THE SOLEMN PROCESSION OF PALMS IN HONOR OF CHRIST THE KING THE BLESSING OF PALMS The Celebrant in red cope, with his ministers also vested in red, the red of royal triumph, proceeds to the Blessing of Palms (or of branches of olive or other trees); these are placed in the sanctuary or other suitable place.
Antiphon (Matthew 21 : 9)
Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. O King of Israel: Hosanna in the highest!
The Celebrant faces the faithful and, with hands joined, sings:
℣. The Lord be with you. ℟. And with thy spirit
Let us pray. — Bless, + we beseech thee, O Lord, these branches of palm (or olive or other trees): and grant that what Thy people today bodily perform for Thy honour, they may perfect spiritually with the utmost devotion, by gaining the victory over the enemy, and ardently loving every work of mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ …
The Celebrant sprinkles the palms with holy water and incenses them. If the faithful have their palms already, the Celebrant and ministers may go through the church sprinkling them, or the faithful may come to the altar rails for this to be done. DISTRIBUTION OF PALMS The celebrant distributes the palms, first to the clergy, then to the faithful. Meanwhile the choir sings:
Antiphon 1
Hebrew children bearing olive branches, went forth to meet the Lord, crying out and saying: Hosanna in the highest.
Psalm 23 : 1 – 2, 7 – 10
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof: the world and all they that dwell therein.
For He hath founded it upon the seas: and hath prepared it upon the rivers. ℟. Hebrew children …
Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in. “Who is this King of Glory?” “The Lord who is strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle.” ℟. Hebrew children …
Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in. “Who is this King of Glory?” “The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory.” ℟. Hebrew children …
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. ℟. Hebrew children …
Antiphon 2
Hebrew children spread their garments in the way, and cried out, saying: Hosanna to the Son of David: blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Psalm 46
O clap your hands, all ye nations: shout unto God with the voice of joy. For the Lord is high, terrible: a great King over all the earth. ℟. Hebrew children …
He hath subdued the people under us: and the nations under our feet. He hath chosen for us His inheritance: the beauty of Jacob which He hath loved. ℟. Hebrew children …
God is ascended with jubilee: and the Lord with the sound of trumpet. Sing praises to our God, sing ye: sing praises to our King, sing ye. ℟. Hebrew children …
For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye wisely. God shall reign over the nations: God sitteth on His holy throne. ℟. Hebrew children …
The princes of the people are gathered together: with the God of Abraham. For the strong gods of the earth: are exceedingly exalted. ℟. Hebrew children …
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. ℟. Hebrew children …
Gospel (Matthew 21 : 1 – 9) At that time: when Jesus drew nigh to Jerusalem, and was come to Bethphage, unto Mount Olivet, then He sent two disciples, saying to them: Go ye into the village that is over against you and immediately you shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her; loose them and bring them to Me; and if any man shall say anything to you, say ye that the Lord hath need of them; and forthwith he will let them go. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: Tell ye the daughter of Sion: Behold thy King cometh to thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of her that is used to the yoke. And the disciples going did as Jesus commanded them. And they brought the ass and the colt, and laid their garments upon them, and made Him sit thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way, and others cut boughs from the trees, and strewed them in the way, and the multitudes that went before and that followed cried, saying: Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
THE PROCESSION OF PALMS
The procession now takes place. Incense is placed into the thurible; all carry palms. The Deacon then sings:
℣. Let us go forth in peace. ℟. In the Name of Christ. Amen.
Antiphon 1
The multitude goes forth to meet our Redeemer with flowers and palms, and pays the homage due to a triumphant Conqueror; the Gentiles proclaim the Son of God; and their voices thunder through the skies in praise of Christ: Hosanna in the highest!
Antiphon 2
Let the faithful join with the Angels and children, singing to the Conqueror of death: Hosanna in the highest!
Antiphon 3
A great multitude that was met together at the festival cried out to the Lord: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest!
Antiphon 4
On their way down the whole multitude began with joy to praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: Blessed be the King who cometh in the name of the Lord; peace on earth and glory on high.
Hymn to Christ the King
Glory, praise and honour to Thee, O King Christ, the Redeemer: to whom children poured their glad and sweet hosanna’s song.
Glory, praise and honour …
Hail, King of Israel! David’s Son of royal fame! * Who comes in the Name of the Lord, O blessed King.
All: Glory, praise and honour …
Choir: The Angel host lauds Thee on high, * On earth mankind, with all created things.
All: Glory, praise and honour …
Choir: With palms the Jews went forth to meet Thee. * We greet Thee now with prayers and hymns.
All: Glory, praise and honour …
Choir: On Thy way to die, they crowned Thee with praise; * We raise our song to Thee, now King on high.
All: Glory, praise and honour …
Choir: Their poor homage pleased Thee, O gracious King! * O clement King, accept too ours, the best that we can bring.
All: Glory, praise and honour …
Antiphon 5
All praise Thy name highly and say: Blessed is He who cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
Psalm 147
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion. Because He hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates: He hath blessed thy children within thee. Who hath placed peace in thy borders: and fills thee with the fat of corn. Who sends forth His speech to the earth: His word runs swiftly. Who giveth snow like wool: scatters mists like ashes. He sends His crystal like morsels: Who shall stand before the face of His cold?
He shall send out His word and shall melt them: His wind shall blow and the waters shall run. Who declares His word to Jacob: His justice and His judgments to Israel. He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and His judgments He hath not made manifest to them.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon 5 is repeated. Antiphon 6
We are prostrate amid shining palms before the Lord as He approaches; let us all run to meet Him with hymns and songs, glorify Him and say: Blessed be the Lord!
Antiphon 7
Hail, our King, O Son of David, O world’s Redeemer, whom prophets did foretell as the Saviour to come of the house of Israel. For the Father sent Thee into the world as victim for salvation; from the beginning of the world all the saints awaited Thee: Hosanna now to the Son of David! Blessed be He who cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
Responsory
As our Lord entered the holy city, Hebrew children, declaring the resurrection of life with palm branches, cried out: Hosanna in the highest. When the people heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they went forth to meet him: With palm branches …
When the Celebrant reaches the Altar, he turns to face the people and sings:
℣. The Lord be with you. ℟. And with thy spirit
O Lord Jesus Christ, our King and Redeemer, in whose honour we have borne these palms and gone on praising Thee with song and solemnity: mercifully grant that whithersoever these palms are taken, there the grace of Thy blessing may descend; may every wickedness and trickery of the demons be frustrated; and may Thy right hand protect those it hath redeemed. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever …
THE PROPER OF THE MASS
There are no prayers at the foot of the Altar; the Introit is begun at once.
Introit(Psalm21 : 20, 22) O Lord, keep not Thy help far from me; look to my defence; deliver me from the lion’s mouth, and my lowness from the horns of the unicorns. Psalm. O God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my sins. — O Lord, keep not Thy help far from me …
Collect O almighty and everlasting God, who didst cause our Saviour to take upon Him our flesh and to undergo the cross, for an example of humility to be imitated by mankind: mercifully grant that we may deserve to possess not only the lesson of His patience, but also the fellowship of His Resurrection. Through the same, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son …
Epistle (Philippians 2 : 5 – 11) Brethren: let this mind be in you which was also in Jesus Christ: who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a Name which is above all names: (here all genuflect) that in the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
Gradual (Psalm 72 : 24, 1 – 3) Thou has held me by my right hand; and by Thy will Thou hast conducted me, and with Thy glory Thou hast received me. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart! but my feet were almost moved, my steps had well-nigh slipped, because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
Tract (Psalm 21 : 2 – 9, 18, 19, 22, 24, 32) O God, my God, look upon me; why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my sins. O my God, I shall cry by day, and Thou wilt not hear; and by night, and it shall not be reputed as folly in me. But Thou dwells in the holy place, the praise of Israel. In Thee have our fathers hoped; they have hoped, and Thou has delivered them. They cried to Thee, and they were saved; they trusted in Thee, and were not confounded. But I am a worm, and no man; the reproach of men and the outcast of the people. All they that saw me have laughed me to scorn; they have spoken with the lips and wagged the head. He hoped in the Lord, let Him deliver Him; let Him save Him, seeing He delights in Him. But they have looked and stared upon me; they parted my garments amongst them, and upon my vesture they cast lots. Save me from the lion’s mouth, and my lowness from the horns of the unicorns. Ye that fear the Lord, praise Him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify Him. There shall be declared to the Lord a generation to come: and the heavens shall show forth His justice. To a people that shall be born, which the Lord hath made.
Gospel (Matthew26 : 36 – 75, 27 : 1 – 66) The Passion of Our Lord is sung without lights or incense by the Deacons of the Passion; they ask the Celebrant for the usual blessing, but do not sing Dóminus vobíscum, nor is Glória tibi, Dómine sung after the title.
- The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
At that time Jesus came with them into a country place which is called Gethsemani; and He said to His disciples: Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray. And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to grow sorrowful and to be sad. Then He said to them: My soul is sorrowful even unto death; stay you here and watch with Me. And going a little further, He fell upon His face, praying and saying: My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.
And He cometh to His disciples, and found them asleep. And He said to Peter: What! Could you not watch one hour with Me? Watch ye, and pray that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again the second time, He went and prayed, saying: My Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, Thy will be done. And He cometh again, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And leaving them, He went again, and He prayed the third time, saying the self-same word.
Then He cometh to His disciples, and said to them: Sleep ye now and take your rest; behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go: behold, he is at hand that will betray Me.
As He yet spoke, behold Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the ancients of the people. And he that betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is He; hold Him fast. And forthwith coming to Jesus, he said: Hail, Rabbi. And he kissed Him. And Jesus said to him: Friend, whereto art thou come? Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus, and held Him. And behold one of them that were with Jesus, stretching forth his hand, drew out his sword, and striking the servant of the high priest, cut off his ear.
Then Jesus said to him: Put up again Thy sword into its place; for all that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Think thou that I cannot ask My Father, and He will give Me presently more than twelve legions of Angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that so it must be done? In that same hour Jesus said to the multitudes: You are come out, as it were to a robber, with swords and clubs to apprehend Me. I sat daily with you, teaching in the Temple, and you laid not hands on Me.
Now all this was done that the Scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples, all leaving Him, fled. But they holding Jesus, led Him to Caiphas the high priest, where the scribes and the ancients were assembled. And Peter followed Him afar off, even to the court of the high priest. And going in, he sat with the servants, that he might see the end. And the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put Him to death. And they found not, whereas many false witnesses had come in. And last of all there came two false witnesses; and they said:
This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and after three days to rebuild it. And the high priest, rising up, said to Him: Answer Thou nothing to the things which these witness against Thee? But Jesus held His peace. And the high priest said to Him: I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us if Thou be the Christ the Son of God. Jesus said to him: Thou has said it. Nevertheless I say to you, hereafter you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his garments, saying: He hath blasphemed; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard the blasphemy. What think you? But they answering said: He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in His face and buffeted Him: and others struck His face with the palms of their hands, saying: Prophesy unto us, O Christ, who is he that struck Thee?
But Peter sat without in the court, and there came to him a servant-maid, saying: Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilean. But he denied before them all, saying: I know not what thou said. And as he went out of the gate, another maid saw him, and she said to them that were there: This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath: I know not the man. And after a little while, they came that stood by and said to Peter: Surely thou also art one of them; for even thy speech doth discover thee. Then he began to curse and to swear that he knew not the man; and immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus which He had said: Before the cock crow, thou wilt deny Me thrice. And going forth, he wept bitterly.
And when morning was come, all the chief priests and ancients of the people took counsel against Jesus, that they might put Him to death. And they brought Him bound, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, who betrayed Him, seeing that He was condemned, repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and ancients, saying: I have sinned in betraying innocent blood. But they said: What is that to us? Look thou to it. And casting down the pieces of silver in the Temple, he departed, and went and hanged himself with an halter.
But the chief priests having taken the pieces of silver, said: It is not lawful to put them into the corbona, because it is the price of blood. And after they had consulted together, they bought with them the potter’s field, to be a burying-place for strangers. For this cause that field was called Haceldama, that is, the field of blood, even to this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was prized, whom they prized of the children of Israel: and they gave them unto the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed to me.
And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, saying: Art Thou the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him: You say it. And when He was accused by the chief priests and ancients, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him: Do not you hear how great testimonies they allege against Thee? And He answered to him never a word, so that the governor wondered exceedingly. Now upon the solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would. And he had then a notorious prisoner that was called Barabbas.
They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said: Whom will you that I release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus that is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered Him. And as he was sitting in the place of judgment his wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him. But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people that they should ask Barabbas, and make Jesus away. And the governor answering, said to them: Whether will you of the two to be released unto you? But they said: Barabbas. Pilate said to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let Him be crucified. The governor said to them: Why, what evil hath He done?
But they cried out the more, saying: Let Him be crucified. And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, taking water washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man; look you to it. And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and upon our children. Then he released to them Barabbas; and having scourged Jesus, delivered Him unto them to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor, taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto Him the whole band; and stripping Him they put a scarlet cloak about Him. And platting a crown of thorns they put it upon His head and a reed in His right hand. And bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews. And spitting upon Him, they took the reed and struck his head. And after they had mocked Him, they took off the cloak from him, and put on Him His own garments, and led Him away to crucify Him.
And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon; him they forced to take up His cross. And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary. And they gave Him wine to drink mingled with gall; and when He had tasted He would not drink. And after they had crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: They divided My garments among them, and upon my vesture they cast lots. And they sat and watched Him.
And they put over His head His cause written: This is Jesus the King of the Jews. Then were crucified with Him two thieves; one on the right hand and one on the left. And they that passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads, and saying: Vah, Thou that destroys the temple of God and in three days dost rebuild it, save Thine own self. If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. In like manner also the chief priests with the scribes and ancients, mocking, said:
He saved others, Himself He cannot save; if He be the king of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him; He trusted in God, let Him now deliver Him if He will have Him; for He said: I am the Son of God. And the self-same thing the thieves also that were crucified with Him reproached Him with.
Offertory(Psalm 68 : 21, 22) My heart hath expected reproach and misery, and I looked for one that would grieve together with Me, but there was none; I sought for one that would comfort Me, and I found none; and they gave Me gall for My food, and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink.
Secret Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that the gifts offered in the sight of Thy Majesty, may procure us the grace of devotion and the reward of a blessed eternity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ …
Preface of the Holy Cross It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God: Who didst establish the salvation of mankind on the tree of the Cross: that whence death rose, thence also life might rise again, and that he who overcame by a tree, by a tree also might be overcome: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom Angels praise Thy Majesty, Dominations worship, Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the hosts of heaven with blessed Seraphim unite, exult, and celebrate. And we entreat that Thou wouldst bid our voices too be heard with theirs, singing with lowly praise: — Sanctus.
Communion (Matthew 26 : 42) Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, Thy will be done.
Postcommunion By the operation of this Mystery, O Lord, may our vices be removed, and our just desires fulfilled. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son …
