Holy Week,
the most solemn and intense period of worship in the Christian faith, begins
with Passion Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. In spite of the spiritual gravity
of Holy Week, it begins with joy; for on this Sunday, the Church celebrates
Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem which foretells the victory of His
Resurrection and His return to earth in glory; and with the first reading of the
Passion in the liturgies of Holy Week, the Church begins her commemorative
pilgrimage with the Lord on His way to Calvary.
The three days of the Easter Triduum begin with the
evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, and conclude with evening
prayer on Easter Sunday. All of the liturgies of the Triduum are tied to the
passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In this way the faithful can journey
with Jesus to the cross, to resurrection and new life. The message that
Christ has died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again are at
the center of these holy days.