24 Paschal Candle

The Paschal Candle is an extra large and ornate candle that is lit from the Easter fire on Holy Saturday night and continues to be lit everyday until Pentecost. It symbolises Jesus risen from the dead and reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world who shows us the way to God. The candle has special images on it. 

There is always a cross around which the date (year) is written. 
The alpha and omega – the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet – appear above and below the cross, reminding us that Christ is 'the beginning and the end'. 

Five grains of incense in gold-coloured studs are inserted into the candle at the Easter Vigil. These remind us of the wounds that Christ suffered at his death. 

When Eastertide ends at Pentecost, the Paschal Candle will be lit only at baptisms and funerals. It shows us that the beginning and the end of our Christian lives are marked by hope in Jesus' resurrection. 

As the Paschal candle is carried into the darkened church the words: Christ our light (Lumen Christi) are sung three times, with the response Thanks be to God (Deo Gratias).  To see more images of this year's Easter vigil at the Cathedral

Exsultet
After the paschal candle has been placed in its stand and incensed, the deacon or priest sings the exsultet.  For those who missed this great hymn announcing the news of Christ's resurrection.

23 Palm Branch

Lancaster Cathedral 2012
Palm Branches

Today we will celebrate Palm Sunday and remember the day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowds greeted Jesus as a King and waved palm branches for him yet only days later the crowd's cheers changed to 'crucify him'. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week – a week when we are called to journey with Jesus through his suffering, death and resurrection. 

Hosanna means "Save!" or "Give salvation!"

Fisheaters website - customs from around the world for what people do with their palm crosses and also a diagram of how to make a palm cross.

 CCC 559 How will Jerusalem welcome her Messiah? Although Jesus had always refused popular attempts to make him king, he chooses the time and prepares the details for his messianic entry into the city of "his father David". Acclaimed as son of David, as the one who brings salvation (Hosanna means "Save!" or "Give salvation!"), the "King of glory" enters his City "riding on an ass". Jesus conquers the Daughter of Zion, a figure of his Church, neither by ruse nor by violence, but by the humility that bears witness to the truth. And so the subjects of his kingdom on that day are children and God's poor, who acclaim him as had the angels when they announced him to the shepherds. Their acclamation, "Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord", is taken up by the Church in the "Sanctus" of the Eucharistic liturgy that introduces the memorial of the Lord's Passover.

CCC 560 Jesus' entry into Jerusalem manifested the coming of the kingdom that the King-Messiah was going to accomplish by the Passover of his Death and Resurrection. It is with the celebration of that entry on Palm Sunday that the Church's liturgy solemnly opens Holy Week.

Stations: Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns

Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns

A crown of thorns crated by confirmandi in 2012
The thorns contained our sins

Reading:
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said,"Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly.  (John 19: 1-3)

Prayer:
Lord, grant us patience in times of suffering
that we may offer our lives as a sacrifice of praise




Jesus with crown off thorns colouring page

We remember how Jesus was crowned with thorns when we prayer the 3rd Sorrowful Mystery of the rosary.

For details of the reconciliation service when this crown of thorns was used by Confirmandi.

Stations: Jesus is Judged by Pilate

Jesus is Judged by Pilate

Christ before Pilate:
Meister Bertram von Minden 1390

Reading: 
The chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin, held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You say so." The chief priests accused him of many things. Again Pilate questioned him, "Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of." Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.... Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barrabas... [and] handed [Jesus] over to be crucified.
(Mark 15: 1-5, 15)

Prayer
Lord, grant us discernment that we may see as you see, not as the world sees.

Jesus before Pilate colouring page

On line audio of the story and images of the story for children

Stations: Jesus is Denied by Peter

Stained Glass window
St Peter's Cathedral, Lancaster

Jesus is Denied by Peter

see video reflection below 

Reading: 
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about!" As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazorean." Again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man!" A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away." At that he began to curse and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: "Before the cock crows you will deny me three times." He went out and began to weep bitterly.
(Matthew 26: 69-75)

Prayer: 
Lord, grant us the gift of honesty that we may not fear to speak the truth even when difficult

A polish paper craft reminding us of the cock that crowed when Peter denied Jesus.  For instructions of how to make a Polish Wycinanki

On line audio of the story and images of the story for children



Remember stations of the cross tonight at the Cathedral 6.15 pm followed by exposition of Blessed Sacrament and confessions till 8.00pm.

Stations: Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin

Jesus is condemned to death:
Saint-Jean-Baptiste au Béguinage, Brussels

Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin
See video reflection below

Reading: 
When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us," but he replied to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied to them, "You say that I am." Then they said, "What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth."  (Luke 22: 66-71)
Prayer: 
Lord, grant us your sense of righteousness that we may never cease to work to bring about the justice of the kingdom that you promised.

Jesus is told he will die on a cross colouring page 

Click here for a children's version of the station where Jesus is told he will die on the cross.  This is based on the 1st traditional station, where Pontius Pilot tells Jesus he will die on the cross.  What is the link with the 3rd scriptural station?
Sanhedrin is like a court where people are judged

Stations: Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested

Giotto: The Kiss of Judas

Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested

See video reflection below Reading: Then, while [Jesus] was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, "the man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely." He came and immediately went over to him and said, "Rabbi." And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him.  (Mark 14: 43-46)

Prayer:   
Lord, grant us the courage of our convictions that our lives may faithfully reflect the good news you bring

Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss online colouring page

On line audio of the story and images of the story for children