Palm Sunday




This week is called the great, the Holy week, because in it the Church commemorates the holiest and the greatest of all the mysteries of our Redemption--"the Institution of the Holy Eucharist and Holy Mass on Maunday Thursday, and the Cruel Passion and Bitter Death of Christ on Good Friday."

Moreover, it is in this week that she blesses the materials for her greatest mysteries; viz., the water for baptism, the oils for extreme unction, confirmation, ordination, and tho consecration of altars and churches. This week is also particularly appropriate for the reception and baptism of converts, reconciliation of sinners to God by penance, consecration of ministers for the altar, and the reception of the Most Holy Sacrament on Maunday Thursday.

The faithful should be therefore most particularly intent upon sanctifying this holy time by giving themselves up to stricter fasting and closer wateh over their senses; by meditating more frequently on the Passion and Sufferings of Christ, and giving up for love of Him crucified every kind of amusement and recreation.

What a cruel and horrid mockery of their crucified Saviour's love it is that Catholics should join the crowd of the impious, the incredulous, or the thoughtless, and spend Good Friday in frivolous or sinful amusements, thus resembling the Jєωs of old, who rejoiced over the death of their enemy.

bump