The greatest and holiest of weeks is upon us. The main mysteries of the Catholic faith are commemorated throughout these seven days: the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the week progresses, we see in both the Gospel accounts and the sacred liturgy of the Church how the Cross opens the way to Paschal victory.
“Therefore,” states the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Easter is not simply one feast among others, but the ‘Feast of feasts,’ the ‘Solemnity of solemnities,’ just as the Eucharist is the ‘Sacrament of sacraments’ (the Great Sacrament). Saint Athanasius calls Easter ‘the Great Sunday,’ and the Eastern Churches call Holy Week ‘the Great Week.’ The mystery of the Resurrection, in which Christ conquered death, permeates our old time with its powerful energy, until all is subjected to him” (n. 1169).
Below, we share a brief guide for each day of Holy Week, with a description of the biblical events remembered on each day, along with some notes on the day’s liturgical celebrations according to the Roman Rite.
Palm Sunday
We remember Jesus’ solemn entry into Jerusalem, where he knew he would suffer and die.
“He did not fall victim to Jewish hatred; he voluntarily went to his death, with true freedom. His death had been divinely decreed as the price of man’s redemption. This festive entry was his wedding march as he prepared to seal his Spouse’s love for humanity with blood” (Pius Parsch, The Church’s Year of Grace, vol. II, 291).
Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, while the crowd waved palms in his honor and proclaimed:
“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mt 21:9). This happened to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Zechariah: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden’” (Mt 21:5; cf. Zech 9:9).
When Jesus drew near and saw the city from the Mount of Olives, he wept over it:
“Would that you, even you, had known on this day what makes for peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation” (Lk 19:42-44).
On this day, we carry palms as a sign of our loyalty to the Lord and our readiness to pay him homage. During this day, he is given a welcome worthy of a king; in a few days, this crown of glory will be replaced by a crown of thorns.
- You might be interested in: 7 Holy Places to See in Jerusalem
Holy Monday
After spending the night in Bethany, Jesus departs for Jerusalem early in the morning. The Gospel tells us he was hungry; from this, we can deduce that he was fasting. We should all fast during these last days of Lent.
Seeing a fig tree that had only leaves and no fruit, Jesus curses it. The fig tree represents the spiritual barrenness of Israel, which, though outwardly very religious, was spiritually empty due to sin and the stubborn rejection of the Messiah. By cursing the fig tree, Jesus announces the coming judgment: the Old Testament gives way to the New Covenant.
Jesus enters the Temple and drives out the money changers with righteous indignation:
“My house shall be a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers” (Lk 19:46).
In these final days of Lent, we must strive to expel sin from the temple of our soul through fasting and confession.
Holy Tuesday
Returning to Jerusalem, the disciples see the fig tree withered from the roots. Jesus teaches in the Temple and is questioned by priests and scribes. He warns them:
“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats… who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive a severer condemnation” (Lk 20:46-47).
Then, on the Mount of Olives, he delivers a discourse on the destruction of Jerusalem and his second coming.
Holy Wednesday
In Bethany, a woman anoints Jesus with costly pure nard. Judas protests, feigning concern for the poor, but in reality, he was a thief. Jesus replies:
“The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me” (Jn 12:8).
That day, the chief priests deliberate on how to put Jesus to death. Judas comes forward and asks, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” (Mt 26:15). They offer him thirty pieces of silver, and the pact is sealed.
From the earliest centuries, the Church has dedicated this day to acts of penance in reparation for the betrayal.
The Paschal Triduum
The Paschal Triduum marks the end of Lent. Although they are three chronological days, they constitute a single great liturgical day that unfolds the unity of the Paschal Mystery. It comprises: the Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Thursday evening), the Liturgy of the Passion (Good Friday at three in the afternoon), and the celebration of the Resurrection which begins with the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night.
Also significant are the Tenebrae services, with the chanting of Jeremiah’s Lamentations and the gradual extinguishing of fifteen candles, leaving only one, a symbol of Christ.
Holy Thursday
In the morning (or on another nearby day), the bishop celebrates the Chrism Mass, where he consecrates the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick, and the holy chrism.
In the Mass “In Cena Domini,” the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood is commemorated:
“Do this in remembrance of me” (Lk 22:19).
The washing of the feet is performed as a sign of the commandment of love. After Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is taken to the altar of repose, which recalls Gethsemane.
Good Friday
A day of profound mourning. Mass is not celebrated, but rather the Liturgy of the Passion, with readings, universal prayer, adoration of the Cross, and communion. At noon, Jesus is nailed to the Cross; at three in the afternoon, he gives up his spirit. He is the true Paschal Lamb.
- You may be interested in: The Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday
A day of silence and waiting. Christ rests in the tomb; his soul descends to the “place of the dead” to free the righteous. In the evening, the Easter Vigil takes place, “the mother of all vigils,” with the liturgy of light and the baptism of catechumens.
Easter Sunday
The Christian heart rejoices: “He has risen, as he said” (Mt 28:6). Christ has conquered sin and death. The Catechism teaches:
“The Resurrection of Christ is the fulfillment of the promises of the Old Testament and of those he himself made during his earthly life. The expression ‘according to the Scriptures’ indicates that Christ’s Resurrection fulfilled these predictions. The risen Christ is the principle and source of our future resurrection: ‘Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep… For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.’ The Risen One lives in the hearts of his faithful as they await his full manifestation…” (nn. 652, 655).
How to Live Holy Week Well?
Some tips for living with fervor and bearing abundant fruit:
1. Participate in the daily liturgy
Attending the celebrations of Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday and, if possible, the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, helps you accompany Jesus in his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Active participation gives spiritual meaning to each day.
2. Intensify your prayer and silence
Set aside daily moments to speak with God and listen to his voice. Morning prayer, examination of conscience, and times of silence can help deepen your relationship with Him and prepare your heart for the mystery of Easter.
3. Reduce distractions
The Church advises reducing distractions during Holy Week (such as technological distractions or non-essential activities) to focus attention on faith and what is being celebrated.
4. Seek the sacrament of reconciliation
Confession is a traditional means of preparing the heart for Easter. Making a good confession during Holy Week renews grace and inner peace before receiving the Eucharist.
5. Fasting and penance on designated days
In addition to Ash Wednesday, the Church promotes fasting and abstinence especially on Good Friday and, if possible, also on Holy Saturday. This helps unite our sacrifices to those of Christ.
What is Holy Week?
Holy Week is the most important week in the Christian liturgical calendar. In it, the Church commemorates the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the center of the Catholic faith.
When is Holy Week celebrated?
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and culminates with Easter Sunday. Its dates change each year because they depend on the lunar calendar: it is celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (in the Northern Hemisphere).
What is the Paschal Triduum?
The Paschal Triduum is the heart of Holy Week. It comprises Holy Thursday (Mass of the Lord’s Supper), Good Friday (Passion of the Lord), and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, where the Resurrection is celebrated.
Why is Mass not celebrated on Good Friday?
Because on that day the Church remembers the death of Christ on the cross. Instead of Mass, the Liturgy of the Passion is celebrated, which includes the proclamation of the Gospel, the adoration of the Cross, and communion.
How should Holy Week be lived according to the Church?
The Church invites us to live it with prayer, participation in liturgical celebrations, confession, fasting, acts of charity, and inner recollection, spiritually accompanying Jesus on his journey to the Cross and Resurrection.
