Holy Week is the perfect opportunity to embark on a spiritual pilgrimage, and the perfect time to understand more about the spiritual significance and rituals of this important time in the Catholic liturgical calendar.
Here is an overview of Palm Sunday and the Chrism Mass.
Palm Sunday, April 10, marks the beginning of the Holy Week spiritual pilgrimage.
It is Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. This liturgical feast is named for the palm branches the crowds spread on the ground, as a sign of His kingship, as Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem.
The Palm Sunday Mass also is known for the recitation of the Passion Gospel, a retelling of the account of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection.
This year we will hear the Passion of the Lord according to St. Luke.
Bishop Schlert will celebrate a special evening Palm Sunday Mass for all college students in the Diocese at 9:10 p.m. April 10, at Lehigh University’s Packer Memorial Church. There will be Adoration and Confession available beginning at 8 p.m. More details are available here.
The Chrism Mass is celebrated by Bishop Schlert on the Wednesday of Holy Week.
At this Mass, Bishop Schlert blesses the Oil of Catechumens, and the Oil of the Sick, and consecrates the Sacred Chrism for use in parishes during the upcoming year.
The Chrism Mass is typically the largest gathering of clergy in any diocese throughout the year. It will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 13.
In addition to being open to the faithful, the Chrism Mass will be livestreamed on AD Today.
The use of oil traces its roots to the Bible. Olive oil was prevalent in Jerusalem and had many practical uses: food, heating, light, and healing wounds.
Four sacraments use blessed Oils: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick.
When priests receive the newly blessed Oils this year, they will bury or burn any leftover Oil from last year.
Livestreaming Schedule: Holy Week Masses at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena will be livestreamed on AD Today, the diocesan Facebook page, the diocesan YouTube Channel, and on Service Electric Cable TV Channels 50 and 550: 4/10/22, Palm Sunday, 10 a.m.; 4/13/22, Chrism Mass, 10:30 a.m.; 4/14/22, Holy Thursday, 7:00 p.m.; 4/15/22; Good Friday, 3 p.m.; 4/16/22 Easter Vigil, 8 p.m.; and 4/17/22, Easter Sunday, 10 a.m.
Where does the Pope get those Elaborate Woven Palms?
People have been weaving their palm branches into crosses or other shapes for a long time, but where does the Pope get that elaborate, eight-foot palm creation he carries during Palm Sunday Mass? Here’s an article from Pillar Catholic that explains, along with a short video clip showing “parmureli” being woven.
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