With a small procession down the vast and empty central nave of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis began the first of a series of Holy Week liturgies celebrated without the presence of the faithful from the general public. Palm Sunday Mass, the
For the first time in historical memory, Holy Week and Easter prayers at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus, will be bereft of pilgrims and local Christians celebrating at the holy site,
Besides Christmas, Holy Week holds the most iconic and beautiful music in our Catholic culture. While we may not be able to experience the riches of Holy Week music in church this year, in the Spotify playlist below, you'll find music for
With public gatherings, including Masses, banned in Italy to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Vatican published an updated version of Pope Francis' schedule for Holy Week and Easter. In a March 27 statement, the Vatican said that all Holy Week
American Catholics are facing an unimaginable Holy Week this year. With the suspension of public Masses throughout every diocese in all 50 states, there will be no Palm Sundays in our parishes, no Triduum liturgies, no joyous Easter Sunday Mass. It’s almost
While conferences and meetings can be postponed for months because of the coronavirus pandemic, the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter cannot, with the exception of the chrism Mass, said the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. "By the mandate of
The Vatican office that distributes free tickets to papal events has posted a notice on its website that "the liturgical celebrations of Holy Week will take place without the physical presence of the faithful." While public gatherings, including Masses, have been banned
The cross serves as a warning to the powerful and a message of hope for the poor and oppressed, said the preacher of the papal household.
The many churches in and around Jerusalem provide ample opportunities for pilgrimage, walking the path of Christ
The story of salvation did not end two millennia ago; rather it continues to play out in our lives today