I'm a new christian and I was wondering what the significance of Palm Sunday, maundy Thursday, Holy Saturday, and so on were. I know that they all relate to Easter but I'm still pretty clueless about it. I've been a little embarrassed to ask my friends at church about it since I don't want to seem dumb.
2007-03-25 15:01:19 · 2 answers · asked by Brooke 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is OK to ask your friends, no matter what our age or how long we have been a Christian there is always more to learn.
Holy Week is the week that we observe the events leading up to Easter. It is a deeply penitential time, remembering the last week of Jesus' life on earth. Starting with the Triumphant entry on Palm Sunday, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people laid palm branches at his feet. Then Maundy Thursday when we remember the last supper, then Good Friday and the Crucifixion. Holy Saturday includes the Easter Vigil which is only done in the Liturgical Churches. Jesus rose in the night, not at dawn. They discovered that he was gone from the tomb just before dawn, this means that he rose in the night. The Great Vigil of Easter is the most important event of the church year. If you have never been, go, it will be awesome. First it starts after sundown because following the Jewish custom, the day starts at sundown. So Saturday night is actually Sunday.
Easter Vigil: Starts in total darkness. The light is kindled to remind us of the beginning of the world. There are reading from the OT, reminding us of major events in history leading up to this "most holy night". Then skipping ahead... all the lights come on and everyone sings the A word, and this means that Jesus has risen.
If you go to the Easter vigil there is no reason to go on Sunday when all of the Christmas/Easter people or "Christers" are there. The Easter Vigil is the first mass of Easter. You can go both times if you really want, but I only go on Saturday night.
There are other events during Holy Week too, depending on your church. There is the service of Temebrae which is very moving. See here for more information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenebrae_(service)
2007-03-25 15:17:16 · answer #1 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For some deep background from the only Church that actually had "people on the ground" at Calvary, go here:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07435a.htm
2007-03-25 15:42:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋