THE activities the church dishes out on Holy Week have always fascinated me. Palm Sunday processions, Holy Thursday washing of feet, Altars of Repose, Holy Thursday vigils, Good Friday dramatization of stations of the cross, 3pm Good Friday services, statues covered on Good Friday (I always believe in my heart that the saints at that time are mourning with the Church on earth as we remember the Lord’s good deed on Good Friday), veneration of the crucifix, etc. These are all part of the rich tradition and practices of holy mother church from time immemorial. I did not experience that richness in my former church—not to this extent anyway. I love the Catholic Church during Lent, especially during Holy Week. The processions on Palm Sunday should not be seen as mere parading on the urban and rural streets, putting on a show for curious onlookers but rather this act by the faithful on the first day of the week that changed our world is a true outward and physical demonstration of our conviction of the Lord as King. The great hymns many churches sing on this day is “All Glory Laud and Honour to you Redeemer King, on whom the lips of Children made sweet Hosanna’s ring”, and “Ride on Ride on Your Majesty”. While we are turning back the hands of time 2000 years ago during Palm Sunday processions, the Church has preserved a very old tradition, one of the true hallmarks of this week’s celebrations.

But after all the gaiety and jollity of the processions on Sunday, the Church’s mood goes as somber as it will ever be for the rest of the week, climaxing in the divine Holy Thursday liturgy of the Lord’s Supper. The bells of the Church ring out for one last time, before they go in silence for the next three days, during the Gloria in Excelcis Deo.

One of the key things Fr Montrose, parish priest in New Amsterdam, left with parishioners who attended the three- day “Symbols of Holy Week” retreat and tutoring sessions was to “pay attention”—pay attention to the rituals, symbols and meanings behind every act and deed during this special week. He began discussing Holy Thursday, then Good Friday and finally expounded on the meanings and significance of everything we do as Catholics on Holy Saturday and Easter. It is a pity more people were not present at those sessions, people who are really baffled and puzzled at the happenings during this week.

The same packed churches this Friday must return on the Saturday evening to celebrate the Lord’s triumphant victory over the grave. How many of us give only half the devotion and dedication to the activities of this week. We are absent on the most important night in the life of the Church; the night that the Church’s existence is based upon—the night, if it didn’t exist, would make all of our faiths and religion pointless!
Yes, our Holy Father Pope Benedict’s Holy week message was for the young people in our midst today. He urges them to live pure and innocent lives, to reject the material things of this world. He told them that to follow God they should have “innocent hands and pure hearts.” “Innocent hands are hands that are not used for acts of violence,” he told them. “They are hands that are not sullied by corruption and bribes.” Hearts are pure when they are not “stained by lies and hypocrisy,” he said. “A heart is pure when it is estranged from the intoxication of pleasure; a heart for whom love is true and not just the passion of a moment,” he said. True words of wisdom by this religious scholar. Listen well, young people!
Palm Sunday pictures from the Anglicans and Catholics in New Amsterdam are up at my website www.leonjsuseran.webs.com. Other pictures from the Triduum celebrations will also be posted in time. Tell your friends and family about the pictures. A Blessed and Joyous Easter to All!!