The Story of Palm Sunday

A few more weeks and the whole Christian community will mark the beginning of Holy Week. The sixth and last Sunday of Lent is known as the Palm Sunday. On this special day for the Church, Christians celebrate the triumphant entry of our Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, which happened a week before his death and resurrection. According to the bible, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the citizens greeted him by waving palm branches and covering his path with the palm branches. This scene was followed by Jesus’s journey to the cross.

The Symbols Surrounding Palm Sunday

One of the symbols associated with Palm Sunday is the part where Jesus rode a donkey that paved his way with palm branches. This signified the fulfillment of prophecy spoken by the prophet Zechariah. In the customs back then, kings and nobles arrived in processions while riding the back of a donkey. The donkey is the representation of peace and those who rode the donkey proclaimed peaceful intentions. The laying of palm branches signified that the king or dignitary was arriving in triumph or victory.

A Pilgrimage of Faith, Devotion, and Passion

The Stations of the Cross play a big part of the Catholic Church’s Holy Week traditions. The devotion is centered on the Passion of Christ where the entire Church recalls the journey of Jesus’ suffering and death. Most churches have the stations displayed within their walls, but on Holy Week the spiritual pilgrimage is sometimes brought to life with actual scenes and can be spread across a town to make the journey more meaningful.

 

The History Behind the Excursion

For years, the faithful have been telling the story if Jesus’s passion, death, and resurrection. When the opportunity arose for the followers of Jesus to visit Jerusalem, they were determined to see the sites where Jesus have been, as these were important holy connections to Him. Not long after, the way of the cross became part of the Catholic Church tradition and replicas have been created all over the world for devotees to share in the pilgrimage.
 

Why Do the Stations of the Cross?

Reliving the journey of Jesus before his death and resurrection is a powerful way to connect with faith and Him. There is a lot of time for reflection and prayer while participating in the Stations of the Cross. It is way of being more open to the love of our Father and His Son. The Stations of the Cross is a tradition that is an honor to take part of during the Holy Week. Join the Catholic Church in honoring and praising the Lord’s sacrifices and blessings this coming Holy Week of 2015.