You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘palm sunday’ tag.
Amid the enthusiasm about Pope Francis and his first Psalm Sunday Mass, this little news item got snowed under, at least in my perception. La Stampa‘s Vatican Insider and APIC had reports today.
Concelebrating yesterday’s Mass with the Holy Father, among others, was Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy. He was visible every now and then on he Vatican live feed up until the homily, but was conspicuously absent afterwards. Today we learned the reason for that: Cardinal Piacenza had suffered a cardiac arrest, had fallen, and was taken to the intensive care unit of the Roman Gemelli hospital. The good news is that Cardinal Piacenza is not in mortal danger, and never was, but the episode was alarming nonetheless.
Extra prayers for the good cardinal who, in the eyes of more than a few, has good chances of new and greater duties in the Curia under Pope Francis.
Photo credit: afp
Today, the final stage of our journey begins as we enter Jerusalem with Jesus Christ. The people cheer and welcome Him, but behind the scene the plotting already begins…
It was two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by some trick and have him put to death. For they said, ‘It must not be during the festivities, or there will be a disturbance among the people.’
He was at Bethany in the house of Simon, a man who had suffered from a virulent skin-disease; he was at table when a woman came in with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the ointment on his head.
Some who were there said to one another indignantly, ‘Why this waste of ointment? Ointment like this could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor’; and they were angry with her.
But Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. Why are you upsetting her? What she has done for me is a good work. You have the poor with you always, and you can be kind to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have me. She has done what she could: she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. In truth I tell you, wherever throughout all the world the gospel is proclaimed, what she has done will be told as well, in remembrance of her.’
Mark 14: 1-9
Our celebration of today is twofold: on the one hand we are happy because Christ is among us. We honour Him like the woman, who are may or not have been St. Mary Magdalene, with the costly oil. And it is good that we do so. If we do not honour Christ, our good works for the poor are empty, because He is the poor man, the hungry man, the sick man. Just like faith without good works is just empty words, so good works without faith are just empty actions.
But in the meantime, the events of the coming week are also present. The authorities are plotting to have Christ arrested, but quietly, so as not to disturb the festivities and the people. There is little doubt that Jesus knows full well that they are doing so. He knows why He is in Jerusalem. His anointing is a preparation for His sacrifice. The sacrifice is made pleasant before God. Jesus is honoured and through Him, His Father also.
So the Passion begins…
Art credit: Speculum humanae salvationis of Colgone, ca. 1450
Holy Week i rapidly approaching, and since this time last year I received some questions about Mass times in various Dutch churches for this busiest of times of the liturgical year, below follow Mass times for all Dutch cathedrals, except the cathedral of St. Catherine in Utrecht, for which I have been unable to find a schedule online. If anyone knows more, by all means, share it in the comments.
Cathedral of SS. Joseph and Martin
Radesingel 4, Groningen
Palm Sunday (1 April)
- 9am: Holy Mass in Latin
- 11am: Holy Mass
- 5pm: Holy Mass in Polish
Maundy Thursday (5 April)
- 7pm: Holy Mass
Good Friday (6 April)
- 2pm: Stations of the Cross for children
- 3pm: Stations of the Cross
- 7pm: Service of the Passion of the Lord
Holy Saturday (7 April)
- 11:30pm: Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday (8 April)
- 9am: Holy Mass in Latin
- 11am: Holy Mass, offered by Bishop Gerard de Korte
Easter Monday (9 April)
- 11am: Holy Mass
Cathedral Basilica of St. Bavo
Leidsevaart 146, Haarlem
Palm Sunday
- 10am: Holy Mass, offered by Bishop Jos Punt
- Noon: Holy Mass for children
Maundy Thursday
- 7:30pm: Holy Mass
Good Friday
- 3pm: Stations of the Cross
- 7:30: Service of the Passion of the Lord
- 9:30pm: Dark Matins
Holy Saturday
- 10pm: Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday
- 10pm: Holy Mass, offered by Bishop Jos Punt
- Noon: Holy Mass in Indonesian
Easter Monday
- 10pm: Holy Mass
Cathedral of SS. Lawrence and Elisabeth
Mathenesserlaan 305, Rotterdam
Palm Sunday
- 11pm: Holy Mass
Maundy Thursday
- 6pm: Holy Mass
Good Friday
- 10:30am: Stations of the Cross for children
- 3pm: Stations of the Cross
- 19:30pm: Service of the Passion of the Lord
Holy Saturday
- 10:30pm: Easter Vigil, offered by Bishop Hans van den Hende
Easter Sunday
- 11am: Holy Mass, offered by Bishop Hans van den Hende
Easter Monday
- 11am: Holy Mass
Cathedral of Saint Anthony
Sint Janstraat 8, Breda
Palm Sunday
- 10:30am: Holy Mass, offered by Bishop Jan Liesen
Maundy Thursday
- 7pm: Holy Mass, offered by Bishop Jan Liesen
Good Friday
- 3pm: Service of the Passion of the Lord, presided by Bishop Jan Lisen
Holy Saturday
- 9pm: Easter Vigil, offered by Bishop Jan Liesen
Easter Sunday
- 10:30: Holy Mass, offered by Bishop Jan Liesen
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Evangelist
Torenstraat 16, ‘s Hertogenbosch
Palm Sunday
- 11am: Holy Mass, offered by Bishop Antoon Hurkmans
Maundy Thursday
- 7:30pm: Holy Mass
Good Friday
- 3pm: Service of the Passion of the Lord
- 7pm: Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday
- 10pm: Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday
- 10am: Holy Mass
- 11:45am: Holy Mass
Easter Monday
- 11am: Holy Mass
Cathedral of St. Christopher
Grote Kerkstraat Bij 29, Roermond
Palm Sunday
- 11:30am: Holy Mass, offered by Bishop Frans Wiertz
Good Friday
- 3pm: Stations of the Cross, offered by Bishop Frans Wiertz
Holy Saturday
- 8:30pm: Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday
- 11:30am: Holy Mass, offered by Bishop Frans Wiertz
Easter Monday:
- 11:30am: Holy Mass
All this information was collected by me from various parish and diocesan websites, and so may well be far from complete. A Google search or drop by the various cathedrals may give you more and more accurate information as Holy Week approaches.
In his annual World Youth Day message, celebrated on Palm Sunday, Pope Benedict delves into the topic of joy. It is, he says, not only a defining characteristic of our faith, but also an unavoidable consequence of our encounter with the Lord. In seven subsections, the Holy Father, pictured here with children during his visit to Mexico, discusses the nature of our joy and how young people can find it, make it last and hand it on to the people around them.
“Christianity is sometimes depicted as a way of life that stifles our freedom and goes against our desires for happiness and joy. But this is far from the truth. Christians are men and women who are truly happy because they know that they are not alone. They know that God is always holding them in his hands. It is up to you, young followers of Christ, to show the world that faith brings happiness and a joy which is true, full and enduring. If the way Christians live at times appears dull and boring, you should be the first to show the joyful and happy side of faith. The Gospel is the “good news” that God loves us and that each of us is important to him. Show the world that this is true!”
Read the official text via the link above, or my Dutch translation here.
Photo credit: Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images
Archbishop André-Joseph Léonard and Bishop Jean Kockerols have sent a letter to the faithful, both clergy and laity, of the Vicariate of Brussels about the Metropolis 2012 project I wrote about earlier.
After an introduction about the context of the project, the ordinary and the auxiliary bishops outline the five points that the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation has outlined when it selected prelates of twelve major European cities to spearhead its first major endeavour.
Here they are, with the specific plans that the Archdiocese of Malines-Brussels has:
-
The importance of the proclamation of the Word of God. The continuous reading of the Gospel of Mark falls under this point.
-
The grace of conversion. Four well-known Christians will be giving witness of their conversion. This will take place on every Sunday during Lent, and will be followed by Vespers.
-
The (re)discovery of Gods mercy. A ‘day of encounter and reconciliation’ will be organised on the Saturday before Palm Sunday in fifteen inner-city churches, located in busy places.
-
Catechesis by the bishop in service of the proclamation of the faith. Both bishops will be hosting catechesis meetings, the details of which were mentioned in a previous blog post.
-
Service and engagement to others, inspired by the faith. On 18 March, a great Lenten meal will be organised for all Christians. The Latin American community of Brussels has been asked to organise this.
These points, given these specific hands and feet in Brussels, can perhaps be considered the main focal points of the entire Pontifical Council. The realisation in other cities are undoubtedly different, but it may be a good starting point, like I said earlier, that gives momentum to the new evangelisation.
Photo credit: RTL.fr
Picked to be one of eleven starting points for the new evangelisation in western Europe, the city of Brussels, self-styled capital of Europe and biggest urban area of the Archdiocese of Malines-Brussels and as such the heartland of Belgian Catholicism, prepares itself for the Metropolis project, starting in Lent of 2012. The official website of the Church in Brussels and Flanders, Kerknet, offers a first glimpse at the plans which, it admits, are not fully developed yet.
Part of the work is expected to take place in local parish communities, but the faith will also have a larger visible presence in the city. Well-known citizens of Brussels will be reading out the entire Gospel of Mark, both in real life in the Notre-Dame du Finistère church and via a big screen in the busy Nieuwstraat. Churches will be open on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, and the example of the World Youth Days will be follows as both Archbishop André-Joseph Léonard and Auxiliary Bishop Jean Kockerols will host catechesis meetings with young people, newly baptised adults and young parents wishing to have their child baptised.
A starting point, surely, that will make the Catholic faith visible once more. Let’s pray that the momentum to be gained here will be used fully to propel the new evangelisation into the future.
Photo credit: Philippe Massart
Archbishop Eijk during his catechesis
During the week of the World Youth Days, three mornings were devoted to catechesis by bishops of the various language groups. Fore the Dutch pilgrims, Archbishop Eijk and Bishops van den Hende and De Jong spoke about topics associated with the theme of the World Youth Days in Madrid: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith”, taken from the Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians. Only the catechesis by Archbishop Eijk has made its way online in text form, so I am now able to share an English translation of the same.
The talk was the same that the archbishop held during the Palm Sunday event in Zutphen, which I also attended. That in itself was a bit disappointing, but the talk is good enough to be heard twice. Archbishop Eijk takes the faith community of Colosse, to whom St. Paul’s letter was directed, and compares it to our own. Their are many parallels in both pluralistic societies which are not necessary open to the Christian message. How can we, in such a society, still remain firm in the faith? The archbishop offers some pointers.
Yesterday I celebrated Palm Sunday in the Archdiocese of Utrecht, at the Emmanuel church in Zutphen. That church was host to a preparatory program, called ‘Passion’, for the World Youth Days in Madrid, in August. God willing, I will be able to go there, thanks, in large part, to the youth worker of the archdiocese, who was willing to waive to age limit. The reason that we (for it is not just me) are not joining our own diocese for the trip to Madrid is not very interesting for this blog, but it boils down to us having faith that Utrecht’s program will be a success.
The day offered various events, starting with Mass with the local parish, and continuing with presentations, practical information and workshops. Below are some photos I took during the day.
The cavernous interior of the Emmanuel church, with local parishioners and young people taking part in the WYD program.
Local priests and Auxiliary Bishop Herman Woorts (second from right) concelebrated Mass with Archbishop Wim Eijk (right).
The archbishop gives the homily
"Hoc est enim corpus meum"
Attendance was very good
Fr. Patrick Kuipers delves into the theme for the World Youth Days 2011 and the pope's letter about it
One of the workshop was an introduction to Spanish
The archbishop hosted a workshop in which he drew a comparison between the religious landscape of the Colossae, recipient of a letter of St. Paul, and our modern society
Elements that those religious landscapes share: worship of spirits and of nature, scientists and astrologers, the Greek and Roman pantheons, mysterious New Age-like religions, people who claim to be visionaries, the Jewish religion and the worship of angels.
Youth worker Hao Tran speaks about the practicalities of our trip to Spain
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
I spent my Palm Sunday weekend with the youth platform of my diocese, Groningen-Leeuwarden. For 25 years now, Palm Sunday is also World Youth Day, so the youth platform hosts a weekend of fun and games, but also catechesis, for young people between 16 and 30.
Notes left on a flipover, after youth worker Hao Tran spoke about the nature of God's love for His people
It was not only a chance to be away from the relentless media assault on the Church, but also an opportunity to meet people I hadn’t seen in too long. I was sorry that it only last one and a half days, to be honest.
Local hermit Brother Hugo visited
On Sunday afternoon, there was the opportunity to go canoeing
On Sunday afternoon, Bishop de Korte visited to celebrate Mass together with Fathers Arjen and Victor. I had the honour of serving at that Mass, and almost nothing went wrong… 
Before Mass, we processed to the church, carrying buxus branches in lieu of palm fronds.
The church in Wehe Den Hoorn, the small village where we stayed, is small but rather nice. Aspects of the sanctuary, though , are mirrored to what I used to: the credence table is at the other side, which totally turns one’s orientation to the altar around.
The interior of the St. Boniface church
An impromptu welcome sign for Bishop de Korte
The weekend reminded me that the Church and the faith are so much bigger than what the media presents it as. It truly transcends it.
I am thankful for these past two days. Let’s remember the things to be thankful for in this Holy Week. It grounds us in and elevates us to Easter, less than a week away.
Alleluia! Give thanks to Yahweh for he is good, for his faithful love endures for ever.
Let the House of Israel say, ‘His faithful love endures for ever.’
Open for me the gates of saving justice, I shall go in and thank Yahweh.
This is the gate of Yahweh, where the upright go in.
I thank you for hearing me, and making yourself my Saviour.
The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
This is Yahweh’s doing, and we marvel at it.
This is the day which Yahweh has made, a day for us to rejoice and be glad.
We beg you, Yahweh, save us, we beg you, Yahweh, give us victory!
Blessed in the name of Yahweh is he who is coming! We bless you from the house of Yahweh.
Yahweh is God, he gives us light. Link your processions, branches in hand, up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, I thank you, all praise to you, my God. I thank you for hearing me, and making yourself my Saviour.
Give thanks to Yahweh for he is good, for his faithful love endures for ever.
Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29
“The next day the great crowd of people who had come up for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took branches of palm and went out to receive him, shouting: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who is coming in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel.’
Jesus found a young donkey and mounted it — as scripture says:
“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion; look, your king is approaching, riding on the foal of a donkey.
“At first his disciples did not understand this, but later, after Jesus had been glorified, they remembered that this had been written about him and that this was what had happened to him.
The crowd who had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead kept bearing witness to it; this was another reason why the crowd came out to receive him: they had heard that he had given this sign.”
Gospel of John, 12: 12-18
