Holy Week is the most sacred time in the Roman Catholic liturgical year, encompassing the final week of Lent and the beginning of the Paschal Triduum. It commemorates the pivotal events of Jesus Christβs lifeβhis Passion, Death, and burialβleading to his Resurrection on Easter Sunday. This week calls the faithful to enter deeply into the mystery of salvation through prayer, liturgy, and reflection.
Time of Year
Holy Week takes place in the week immediately preceding Easter Sunday. It begins with Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord and concludes with Holy Saturday, bridging the end of the 40 days of Lent and the start of the Easter season. The timing varies annually, as Easter Sunday is determined by the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox (the Paschal full moon), typically falling between late March and mid-April. Holy Week thus serves as the climax of the Churchβs preparation for the Resurrection.
Observance
Holy Week recalls the final days of Jesusβ earthly life, focusing on key moments of the Paschal Mystery. Each day holds distinct significance in the Roman Catholic tradition:
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord: This day marks Jesusβ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where he is greeted with palm branches as the Messiah (John 12:12-19). The liturgy begins with a procession or blessing of palms, symbolizing victory and kingship, but shifts to the reading of the Passion narrative, foreshadowing Christβs suffering and death.
Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday): Known as the Evening Mass of the Lordβs Supper, this commemorates the Last Supper, where Jesus institutes the Eucharist and the priesthood (John 13:1-15, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The washing of feet (the Mandatum) reflects Christβs command to serve others. The Blessed Sacrament is moved to an altar of repose, and the church is stripped bare, signaling the somber transition to Good Friday.
Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord: This day solemnly recalls Jesusβ crucifixion and death (John 18:1β19:42). It is a day of fasting and abstinence, with no Mass celebrated. The Liturgy of the Word, Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion (from the previous dayβs consecrated hosts) form the service, emphasizing Christβs redemptive sacrifice.
- Holy Saturday:A day of quiet mourning and anticipation, commemorating Jesusβ burial and his time in the tomb. No Mass is offered until the Easter Vigil that night, when the Church celebrates Christβs Resurrection with the lighting of the Paschal Candle, the Exsultet, and the renewal of baptismal vows, ushering in Easter Sunday.
Together, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday form the Sacred Paschal Triduum, the heart of Holy Week, uniting the faithful in Christβs journey from death to life.
Symbolic Color
Liturgical colors in the Roman Catholic Church, as prescribed by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, shift during Holy Week to reflect its diverse themes.
Red: The Color of Passion and Triumph
Red is a key color during Holy Week, symbolizing the blood of Christ shed in his Passion and the fire of sacrificial love. It is used on Palm Sunday, reflecting both the triumph of Jesusβ entry into Jerusalem and the martyrdom of his crucifixion, as the Passion narrative is proclaimed. Red also appears on
Good Friday in many traditions (e.g., the priestβs vestments during the Passion liturgy), though black or violet may be permitted locally, emphasizing Christβs blood poured out for humanityβs redemption. Red signifies the victory of the cross, linking suffering to glory.
Purple: Penitence in Transition
Purple (or Roman purple) is noted in your prompt and dominates the earlier part of Holy Week, carrying over from Lentβs penitential spirit. It symbolizes penance and sorrow for sin and is often seen in the lead-up to the Triduum. However, as Holy Week progresses, purple recedes: red takes precedence on Palm Sunday and Good Friday for the Passionβs intensity, while white emerges on Holy Thursday. Your mention of βRed (or Roman Purple)β likely reflects this overlap, but red is the defining color for the Passion events, with purple tying Holy Week to Lentβs preparatory tone.
White and Gold: The Triduumβs Turn
Though not in prompt, white is used on Holy Thursday for the Mass of the Lordβs Supper, symbolizing the joy of the Eucharistβs institution. On Holy Saturday night, the Easter Vigil employs white or gold, marking the Resurrectionβs triumph. These shifts highlight Holy Weekβs movement from penance to victory.
Catholic Traditions and Significance
Holy Week is a time of profound devotion in the Catholic Church. On Palm Sunday, the faithful carry blessed palms, often woven into crosses, as a sign of Christβs victory. Holy Thursday includes the washing of feet and adoration at the altar of repose. Good Friday features the Veneration of the Cross, fasting, and Stations of the Cross. Holy Saturdayβs Easter Vigil is the pinnacle, with the lighting of the Paschal Candle symbolizing Christβs light overcoming darkness.
Theologically, Holy Week fulfills Lentβs purpose, immersing the faithful in the Paschal MysteryβChristβs Passion, Death, and Resurrectionβas the source of salvation. It is a time of obligation (fasting and abstinence on Good Friday) and communal worship, uniting Catholics globally.
Holy Week in the Roman Catholic Church is a sacred journey through the final week of Jesusβ life, from his entry into Jerusalem to his burial in the tomb. Marked by red for his Passion and triumph, with traces of purple from Lent, it encompasses Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Through its liturgies and traditions, Holy Week invites the faithful to walk with Christ, preparing for the glory of Easter.
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