Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

Lent: March 29th​

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The Palm Sunday procession is formed of Christians who, in the "fullness of faith," make their own the gesture of the Jews and endow it with its full significance. Following the Jews' example we proclaim Christ as a Victor... Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. But by our faith we know, as they did not, all that His triumph stands for. He is the Messiah, the Son of David and the Son of God. He is the sign of contradiction, acclaimed by some and reviled by others. Sent into this world to wrest us from sin and the power of Satan, He underwent His Passion, the punishment for our sins, but issues forth triumphant from the tomb, the victor over death, making our peace with God and taking us with Him into the kingdom of His Father in heaven.

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Symbolism of the Palm Sunday Service

In the actions and object proper to today's liturgy the Church displays a rich symbolism, one deserving our special attention. The procession, for instance, is more than a mere memory; for in it we are actually accompanying Christ here and now. How is that true? Because Christ is present in three ways; firstly, in mere symbol, on the Cross which heads the procession; secondly, in His representative the priest; thirdly, in all of us as a community gathered together in His name. We are the Church of this place; and Christ, according to His promise, is in the midst of us.

But also this procession looks to the future. Christ, in His redemptive work, passed from this world into heaven, which is called the New Jerusalem. If our church stands for the earthly Jerusalem of old, it stands also for the New Jerusalem of heaven. When Christ comes again at the end of the world, He will lead our risen bodies, now joined to their souls, into heaven. And so, as we enter now with Christ's representative, the priest, we should think of the day when we hope to enter heaven itself with Christ our King. Our procession is a kind of rehearsal, in a symbolic way, of our final passover on the Last Day.

Now let us turn our minds from the future to the past. Christ and His followers entered Jerusalem, just as we now enter this church. But why did He go to Jerusalem? Was it to be crowned there as King? Not at all. He went there to suffer and die for our sakes, and to win through all His terrible passion and death to His resurrection. Our salvation depends on following Him; we must die with Him if ever we are to rise with Him. And therefore in the official prayer of the Mass, which the priest lays before God as our spokesman, we ask that "with the lesson of His endurance before us, we may be found worthy to have fellowship in His resurrection." How earnestly we should add our Amen to that prayer.

And at the end of it all we take our palms home, and reverently place them behind our crucifix; and we would do well to use the palms of all the members of our family, placing them in the living room, the kitchen, the bedrooms, the garden — in any place where we pass our time — that they may remain there throughout the year. Why should we do that? Because at the end of the procession the priest says this prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, our King and Redeemer, we have carried these branches and sung solemn praises in Thy honor. Graciously let Thy grace and blessing rest wherever these branches are brought; with the power of Thy right hand defeat every evil influence and deception of the devil while granting Thy protection to those whom Thou hast redeemed; who are living and reigning with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen."

The palms are not instruments of magic; they are not like superstitious amulets supposed to possess any power or virtue of their own; but they are the visible signs of the powerful prayer of God's Church which calls down the blessing of God upon all the places where they are put. We who have faith in the Church should have faith in her prayers, and make use of their power to our sanctification and protection.

—From Preparing for Easter by Clifford Howell

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Read More:

​https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-03-29

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Fr. Don Calloway, MIC: The Rosary: Spiritual Sword of Our Lady

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What is the most powerful weapon on earth? In this talk based on his recent book, "Champions of the Rosary: The History and Heroes of a Spiritual Weapon," Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC argues that the rosary is a spiritual sword that has won decisive battles. And he has the stories to prove it. Fr. Don Calloway, MIC, is Vocation Director for the Marians of the Immaculate Conception and author of several books about Mary. Fr. Calloway's talk was sponsored by the Chapel Ministries Dept. at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwVdYXyxln0

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The Rosary is a spiritual weapon.  Continual prayer and adoration confounds Satan as he loses influence over those who do not cease focusing on Jesus.

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