“And it came to pass, when Jesus was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethania, unto the mount called Olivet, he sent two of his disciples,

Saying: Go into the town which is over against you, at your entering into which you shall find the colt of an ass tied, on which no man ever hath sitten: loose him, and bring him hither.

And if any man shall ask you: Why do you loose him? you shall say thus unto him: Because the Lord hath need of his service.

And they that were sent, went their way, and found the colt standing, as he had said unto them.

And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said to them: Why loose you the colt?

But they said: Because the Lord hath need of him.

And they brought him to Jesus. And casting their garments on the colt, they set Jesus thereon.

And as he went, they spread their clothes underneath in the way.

And when he was now coming near the descent of mount Olivet, the whole multitude of his disciples began with joy to praise God with a loud voice, for all the mighty works they had seen,

Saying: Blessed be the king who cometh in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven, and glory on high!

And some of the Pharisees, from amongst the multitude, said to him: Master, rebuke thy disciples.

To whom he said: I say to you, that if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.”

-from Luke 19, (Douay-Rheims)

The Church over the years celebrated this entry into Jerusalem, remembering the true King of Kings.

“At Jerusalem, in the fourth century, on the very spot where the Palm procession took place, the Gospel narrative was read in which we see Christ, hailed as King of Israel and taking possession of His capital, Jerusalem, which is really no more than the type of Jerusalem above. After this, a bishop, mounted on an ass, rode up to the Church of the Resurrection surrounded by a multitude carrying palms and singing anthems and hymns.

The Church of Rome, it would seem, adopted this practice about the ninth century and added to it the rite for the Blessing of the Palms. In this benediction the Church prays for health of mind and body for those who dwell in houses where the palms are preserved.

This procession is composed of the faithful, who with palm in hand and songs of Hosanna on their lips, proclaim Christ’s Kingship every year, throughout the whole world and in all generations. At the Easter Feast they will be united to this glorious Victor through the Sacraments. It is this that is represented by the procession when it stops at the door of the Church, into which some members of the choir have already found their way. They chant alternately with the clergy, hailing the King of Glory each in his turn. Soon the door opens after the cross has knocked on it three times and the procession enters the church; so does the Cross of Christ open heaven to us and so will the elect one day enter with their Lord into eternal glory.”

This morning we will attend a traditional Latin Mass, complete with palms and a processional commemorating the beginning of Passion Week.

May you be blessed in remembering the Lamb who was slain and who rose again to free us from the bondage of sin and death!