Holy Week
Holy Week Summary
The final week of the Season of Lent is traditionally called Holy Week. Its focus is the Passion of our Lord and begins with Palm Sunday (a.k.a. Passion Sunday in some of the newer lectionaries) just seven days before Easter. The following services are scheduled each year at Prince of Peace:
Holy Week Festivals
The following festivals do not always occur on Sunday, but we nonetheless intend to celebrate these festivals as public services of worship on each of these days:
Palm Sunday - Date Varies
Holy Mass is celebrated on Palm Sunday, which occurs at the regular Sunday Mass schedule during Holy Week, exactly one week prior to Easter. This service begins the Holy Week observances and includes rites and ceremonies to commemorate the events surrounding Christ’s Passion.
Maundy Thursday - Date Varies
Holy Mass is celebrated on Maundy Thursday, which occurs at 6 pm during Holy Week, the week prior to Easter. This service begins a Three-Day (Triduum) service and includes many special rites and ceremomies which commemorate our Lord’s Passion on the night when He instituted the Lord’s Supper and was betrayed.
Good Friday–Chief Service - Date Varies
A continuation of the Triduum service, Holy Mass is celebrated on Good Friday–Chief Service, which starts at noon on Friday during Holy Week, the week prior to Easter. This service includes many special rites and ceremomies to highlight Christ’s Passion and Death and is the Chief Service of Good Friday.
Good Friday–Tenebrae Vespers - Date Varies
A continuation of the Triduum service, the Tenebrae Vespers service is prayed on the evening of Good Friday at 6 pm during Holy Week, the week prior to Easter. This service includes many special rites and ceremomies to highlight Christ’s Passion and Death on Good Friday.
Vigil of Easter - Date Varies
Holy Mass is celebrated at The Vigil of Easter service, which occurs on Saturday evening (at sunset - service time varies) on the Eve of Easter. This service completes the Three-Day (Triduum) service which began on Maundy Thursday as well as the Season of Lent and ushers in the great festival of Easter. This service includes many special rites and ceremonies in keeping with the Vigil’s purpose.
Important Note about Holy Mass
For the following services and in order both to highlight the solemn nature of Holy Week and to keep the observance of Holy Communion simple, please note that the Lord’s blood will be distributed using only the Common Cup (chalice), which is in keeping with Gospel precedent and has longstanding church practice:
- Maundy Thursday
- Good Friday–Chief Service
- Vigil of Easter