The Christian Wheel of the Year: Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday, and the beginning of Holy Week. This is the day of Christ's entry in triumph into Jerusalem.

 

21 And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Beth′phage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If any one says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and he will send them immediately.” 4 This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

 

5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,

Behold, your king is coming to you,

humble, and mounted on an ass,

and on a colt, the foal of an ass.”

 

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon. 8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Matthew 21:1-11

The Blessing of Palms

The best-known tradition associated with Palm Sunday is, of course, the blessing of palms. In many a Catholic household one can see palm branches, distributed during today's mass, twined behind the crucifix. The palm branches commemorate the branches which were laid before Our Lord by the crowd.

Now, this custom originated in the Middle East, where palm or olive branches are widely available. As it spread to northern parts of the world, it became common to use local trees. In this age of global trade networks, palm branches are widely used, but we should consider the opportunity provided by the older custom. The palm branches, once consecrated, become magical talismans which are able to ward off evil spirits and devices of hostile magicians. At one time it was common to burn the consecrated palm fronds in order to ward off natural, and in fact this use was wisespread enough that the Modernist church felt the need to condemn it; we may therefore be assured of its usefulness. Many trees have natural magical properties which can strengthen the protective effect of the blessing, and some are far better than the palm. Most evergreens are good, and cedar and juniper in particular have been used throughout the world to clear negative energy and repel hostile magic, I strongly recommend them.

A Ceremony for the Blessing of Branches

By this point in our journey, you know how this goes. Set up your altar in the usual way, and place the branches you intend to consecrate upon it. After the usual preparatory work, call down the energy of the Holy Spirit, and say the following words of consecration over the branches:

 

 

O Lord, bless + these branches of palm [or whatever tree you've chosen]. Grant that the sincere devotion of Your people may make them victorious over their enemy and zealous in works of mercy, and thus spiritually complete the ceremony which they outwardly perform this day in Your honor. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

They are now a consecrated sacramental, and you may use them for whatever purpose you like. Traditionally, they are interlaced behind the corpus on your home crucifix, and they may be burned throughout the year for purposes of spiritual protection and energetic purification.

Devotional Practice for Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is a day at once joyful and sorrowful. A century ago, the liturgy consisted of two parts: In the first, palms were blessed and distributed to the faithful in a ceremony that more-or-less exactly mirrored the sacrament of Communion, and this fact shows us something about the nature of the Communion rite and its inner structure. The second part was the mass itself. In the first ceremony, the Gospel reading commemorated Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The Gospel reading for the mass was the Agony in the Garden:

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsem′ane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go yonder and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zeb′edee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

A good devotional practice for today might begin with the blessing of the Palms, and continue with a deep meditation on the Gospel passage above. We have, here, two parts of the three-part journey which recurs again and again in the spiritual life. First the Joy of the entrance into Jerusalem; then the Sorrow of Christ's betrayal. In Sorrow we must now abide for a time, but in a week, that Sorrow gives way to a Glory surpassing all earthly Joy.

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