Holy Week, the week from Palm Sunday (April 9) to Easter (April 16), is a week for Christians to commemorate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
While on Ash Wednesday Christians begin their spiritual preparation for Easter, Holy Week marks the final phase of that preparation.
On Palm Sunday, which falls on April 9 this year, palm branches are blessed and carried in procession to ritually reenact Jesus’ triumphal entry in his own city of Jerusalem to complete his work of salvation by suffering, dying and rising again.
As recorded in the Gospel, Jesus entered amidst shouts of an enthusiastic, welcoming crowd. “Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” they cried.
Many Christians throughout the world have prepared for this day, throughout the past five weeks of Lent, by prayer and works of charity and self-sacrifice as an act of spiritual renewal and penance for sin.
On this same day, the Passion and death of Jesus are proclaimed as a reminder of how fickle and unfaithful the human heart can be, cheering “Hosanna” one minute and “Crucify Him” the next. This is the beginning of the holiest week for Christians. It is commonly referred to as “Holy Week.”
As far back as the fifth century, Christians of Jerusalem used to gather in the early afternoon on the Mount of Olives to reflect on our Lord’s life. Then, toward the evening, they would go in procession into Jerusalem, carrying palm or olive branches. This practice soon spread throughout the Churches in the East and the West. By the year 600, the name Palm Sunday was becoming common place.
The custom of blessing the “palm branches” occurred around the middle of the eighth century. Since palm and olive branches were not available in many parts of the world, other items were used in their absence. For example, in Germany, willow branches were used. Other places used green and blossoming branches of various trees.
Palm branches historically symbolized life, hope and victory. However, popular belief also attributed great power and even magical effects to them. Among the pagan Greeks and Romans, branches of certain trees were believed to ward off evil spirits and protect houses, farms and pastures from such spirits.
Today, the blessing of palms represents a form of intercession for God’s help against the many threats to human existence and salvation. Blessed or consecrated objects are symbols; they express and stimulate faith, hope and love. They do not possess magical power.
Today, palms received on Palm Sunday are a reminder of Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and his death and resurrection. After Palm Sunday, it has become tradition to display them, often braided or woven into some artistic form along with a crucifix or sacred picture. On the following Ash Wednesday, they may be burned into ashes and used for the beginning of Lent.
Editor's Note: The main image accompanying this guest column shows palm branches being sold by street vendors outside the Parroquia San Martín de Porres in the Benito Juárez colonia of Reynosa. (Photo: RGG/Steve Taylor)
