By Kari Bergmann
“On Palm Sunday, we celebrate the first joy of the season, as we celebrate Our Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem where he was welcomed by crowds worshiping him and laying down palm leaves before him. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week, with the greatest tragedy and sorrow of the year.”
If you haven’t already done so, Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week is a perfect time to set up a prayer space in your home. You can use a crucifix, icons, holy images or any religious statues that you have to create a focus.
For the rest of Lent you can use purple fabric because it symbolizes “mourning and so anticipates the pain and suffering of the crucifixion, and secondly because purple is the colour associated with royalty, and celebrates Christ's resurrection and sovereignty”. Try to establish the space somewhere central in your home where everyone in the household can gather together for prayer.
Over the Week ahead try to establish a regular prayer routine where everyone comes together in the morning or evening (or both) to pray. If you have children, try to make sure everyone is involved in some way. Someone can be in charge of lighting candles, while another child can lead a prayer, and another child can be in charge of reading from the Bible, etc. You may wish to sing a hymn together as a family or listen to some sacred music. Whatever you decide to do, try to be consistent. Establishing some kind of routine for prayer (and other things) is very helpful for adults and children when there is so much change and unpredictability in the world.
Ask the kids to gather green foliage from your yard to decorate your family prayer space. Explain to your children why Palm Sunday is significant and why crowds gathered palms to wave an lay at Jesus’ feet (the return of the king to Jerusalem).
You can find a free lesson with activities here https://ministry-to-children.com/palm-sunday-lesson/.
A YouTube Video explaining Palm Sunday to children: The Story of Easter (The Triumphal Entry)-3 minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-39h0xYqdE.
Let's celebrate this weekend in our homes - the domestic church - and show the rest of the community that we remain faithful by placing a palm on our letterboxes or near the front of our homes. Let's be united as the Body of Christ during these uncertain times.
In Holy Week, when the most bitter sufferings of Jesus Christ are put before us by the liturgy, the Church invites us to come to Calvary and follow in the blood-stained footsteps of the Divine Redeemer, to carry the Cross willingly with Him, to reproduce in our hearts His spirit of expiation and atonement, and to die together with Him.
We ought to glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
Response: in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection.
Let us pray, all-powerful, eternal God, You have chosen to give mankind a model of humility; our Saviour took on our flesh, and subjected Himself to the Cross. Grant us the grace to preserve faithfully the lessons He has given us in his Passion and to have a share in His resurrection. This we ask of You through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.
Response: Amen.
Favour this dwelling, Lord, with Your presence. Far from it repulse all the wiles of Satan. Your holy angels, let them live here, to keep us in peace. And may your blessing remain always upon us. This we ask of You through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.
Let us bless the Lord.
Response: Thanks be to God.
May the almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless and keep us.
Response: Amen.
Here is a great short video from Bishop Robert Barron on Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday Mass will be celebrated at St Patrick’s Cathedral at 11am this Sunday. You can watch the live stream of the Mass by visiting http://melbournecatholic.org.au/Mass.The liturgy of the Word for Palm Sunday, read by Fr Pearce, is also available to listen to on Holy Family’s website at https://holyfamily.melbourne/connect/sunday/holy-week.
You can pray along with this Way of the Cross by St Francis of Assisi on YouTube -34 minutes