Christ the King Church
  • Home
    • Staff
    • Links
  • Bulletin
  • Parish Life
    • Homilies
    • Parish Blog
    • Welcome
  • Ministries
    • Ministry Schedules
    • PCCW
    • Homebound Ministry
    • Welcome Ministry
    • Kitchen Ministry
    • Bereavement Ministry
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Reconciliation
    • Holy Communion
    • Confirmation
  • Religious Education
    • RE Classes >
      • Catechist's Corner
    • Prayers
    • Sunday School (4 & 5 yrs)
    • Adult Education >
      • Adult Classes
      • Bible Study
      • CIY Discussion Groups
      • Franciscan at Home
    • MERIT - for Special Needs
    • Columbus Catholic Schools
  • Youth Ministry
    • Serving the Community >
      • Rotary Winter Wonderland

Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus During Holy Week

7/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Near the conclusion of Lent we enter into the holiest week of the year: Holy Week. Starting with Palm Sunday, the Church focuses our attention on the passion, death and resurrection of Christ.

Holy Week closely follows the Gospel narrative and we are immersed into the final week of Jesus' mortal life. Beginning with Palm Sunday, we walk closely behind Jesus and observe his every move. The Catechism explains the significance of this episode,

"How will Jerusalem welcome her Messiah? Although Jesus had always refused popular attempts to make him king, he chooses the time and prepares the details for his messianic entry into the city of "his father David". Acclaimed as son of David, as the one who brings salvation (Hosanna means "Save!" or "Give salvation!"), the "King of glory" enters his City "riding on an ass". Jesus conquers the Daughter of Zion, a figure of his Church, neither by ruse nor by violence, but by the humility that bears witness to the truth. And so the subjects of his kingdom on that day are children and God's poor, who acclaim him as had the angels when they announced him to the shepherds.Their acclamation, "Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord", is taken up by the Church in the "Sanctus" of the Eucharistic liturgy that introduces the memorial of the Lord's Passover.

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem manifested the coming of the kingdom that the King-Messiah was going to accomplish by the Passover of his Death and Resurrection. It is with the celebration of that entry on Palm Sunday that the Church's liturgy solemnly opens Holy Week. (559-560)

During this special liturgy, we listen attentively to the Passion Narrative and even participate ourselves by taking the role of the crowd. In doing so, we recognize that Jesus died for us and the fruit of His action 2,000 years ago was not limited to the people of Jerusalem, but has been applied to all peoples and places for all human history.

As we progress through Holy Week, we come upon Holy Thursday, where we commemorate the institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper. Traditionally it is on this day that priests renew their vows at the Chrism Mass at the local cathedral. This links the two days and shows how Jesus instituted the Holy Priesthood on that day. We then join Jesus after the evening Mass and spend at least an hour with Him before the Blessed Sacrament. This unites us with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, where His own disciples fell asleep while He prayed. We seek to comfort Jesus in His sorrow and wait in prayer for the fateful day of His crucifixion.

On Good Friday, Mass is not celebrated. The service held on Good Friday is a continuation of the Holy Thursday Mass and the solemn nature of service reflects the mournful tone of the day. We again hear the Passion Narrative and then venerate the wood of the cross. In some traditions, a tomb is erected in the church and the body of Jesus is laid to rest. All of these signs, symbols and activities allow us the opportunity to spiritually feel the hurt and pain of Jesus' passion.

However, the sorrow of Good Friday does not have the last say. Next week we will see how the Easter Vigil overcomes the sadness we felt and brings us to the joys of the Resurrection.

Read the Entire Series
  • What is Almsgiving?
  • Why Do We Abstain from Meat on Fridays?
  • Entering into a Prayerful Lent: Stations of the Cross
  • What is the Purpose of Lent?
  • What is Ordinary Time All About?
  • The Epiphany Blessing - A Beautiful Tradition During the Christmas Season
  • The Prophecy is Fulfilled: The Joyous Christmas Season
  • The Start of a New Year - Advent
  • The Liturgical Year - Christ's Life Relived Each Year

Picture

Stay Connected to Our Parish

* indicates required
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    MASS SCHEDULE
      Tuesday - Friday: 8:00 AM
      Saturday: 4:00 PM
      Sunday: 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM

    RECONCILIATION
    ​   Saturday:  3:15 - 3:45 PM
    OFFICE HOURS
    ​   Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
       Friday:  8:30 AM – 12:30 PM​​

    Stay Connected with Our Parish

    Welcome from Our Pastor

    Picture
    Welcome to Christ the King Catholic Church!  Ever since 1938 this parish has been assisting souls in their quest for deeper union with God.  Our mission statement is essentially found in the stained glass window above the main altar:  “For Christ our King.”  Insofar as God made us and we belong to Him, we have come to... Read More

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All
    Catholic News
    Faith Formation
    Homilies
    Parish News
    Pastor's Desk
    Youth Ministry

    RSS Feed

All photos and videos on this site are used with permission. Unauthorized duplication, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.
​Copyright © 2022 Christ the King Parish. All Rights Reserved.

Mailing address:  306 S. LaSalle St, Spencer, WI 54479
(715) 659-4480