One of the very beautiful aspects of our Catholic Culture and Identity is the use of rituals and symbols in our liturgy. These rituals and symbols help to make the celebration tangible, alive and most of all they help us to enter more deeply into the mystery of the Church and more deeply into the mystery of life in Christ.

Children with palms in procession

It is important to note that the liturgy acts as a vehicle to transport us closer to Christ. By understanding the liturgy, we come to a deeper appreciation for what we are taking part in and the symbols and rituals invite us to conversion through meaningful reflection. It is said that for real education to take place, there must be a change in behaviour. This is the work of the Church in its teaching ministry which comes about when participating in the liturgy.

Ritual has great power to touch our human spirit. Today we take a look at the rituals and symbols of Palm Sunday more correctly referred to as Passion Sunday because the more important aspect is the proclamation of the Passion gospel rather than the blessing of palms. In every parish, on Palm Sunday, palms are blessed and there is either a street procession or a small procession in the church yard before the celebration of Holy Mass. During the Mass there is an enactment or reading of the Holy Gospel of Christ’s Passion. This connects with the jubilant entry and waving of palm branches and the condemnation to death of Jesus.

The early Christians always celebrated this procession of palms to commemorate the Kingship of Jesus.  The palm branches were a sign of royalty. Beginning in the fourth century Christians processed with palms from the Mount of the Ascension to the Church of the Holy Cross.

The first part of the liturgy for Palm Sunday brings us in contact with Jesus and his triumphant entry into Jerusalem where we joyfully celebrate the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. On entry into the Church the faithful hold their palm branches while the Gospel of the Passion of Christ is read. We cannot help but focus on the suffering and death of Jesus.

These palm branches are taken to our homes and placed in special places. People also carry them in their cars, shape them into crosses and place them in their workplaces, etc. These are good practices and serve as a reminder to us that Jesus is King and Lord of all. They also remind us that we must be constantly connected to God in order to overcome our human weaknesses.

Palm branches are burnt the following year and the ashes are used to mark our foreheads on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of our Lenten repentance journey. This symbol leads us to enter deeply into the mystery of salvation; the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

As catechists, we should do all we can to help adults and children come to a deeper appreciation of this liturgy and its real connection to our lives as believers and followers of Christ. Remember that rituals and symbols are powerful teaching tools for any lesson, hence its use in the Church. – Bernadette Gopaul-Ramkhalawan, Archdiocesan Catechetical Office