Passion gospel on both Palm Sunday and Good Friday?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ahlman
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Ahlman

Guest
Why is it that the account of the passion is sung or read both on Palm Sunday and on Good Friday? It does make sense to commemorate the entrance into Jerusalem during the entrance of the Mass rather than during the Mass itself on Palm Sunday which, but at the same time it seems somewhat illogical to commemorate the passion both on Palm Sunday and of Good Friday. What are the liturgical-historical reasons for this? I know that in the EF, the passion account is read during the weekdays of holy week also, so could we possibly see this as an anticipation of the commemoration of the Lord’s Passion, while the actual day of it is still Good Friday?
 
I am sure there are many on the board who can give very theological and historical reasons, but, to me, it is because Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week and the whole purpose of Holy Week is to immerse ourselves in the Passion and Death of Our Lord. If we were just commemorating Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, it would be a day of song and celebration – but Holy Week is seamless and we do not separate the triumphant entrance on one day from the shameful death of the other. The entire week is very solemn and sorrowful and looking to the Cross.
 
In addition, sadly a lot of people work or cannot make it to Holy Week services for other reasons, not to mention that the Holy Week services are not obligatory anyway. So Palm Sunday is their chance to commemorate Our Lord’s Passion.
 
The official name for the Sunday before Easter (at least in the United States) is "Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.

Actually “Passion Week” is another name for Holy Week. The celebration of the Lord’s Passion can be thought of as a (nearly) week long event. The first day of the Passion is Palm Sunday, the second day is Monday of Holy Week, and so on until we get to Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion.
 
LilyM said:
In addition, sadly a lot of people work or cannot make it to Holy Week services for other reasons, not to mention that the Holy Week services are not obligatory anyway. So Palm Sunday is their chance to commemorate Our Lord’s Passion.
Click to expand...
Although you have a good point, its not the historical reason for this. Until the mid 70s, the vast majority of offices, banks and stores were closed on Good Friday- especially in the afternoon.
 
Here is my take on it for whatever it’s worth.

The Lord is greeted with shouts of joy and a plethora of Hosannas from the crowds. He is welcomed in triumph as the people wave palm branches. However, a scant five days later, the same people who welcomed him as the King of Israel now call for his crucifixion. It is a juxtaposition of two processions: His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and His (what would turn out to be) triumphal journey to the cross. I say triumphal because it is only through his crucifixion that Jesus, the true Lamb of God, offers himself as Priest, Victim and Altar of Sacrifice in expiation for our sins.

Interestingly enough, while the Gospel account of the Passion changes due to the cycles for Palm Sunday, the Passion according to St. John is always read on Good Friday.

Something else to note is that even though the Paschal Triduum is not obligatory (except for Easter Sunday, of course), it would make no sense to go through our Lenten regimen and completely skip this most sacred time. If we go through Lent and skip over the Triduum, then, we have missed the point entirelly because our Lenten regimen prepares us for this greatest of weeks.
 
Why do we read the passion on Palm Sunday, is this for the benefit of those who cannot attend Good Friday serivices?
 
That, and it could be as a reminder of why Jesus is going to Jerusalem. Or maybe it’s just a calender thing.
 
The Passion on Palm Sunday is from the Gospel of the liturgical year we are in (Mark.) The Passion on Good Friday is always from the Gospel of John.
 
turtle18 said:
The Passion on Palm Sunday is from the Gospel of the liturgical year we are in (Mark.) The Passion on Good Friday is always from the Gospel of John.
Click to expand...
Yes. Amen and ditto.

The different readings have NOTHING to do with whether someone can make it to only service.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top