THE MOST SACRED AND SIGNIFICANT DAYS IN SALVATION HISTORY RENEWED.....HOLY WEEK 2011 A.D. ......PALM SUNDAY...........

For forty days Catholic-Christians have observed concentrated penitential acts of Prayer, Fasting, and Charitable Works, in answer to the Call to Continuing Conversion and Repentance for our Sins, in preparation for the celebration of Easter 2011.  Today we open our annual commemoration of Holy Week and the Easter Triduum.  We join anew in the self sacrificing and universally transforming, Paschal Mystery of Jesus, our Heavenly Father's Co-Eternal Son; Who was born into the World to effect and complete His Mission of Redemption for Humankind, as the Christ.  From His triumphal welcome into the City of Jerusalem, on what is designated, "Palm", Sunday when Jesus arrived astride a donkey to the cheers of "Hosanna", from the crowds, who were waving palms of olive branches as they greeted Him; to the celebration of a Passover Meal, that became the Lord's Last Supper with His Apostles, at which He instituted the Eucharist and the Priesthood, on what is Christianity's Holy Thursday; to the Passion and Death on the Cross, Christ endured on Good Friday, and His laying in the Tomb, culminating in the Nightwatch of the Resurrection, on Holy Saturday and its Glorious Fulfillment in the Glorious New and Risen Life of Christ, on Easter Sunday, are fervently remembered by Catholic-Christian Disciples during this Holy Week.  Liturgically today we celebrate Palm Sunday with processions waving palm branches, re-enacting Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem, and we preoclaim from Sacred Scripture, one of the Prophet Isaiah's 'Suffering Servant Songs', and Matthew's Gospel account of the Passion Narrative.  In many Christian congregations the Passion Narrative is proclaimed with multiple voices, including the entire worshipping assembly.  Matthew's account of the Passion, is anchored in the theme of Forgiveness.  The Forgiveness of Sins, that is at the crux of the ignominious Passion and Death,  Jesus Christ suffered for Fallen Humankind.  So as you take hold of palm branches, hear the Word of God proclaim, and partake of today's Passion Palm Sunday Eucharist, be prepared to celebrate the whole movement of liturgical and sacramental events that shape our faithful commemoration and renewal of, The Holiest Week Ever In The Salvation History Of The People Of God...........Fr.  Troy / Pastor, Our Lady Of Lourdes Parish / Sacramento, California USA