Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is really one of the most important feast in the Catholic Church. For me, it is a joyous celebration of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem before His own Passion and Death on the cross. Photo shows the fresco "Entry of Christ into Jerusalem" by painter Franz Plattner found in the Holy Cross Parish Church in Zirl, Austria Photo source is Wikipedia.

Chief and I went to St. John Bosco Church for Palm Sunday Mass. Everyone had palms and early during the Mass, the palms were blessed by the priest.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, palm branches have been used by all nations as an emblem of joy and victory over enemies and in Christianity as a sign of victory over the flesh.



The palms are usually taken home by the faithful and used as a sacramental. These palms are preserved in prominent places in the house. Our palm now sits above a painting in our own living room.

The vestments for the day are deep scarlet red, the color of blood, indicating the supreme sacrifice Christ was entering Jerusalem.
The palms are saved in many churches to be burned the following year as the source of ashes used in Ash Wednesday services.