| The Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem |
| Today is Palm Sunday, known also as ‘Passion Sunday’. Special characteristics of today’s liturgy are: (1) the Blessing of Palms and (2) Procession and Reading of the Passion. Today we are invited to rejoice and also to mourn; this is very well brought out in the very structure of the liturgical service. |
| THE PROCESSION WITH PALMS |
ANTIPHON
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| Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel. Hosanna in the highest. (Mt 21:9) |
INTRODUCTORY RITE
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Cel: Dear brothers and sisters, since the beginning of Lent until now we have prepared our hearts by penance and charitable works. Today we gather together to herald with the whole Church the beginning of the celebration of our Lord’s Paschal Mystery, that is to say, of his Passion and Resurrection. For it was to accomplish this mystery that he entered his own city of Jerusalem. Therefore, with all faith and devotion, let us commemorate the Lord’s entry into the city for our salvation, following in his footsteps, so that, being made by his grace partakers of the Cross, we may have a share also in his Resurrection and in his life. (Pause) |
| THE BLESSING OF PALMS |
Cel: Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, sanctify + these branches with your blessing, that we, who follow Christ the King in exultation, may reach the eternal Jerusalem through him. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
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(Priest sprinkles the branches with holy water)
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| PROCLAMATION OF THE LORD'S COMING |
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew (21:1-11)
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When they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you should say, ‘The Lord has need of them; and he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying:
“Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass.”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road. And others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee.”
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The Gospel of the Lord
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