Palm Sunday [UPDATED]



UPDATED 4/4/20

See later post for suggested prayer service

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As we enter into Holy Week this Sunday, we ask the Lord to help us stay focused on His Passion, Suffering, Death and saving Resurrection, as much as we might be tempted to stay glued to the grim news of the coronavirus instead.

For your Palm Sunday prayer and reflection, I am including some links I hope will be helpful:

Scripture

We are all familiar with the tradition of reading through the Gospel story of the Passion (suffering) of Jesus Christ.  Many parishes read that in parts, with the priest reading the part of Christ, with a narrator and the congregation praying the prayers of the people.

This year, the Church reflects on St. Matthew's account of the Passion.  You can read that Gospel here. If you are praying with a family, I recommend reading it in turn, so that each family member gets to participate.  For example, the father reading the part of Christ, the mother narrating, the children being the other voices.   Or, you could just take turns reading it straight through.

Music

The Church has a rich treasury of music for Holy Week.

I am including some YouTube versions of hymns appropriate for Palm Sunday below.

  • All Glory, Laud & Honor - a traditional hymn sung during the entrance (Palm) Procession.  This version is taken from the National Catholic Shrine in Washington, D.C. (Basilica of the Immaculate Conception).    Written by an 8th century bishop.  Lyrics here.
  • O Sacred Head Surrounded, sung by the Benedictine Sisters of Mary from Kansas.  A hauntingly beautiful reflection on the Crucifixion of Our Lord, that is fitting to accompany the Passion reading.  This was probably written by the great 11th century saint Bernard of Clairvaux.  Lyrics here.
  • Finally, here is a Latin hymn called Pueri Hebraeorum (Children of the Hebrews) an ancient chant popularized by one of the greatest Catholic musicians of all time, 16th century Italian musician Palestrina.  Lyrics here.
  • And for good measure, since we should always be reminded that we are a universal Church united under the headship of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, here is a recording of the Palm Sunday blessing and procession at St. Peter's in the Vatican a while back.   I am always impressed with the way they do that procession at St. Peter's -- with real, live palm branches instead of the dried out fronds we typically use here in the U.S.  Gives more of an idea of what it would be like when Our Lord Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem and people were strewing palm branches at his feet.






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