March 26, 2026 Anna Neal

Preparing for Holy Week

The holiest week of the Church year is upon us, culminating with Easter Sunday - an annual commemoration of the greatest day in human history. Because the reality of Easter is the most profound one in our faith, Holy Week is deserving of our full, devoted reflection on what led to the sorrow of Good Friday and joy of Easter Sunday.

Palm Sunday

The beginning of Holy Week started on a hopeful note for Jesus and His disciples; as Jesus entered Jerusalem, He was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd, laying the streets with palm branches (a custom of homage for those deserving of great respect). His triumphal arrival was prophesied in the Old Testament: "Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey," (Zechariah 9:9).

Palm Sunday Mass begins with a recreation of this scene, with a blessing of palms outside the sanctuary and a procession into the church. However, the Mass later mirrors the change in Jerusalem throughout the week, as the Gospel for the day is the Passion reading, taking us through Jesus's final hours where the the crowd has turned on Him and condemned Him. Often, this Gospel reading will be participatory, with the congregation responding at certain parts as the crowd. This is an apt reminder of our own role in Jesus' suffering and death.

We receive blessed palm branches on Palm Sunday. Remember, these are blessed, so make sure you do not throw them away! You may burn them on your own, or return them to the church to be burned for next year's ashes for Ash Wednesday.

A short reflection on Palm Sunday from St. Bernard of Clairvaux: “How different the cries, ‘Away with him, away with him, crucify him,’ and then, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, hosanna, in the highest!’ How different the cries that now are calling him ‘King of Israel’ and then in a few days’ time will be saying, ‘We have no king but Caesar!’ What a contrast between the green branches and the cross, between the flowers and the thorns! Before they were offering their own clothes for him to walk upon, and so soon afterwards they are stripping him of his, and casting lots upon them.”

Spy Wednesday

The Wednesday of Holy Week is sometimes referred to as "Spy Wednesday" because it is the day traditionally held to be when Judas decided to betray Jesus, as is found in the Gospels: “Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over,” (Matthew 26:14-16). At this point, Judas becomes a "spy," looking for the opportune time to hand Jesus over.

Traditionally, Wednesdays throughout the year were encouraged to be a day of fasting, partially in remembrance of Judas's betrayal. Though not obligatory, fasting on Spy Wednesday would be an appropriate penance for not only Judas's betrayal, but also our own constant betrayals against Jesus.

Spy Wednesday is the last full day of Lent; however, it is customary to continue your Lenten sacrifice through the Triduum.

Holy Thursday

The Easter Triduum begins with Holy Thursday, the day commemorating the Last Supper and the Agony in the Garden. On this day, Jesus spent His last earthly night sharing a meal with His disciples, during which He instituted both the Eucharist and the apostolic priesthood. He then spent time in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, wrestling with the Father over His fate. The night ended with Judas's kiss of betrayal and Jesus's arrest.

Many times during Holy Thursday does Jesus face the betrayal of His friends. He acknowledges that both Judas and Peter will soon betray Him; His disciples fall asleep after His request that they keep watch with Him in the garden; and Judas officially turns Jesus over to the authorities. The continual theme of this week is that Jesus is constantly being betrayed, both historically during His lifetime and by each of us through our own daily sin.

Though it is not a Holy Day of Obligation, it is wholly fitting to attend Mass on Holy Thursday, since it is the day the Mass was instituted. Often, the Holy Thursday Mass will include a washing of the feet, commemorating when Jesus humbled Himself to wash the feet of His disciples. If you can, make time for the beautiful tradition of visiting seven churches to adore the Blessed Sacrament; you can read more about this special tradition, started by St. Philip Neri, here. Even if you can't make it to seven different churches, perhaps make time just to spend some time in Eucharistic Adoration, thanking Jesus for the gift of the Sacrament.

Resources for Adoration

Good Friday

The name Good Friday seems to be an oxymoron - how could the death of God be good? It is through Jesus's ultimate sacrifice that we are redeemed and given the chance of salvation. As the Easter Vigil hymn cries, 'O happy fault that earned for us so great, so glorious a Redeemer!'

Good Friday should be kept as a quiet day of reflection, especially between the hours of 12 PM and 3 PM (the hours Jesus hung on the cross). It is the only day of the year that Mass is not said, but you can attend a service with hosts consecrated on Holy Thursday. It is also appropriate to say the Stations of the Cross, either on your own or at a church service. Good Friday is a required day of fasting and abstinence; it is also the first day of the Divine Mercy novena, which will conclude on Divine Mercy Sunday (the Second Sunday of Easter).

“Unless there is a Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday.” - Venerable Fulton Sheen

“Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may go to heaven.”- Saint Rose of Lima

Resources for Stations of the Cross:

Meditations on Our Lord's Passion and Death:

Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday was a quiet day in Jerusalem; the disciples hid in fear, not knowing what was to become of them and their movement, while Jesus lay in the tomb, covered by the shroud. Likewise, Holy Saturday for us should also be a quiet day. Though it may be a day of preparation for the Easter feast tomorrow, we should refrain from outright celebration and activity if we can. If you plan on attending the Easter Vigil, save your energy for the hours-long Mass ahead of you!

Reflection on Jesus's descent into Hell on Holy Saturday by Robert Cardinal Sarah: “Just as when we were children, we were afraid to be alone in the dark and could only be assured by the presence of someone who loved us. Well this is exactly what happened on Holy Saturday, the voice of God resounded in the realm of death. The unimaginable occurred; namely, love penetrated Hell.”

Easter Sunday

Easter is the ultimate feast for the Church. Jesus's Resurrection brought victory over death, and proved His divinity. Without the Resurrection, the movement Jesus began very well may have died out. After Good Friday, His disciples were left scattered and scared. Their leader was dead, and their very existence was threatened by both their Jewish peers and the Roman Empire. Had Jesus not risen from the dead, His life and teachings may have trickled down through a few generations before being lost to the ages.

But He did rise. In doing so, He conquered death - not only His own death, but ours as well. He truly was the Sacrificial Lamb. In giving Himself up to die, He took on the burden of our sins. Read a longer reflection on the joy of Easter here.

Easter isn't just one day of celebration, but rather, a whole season! Make sure you celebrate with good food, good drink, and good company on Easter Sunday, and then continue the party through the Easter Octave and until Pentecost. And remember, every Sunday is a little Easter, worthy of its own celebration and relaxation.

Easter Basket Bundles - Buy 5 items, get 20% off purchase

Kid's Easter Books and Goodies:

Journey with Jesus

This Holy Week, devote yourself to truly journeying with Jesus during His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. On the days that call for quiet reflection, clear your life of distractions so that you may unite your sufferings to Christ's, and consider your own part in causing Jesus's death. On Easter Sunday, celebrate and thank God for His unending love, mercy, and goodness. Happy Easter!

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