What do you like about Holy Week?

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CatholicZ09

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I seem to ask this question every year, but I like to hear everyone’s thoughts and opinions.

What do you like/dislike about Holy Week? I think the Catholic Church has a lot of offer her faithful during this highest point of the liturgical year. I love the Palm Sunday liturgy and the reading of the Passion. The Chrism Mass (which is celebrated on Holy Thursday in my diocese) is such a beautiful Mass to witness. The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper has to be one of my favorites because of the washing of the feet. The procession at the end with the incense and Pange Lingua is just so mesmerizing. Good Friday is another one of my favorites; I love the reading of John’s account of the Passion. The Easter Vigil is beautiful because of the OT readings and the welcoming of new members into the church. Easter Sunday has to be my first or second favorite (next to Holy Thursday) simply because Christ is risen. Mass on Easter Sunday is just so beautiful with all the Easter hymns and all the smells and bells.

Again, what do you like or even dislike about Holy Week?
 
Holy Thursday’s Mass of The Lord’s Supper; the celebration of the Institution of the Eucharist & the Priesthood.
 
It’s the one time of the year when I think people in the parish really "get’ our history.
And they are relatively quiet. 😃

Also, the music is great. 👍
 
Holy Thursday in extraordinary form

Also on that day, I look forward to the Roman tradition of visiting seven churches afterwards with my daughter (however not enough parishes in the area stay open that evening)

Can’t think of anything I don’t like.
 
The triduum liturgies (Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, The Vigil of Easter and the Mass of Easter Day) the processions (in the Philippines, a procession is held on Holy Wednesday a.k.a. the Procession of the Passion and on Good Friday, after the Liturgy, wherein the corpse of Christ is processed in every neighborhood)
 
The translation of the Eucharist in procession to the altar of repose on Holy Thursday, and the Adoration of the Cross on Good Friday, with the Passion Narrative coming in on a close third.
 
The emotion. During (and especially after) the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, it’s a feeling of trying to not to fall asleep or abandon Jesus. Then, tears of sorrow on Good Friday as Jesus is killed - and remembering that He died for me, and thinking, “How many times have I nailed you to that cross, Lord? How many times?”

And then - the Easter Vigil. I absolutely LOVE the Easter Vigil. It’s my favorite Mass of the entire year. Burning the paschal fire. Spreading the light among us all. Hearing the Exultet. Hearing the stories of the creation and the crossing of the Red Sea. And then the great Gloria (with bells! - and only sung otherwise since Ash Wednesday on the Solemnities of St. Joseph & the Annunciation, and on Holy Thursday) and the great Alleluia which hasn’t been heard since Ash Wednesday! I always get so overcome with joy that I can’t help crying! And then the Baptisms and Confirmations. I don’t care that the Mass is often 3 hours long or more. All I can think of is - Jesus has risen! He has truly, truly risen! But, to me, the beauty and incredible joy of the Easter Vigil means nothing if I haven’t gone through the anxiety of Holy Thursday and the devastation of Good Friday.
 
The teens in our parish do a “Living Stations of the Cross” on Good Friday.
 
The Chrism Mass, seeing all of those priests in one place and the blessing of the oils by the bishop, a beautiful ceremony.🙂
 
DCNBILL said:
The Chrism Mass, seeing all of those priests in one place and the blessing of the oils by the bishop, a beautiful ceremony.🙂
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I have to agree. I love to go to the Chrism Mass, although in this far-flung diocese the Chrism Mass does not occur during Holy Week. It is such a beautiful sight to have all those priests.
 
I am just really excited for everything. I sort of remember Holy Thursday services and it was always fun getting baskets blessed on Saturday but do not think I ever went to anything on Good Friday. For this year, I made sure to put in for the time off work and plan participate in everything. i am just so greatful to have all this!

I was sneaking to church prior to Easter last year but I sort of think of Easter as my starting point. Particularly the renewal of the baptism promises triggered the additional thought about what I know, what I believe, what it all means, etc. Last year at Easter I was not sure I was still considered a Catholic. Last year I still had reservations and fears.

This year I will be able to say all the words and wholly completely mean them.I am really looking forward to that! I know it probably sounds silly and I have been to confession and back to the Eucharist and now I know I am Catholic. Yet this lent and Easter just seem special. It is like this the first where I actually get it all on real personal present level. Jesus suffered and died for me, God has love and mercy toward me. It is shocking. It is transformative. I am going to get a chance to say I believe and really really mean it.
 
I absolutely love Easter Vigil Mass.

I love hearing the whole salvation history laid out in one extended telling,
 
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