Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

This is an updated picture of the altar at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in North Myrtle Beach on Palm Sunday. I took this just before the Vigil Mass on Saturday March 24, 2018.  It was recently remodeled and you can see the changes from the below picture.

This is another picture of the beautiful altar at our church, ‘Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church’ taken on Palm Sunday 2016.        Photo courtesy of Susan Gruarin-Jones

Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week for all Christians. The beautiful Mass at our Catholic Church, reminds us of what Jesus did before he was crucified.   The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ marks the beginning of Holy Week which ends on Easter Sunday.

Christians celebrate the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, the week before his crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, with villagers laying down their cloth for Jesus to ride on and waved olive branches to welcome him.  He traveled to Jerusalem knowing this journey would end in his sacrificial death on the cross for the sins of all mankind.

Our Mass began by the Priest blessing all the palms of the parishioners, followed by the readings and then the Gospel of Luke which told of the events of Jesus’ journey.  We sang so many beautiful songs throughout the service.

WorshipOnYT’s channel

As we are now in Holy Week, our church schedule changes.  There are special Masses on Holy Thursday and on Good Friday where we follow the Stations of the Cross.  The Stations of the Cross are a 14-step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s last day on Earth as a man. The 14 devotions, or stations, focus on specific events of His last day, beginning with His condemnation. The stations are commonly used as a mini pilgrimage as the each person moves from station to station.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS  

CTCatholicCorner

Holy Week is a time to reflect, show love and kindness and remember how Jesus suffered and died for our sins. For all that celebrate, may you have a Blessed Holy Week.

Michelle Sherliza

Another altar view from the beautiful St. Rose Catholic Church in Ohio.   Photo courtesy of Gloria Heise

Many people turn the palms into beautiful crosses, baskets and other artistic items.  My hubby’s grandfather would be awesome crosses of all sizes, some as tiny as lapel pins, others were large for displays. His baskets were absolutely breathtaking, I wish I had a picture of some he made back in the 60’s when I first met him.  This is a small cross I made from my Palm Sunday 2018 palm branch.

On Ash Wednesday I wrote about how it is a religious event with a rich history and deep roots in the Catholic Church, this is the link along with a few beautiful songs that we sang at Mass on Ash Wednesday.  http://themarthareview.com/ash-wednesday/