The Reason this Week Is Holy and How We Can Live It In the Best Possible Way

PART ONE: WHY IS HOLY WEEK CALLED “HOLY”

Holy Week, the most important week in the liturgical year, begins with Palm Sunday and culminates on Easter Sunday, eight days later. But why is it called “holy”?

It is called “HOLY” because the entire Church commemorates the summit of our Lord’s patience and self-sacrificial, immense love for humanity - a love that holds nothing back; is willing to suffer unto “death, death on the Cross” in order to save us from our sins; and a love which knows no bounds, which conquers Satan and death itself with His Passion, Death and Resurrection.

The following is what happens during each day of the week based on the Gospel accounts:

Palm Sunday: Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem accompanied by shouts of praise from the fickle crowd who will shout “crucify him!” on Friday. Why were they so superficial?

Holy Monday: Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was. Mary anoints Jesus with perfume. Judas is scandalized and leaves. The Jewish leaders planned to kill Lazarus too because so many Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him. How did Judas get to this point? Why did Mary's act of love bother him so much? How can we show our love for our Lord today with acts of love as Mary did with the perfume? How can we spread the fragrance of love everywhere we go today?

Holy Tuesday: Jesus predicts Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s triple denial. Where are we betraying Jesus?

Holy Wednesday: Judas made a deal with the chief priests to deliver Jesus to them for 30 pieces of silver. The betrayal is initiated and will culminate in Jesus’ arrest after the Last Supper on Thursday.

Maundy or Holy Thursday:

• Jesus washes the feet of His Apostles and gives the New Commandment of love. 
• Jesus institutes the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and of Orders during the Last Supper. 

Good Friday: The Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Holy or Black Saturday: Contemplation of Jesus in the tomb in silence and adoration

Easter Sunday: Jesus resurrects from the dead and triumphs over sin, death, evil, and the devil.

Let us thank God not only with sentiments and words, but also with actions, taking advantage of Holy Week to grow in self-sacrificing love for Him, for His Church and for all souls. 

Part Two offers some suggestions on how to do this.

PART TWO: HOW CAN WE LIVE THE HOLY WEEK IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY?

The answer is in the question itself: LIVE THE HOLY WEEK IN A HOLY MANNER.

As we live Holy Week and celebrate the amazing and merciful Love of Our Lord Jesus Christ shown through His Passion, Death and Resurrection, we desire to use these days to live it in the best way possible in order to prove our love for Our Savior. 

The Office of Readings for Palm Sunday gives us guidance on this. From a sermon by Saint Andrew of Crete, bishop:

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the King of Israel

Let us go together to meet Christ on the Mount of Olives. Today he returns from Bethany and proceeds of his own free will toward his holy and blessed passion, to consummate the mystery of our salvation. He who came down from heaven to raise us from the depths of sin, to raise us with himself, we are told in Scripture, above every sovereignty, authority and power, and every other name that can be named, now comes of his own free will to make his journey to Jerusalem...Let us run to accompany him as he hastens toward his passion, and imitate those who met him then, not by covering his path with garments, olive branches or palms, but by doing all we can to prostrate ourselves before him by being humble and by trying to live as he would wish. Then we shall be able to receive the Word at his coming, and God, whom no limits can contain, will be within us...So let us spread before his feet, not garments or soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither, but ourselves, clothed in his grace, or rather, clothed completely in him. We who have been baptized into Christ must ourselves be the garments that we spread before him. Now that the crimson stains of our sins have been washed away in the saving waters of baptism and we have become white as pure wool, let us present the conqueror of death, not with mere branches of palms but with the real rewards of his victory. Let our souls take the place of the welcoming branches as we join today in the children's holy song: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.

Let us prostrate ourselves before him by being humble and by trying to live as he would wish. Here are eleven action steps that we can take to prove our love for him this week:

1. Let us make sure that we are in the state of grace (without mortal sin). If not, I encourage you to receive God’s love, mercy and forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession;
2. Say many acts of thanksgiving to Our Lord for His total love and self-giving, dying on the Cross in order to save us;
3. Accompany Him closely during these days through generous prayer and sacrifice in atonement of our sins and that of the whole world, meditating on the Gospel passages which narrate His Passion and Death to realize how much He loves you. This link and this link contain wonderful meditation matierial for Holy Week.
4. Attend the Holy Week Services on Holy Thursday and Good Friday and of course, make sure you go to Mass on Easter Sunday.
5. You may also want to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament on Holy Thursday at your parish. 
6. Struggle to live a holy life, avoiding sins which are the cause of Christ’s Passion and Death;and practicing the virtues which his grace enables you to do.
7. Pray many acts of love, of contrition and of atonement and reparation for our sins and those of the entire humanity.
8. Make life pleasant to the people around us, especially those who are in need; Serve Jesus in them - "Whatever you do for the least of my brethren, you do for me." (Matthew 25:40).
9. Stations of the Cross – remember our own participation in His suffering. Recommend versions by St. Alphonsus Liguori or St. Francis of Assisi. Consider doing stations on Good Friday at 3:00 PM
10. Watch Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ.
11. In imitation of Jesus, beg the Lord to help you forgive anyone who has hurt you and, when possible, reconcile with them.