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Spanning from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, this week is marked by profound liturgies that draw the faithful into the Paschal Mystery. Each day features specific rubrics, ceremonies, sacramentals, vestments, and liturgical colors, reflecting the solemnity and joy of Christ’s redemptive work. This post provides a detailed exploration of these liturgies, based on the Roman Rite (Ordinary Form), with references to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) and the Roman Missal.

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Overview: Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week, commemorating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and foreshadowing His Passion. The liturgy balances celebration and sorrow.

Rubrics and Ceremonies:

• Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance: The Mass begins with a procession or solemn entrance, recalling Jesus’ entry (GIRM 37). Options include:
  • First Form (Procession): The faithful gather outside the church (e.g., in a courtyard) with palm branches. The priest, wearing a red cope, blesses the branches with holy water using an aspergillum, often reciting: “May these branches be a sign of His victory.” The Gospel of the entry (e.g., Matthew 21:1-11 in Year A) is proclaimed, followed by a procession into the church with the hymn Hosanna Filio David or All Glory, Laud, and Honor.
  • Second Form (Solemn Entrance): If a procession isn’t feasible, the entrance occurs at the church door with the same blessing and Gospel.
  • Third Form (Simple Entrance): The priest enters as usual, with the congregation holding palms, and the entrance antiphon is sung.
• Mass of the Passion: The tone shifts to Christ’s suffering. The Passion narrative (e.g., Matthew 26:14-27:66 in Year A) is read, often with parts assigned to a narrator, the priest (Christ’s words), and the congregation (the crowd). The homily is brief, focusing on the Passion.

Sacramentals: Palms or olive branches, blessed with holy water, are distributed to the faithful, who keep them as sacramentals, often placing them in homes as a sign of Christ’s victory.

Vestments and Colors: Red vestments are worn, symbolizing Christ’s kingship and the bloodshed of His Passion. The priest may wear a red cope for the procession, switching to a red chasuble for Mass.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week

Overview: These days prepare for the Triduum, focusing on Christ’s final teachings and the events leading to His arrest.

Rubrics and Ceremonies:

• Mass: The ordinary Mass structure is followed, with readings pointing to the Passion (e.g., Isaiah 42:1-7 on Monday, John 13:21-38 on Tuesday). The Gospel often highlights Judas’s betrayal and Peter’s denial.
• Chrism Mass (Optional): On Tuesday or Wednesday, the diocesan bishop celebrates the Chrism Mass, typically at the cathedral. The oils for the sick, catechumens, and chrism are blessed, to be used in sacraments throughout the year. Priests renew their ordination promises. The bishop wears white vestments, symbolizing purity and joy.

Sacramentals: No specific sacramentals are mandated, though the faithful may continue to reflect on their blessed palms.

Vestments and Colors: Purple vestments are worn, reflecting penance and preparation. White is used for the Chrism Mass, signifying the joy of the sacraments.

Holy Thursday: Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Overview: Holy Thursday begins the Sacred Triduum, commemorating the Last Supper, the institution of the Eucharist, and the priesthood.

Rubrics and Ceremonies:

• Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Celebrated in the evening, this Mass includes:
  • Washing of the Feet (Mandatum): The priest washes the feet of 12 people (often men, though Pope Francis expanded this to include women and non-Catholics), recalling Jesus’ act of humility (John 13:1-15). The hymn Ubi Caritas is sung.
  • Institution of the Eucharist: The Gospel (John 13:1-15) and the Eucharistic Prayer emphasize Christ’s gift of Himself. Bells are rung during the Gloria, then silenced until the Easter Vigil.
  • Procession to the Altar of Repose: After Communion, the consecrated hosts are carried in a ciborium, covered with a white humeral veil, to an altar of repose (a side chapel or decorated space). The faithful are invited to adore the Blessed Sacrament late into the night, recalling Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane. The hymn Pange Lingua (ending with Tantum Ergo) is sung.
• Stripping of the Altar: After the procession, the altar is stripped bare, symbolizing Christ’s abandonment. The sanctuary is left empty, with the tabernacle open and the sanctuary lamp extinguished.

Sacramentals: The Blessed Sacrament is central, with the ciborium and humeral veil used in the procession. Incense may accompany the procession, and flowers often adorn the altar of repose.

Vestments and Colors: White vestments are worn, symbolizing the joy of the Eucharist’s institution. The priest may wear a white cope for the procession.

Good Friday: Celebration of the Lord’s Passion

Overview: Good Friday is a day of fasting and mourning, focusing on Christ’s crucifixion and death.

Rubrics and Ceremonies:

• Liturgy of the Passion: Held in the afternoon (traditionally at 3 p.m., the hour of Christ’s death), this is not a Mass but a service with three parts:
  • Liturgy of the Word: Readings include Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (the Suffering Servant) and John 18:1-19:42 (the Passion). The homily is brief, followed by the Solemn Intercessions—10 prayers for the Church, the world, and those in need.
  • Adoration of the Cross: A large cross (or crucifix) is unveiled in three stages, with the priest chanting, “Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the salvation of the world,” and the congregation responding, “Come, let us adore.” The faithful venerate the cross by kissing or touching it, often while singing Reproaches or Crux Fidelis.
  • Communion Service: The priest brings the Blessed Sacrament from the altar of repose (no consecration occurs). After Communion, the ciborium is returned to the sacristy, and the altar is stripped again.

Sacramentals: The cross is the focal sacramental, often adorned with a red or purple cloth during unveiling. No candles or altar cloths are used, emphasizing desolation.

Vestments and Colors: Red vestments are worn, symbolizing Christ’s blood. The priest may wear a black stole for the intercessions, though red is standard.

Holy Saturday: The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night

Overview: The Easter Vigil, the “mother of all vigils,” celebrates Christ’s resurrection, typically beginning after nightfall.

Rubrics and Ceremonies:

• Service of Light: The liturgy begins in darkness outside the church with the blessing of the new fire. The Paschal Candle, inscribed with a cross, the year, and the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, is lit from the fire. The priest inserts five grains of incense into the candle, symbolizing Christ’s wounds, and says, “By His holy and glorious wounds, may Christ the Lord guard and protect us.” The candle is carried into the church, with the deacon or priest chanting, “The Light of Christ,” and the congregation responding, “Thanks be to God.” The faithful light their candles from the Paschal Candle, and the Exsultet (Easter Proclamation) is sung.
• Liturgy of the Word: Up to nine readings trace salvation history (e.g., Genesis 1:1-2:2, Exodus 14:15-15:1). The Gloria is sung for the first time since Holy Thursday, with bells rung, and the altar candles are lit. The Epistle (Romans 6:3-11) and Gospel (e.g., Matthew 28:1-10 in Year A) proclaim Christ’s resurrection.
• Baptismal Liturgy: Catechumens are baptized and confirmed, often by immersion or pouring. The congregation renews their baptismal promises, and the priest sprinkles them with holy water using an aspergillum while Vidi Aquam is sung.
• Liturgy of the Eucharist: The first Mass of Easter follows, with the newly baptized often receiving their First Communion.

Sacramentals: The Paschal Candle, new fire, holy water, and baptismal font are central. Incense is used during the Exsultet and Gospel.

Vestments and Colors: White or gold vestments are worn, symbolizing resurrection and glory. The deacon may wear a white dalmatic for the Exsultet.

Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord

Overview: Easter Sunday celebrates Christ’s victory over death, the culmination of the Triduum.

Rubrics and Ceremonies:

• Mass of Easter Day: The Mass follows the usual structure, with the Sequence Victimae Paschali Laudes sung before the Gospel (e.g., John 20:1-9). The renewal of baptismal promises may be repeated. The Paschal Candle remains lit near the ambo or altar throughout the Easter season.
• Easter Octave: The joy of Easter extends for eight days, with each Mass reflecting the resurrection theme.

Sacramentals: The Paschal Candle remains prominent, and holy water is used for sprinkling if the baptismal renewal occurs.

Vestments and Colors: White or gold vestments continue, symbolizing joy and victory. The priest may wear a festive chasuble with gold embroidery.

Conclusion: A Week of Transformation

Holy Week’s liturgies—from the palms of triumph to the empty tomb—immerse the faithful in the Paschal Mystery. Each ceremony, from the washing of feet to the lighting of the Paschal Candle, uses rubrics, sacramentals, and vestments to draw us into Christ’s journey. The colors—red for Passion, purple for penance, white for glory—mirror the emotional arc from sorrow to joy. As we participate, we’re not just spectators but partakers in the mystery of redemption, called to live the resurrection in our daily lives. “Christ is risen, alleluia!”—may this truth transform us as we walk through this sacred week.

Sources:

• General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM). 2011.
• Roman Missal, Third Edition. 2011.
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum. 2023.
• Bible (RSV): Matthew 21:1-11, John 13:1-15, John 18:1-19:42, etc.