Holy Week
Work in progress
Holy Week – A Passage to Love
We begin the celebration of Holy Week, the greatest week in the calendar of the Church as it celebrates the Good News: God has reconciled the world to Himself in the suffering, death and Resurrection of Jesus. The liturgy of this week is not an exercise in recalling past events. We share, here and now, in the saving mysteries of Christ. It is no exaggeration to say that our whole vocation as Christians is to share in the paschal mystery of Christ, to join with Him in his self-emptying love. As we share this final journey with our Lord, it is good to remind ourselves that our lives are a journey, too, that take us to Him, and He is always with us.
The measure of His love
As Holy Week begins, we are going to contemplate Christ's unending love that is beyond measure. God emptied himself and went down to the lowest depths of poverty and humiliation, dying naked and as a convicted criminal. As we go through this week, we watch Jesus, not just to admire, but also to learn to walk in his footsteps and to commit ourselves to His love.
Holy Week in our Maronite Church, starts with “Naheero” or the “Coming or Arrival to the Harbour” and ends on Resurrection Sunday.
Holy Week, in our Maronite Church, is sometimes considered an independent Liturgical Season inside the Season of Lent. It starts with “Naheero” or the “Coming or Arrival to the Harbour” on Monday and ends on Resurrection Sunday. One week seems to be too short to be considered an independent Season; however, the importance and intensity of ceremonies, and the profound spirituality found in the prayers and hymns in that blessed week, make it worthy to be the most important week of the liturgical year.
Holy Week celebrates the fulfilment of so many wonderful prophecies. It is a time for Christians to prepare their hearts for the agony of His Passion and the joy of His Resurrection.
Prayers and celebrations
During the Holy Week, the faithful participate in specific prayers and celebrations, such as:
the procession of Palm Sunday, the rite of arrival at the harbour, the rite of the oil lamp, the rite of blessing the oils, the rite of the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday, the rite of the burial of Christ on Good Friday and the rite of forgiveness on Holy Saturday.
“Naheero” or the “Coming or Arrival to the Harbour”- Sunday night or Monday
Gosepl: Mt. 25:1-13
The Rite begins outside the Church and concludes inside. The faithful gather in front of the closed door of the Church, standing on both sides, each holding an unlit candle, like the Wise Virgins (Mt. 25:1-13) awaiting the Bridegroom. After the priest reads the Gospel of the Ten Virgins, he knocks on the Church door three times, symbolising the invitation to enter. The door is then opened to welcome the faithful into the Church. As the faithful enter, it symbolises our spiritual journey towards the Kingdom of God, represented by the Church. While entering, each person lights their candle, signifying their readiness, like the wise virgins, to participate in the wedding feast. Having completed the Lenten journey, we, as believers, are now ready to join Christ, the Bridegroom, in His wedding on the Cross. The parable of the Ten Virgins reminds us that it is only through a life of dedication to God—marked by vigilance, fasting, and prayer—that we can be prepared to welcome the Bridegroom and partake in the joy of the Resurrection.
Tuesday
Gospel: Luke: 13:22-30
"Lord, will only a few be saved?"
In this passage, Jesus is asked a crucial question: “Lord, will only a few be saved?” His response is both profound and challenging. He describes entering the Kingdom of God as entering through a narrow door—a door that requires effort, commitment, and determination to pass through. This narrow door symbolises the path to salvation, which is not easy, but requires conscious striving and active participation in God’s work.
To enter the narrow door, is not simply about following rules; it’s about an active pursuit of holiness and love, a constant striving to reflect God’s love in all we do.
We are called to be peacemakers, to heal brokenness, and to be sources of help for those in need. This work is not just about deeds, but about embodying Christ’s love in the world. As followers of Jesus, we are meant to be lights in the world, bearing witness to God’s redeeming love. Our words and actions must reflect the love of Christ, offering hope and peace to those around us.
Salvation isn’t just about the afterlife; it’s about living fully in God’s presence here and now, letting His love transform every part of our lives.
Naboth’s Story
On this day, we also contemplate on Naboth’s story (1 king 21) who refused to sell his inheritance to the king Ahab and obeyed the Lord before he obeyed his king.
Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard situated beside the king Ahab’s palace. Naboth’s inheritance was well cared for and precious. Ahab was king and had wealth beyond what most of us will ever experience, he was not content and wished to acquire the Naboth’s vineyard to convert it into a vegetable garden. Naboth, had inherited his land from his father, and, according to Jewish law, could not alienate it. Accordingly, he refused to sell it to the king Ahab who became deeply unhappy at not being able to obtain the vineyard. Ahab thought he could use his position and wealth to gain whatever he wanted but Naboth obeyed the Lord before he obeyed his king.
Returning to his palace, he collapsed with depression. His wife, Jezebel, after learning the reason for his misery and depression, promised that she would obtain the vineyard for him. To do so, she plotted to kill Naboth by mock trial accusing him of blasphemy. Blasphemy was the most grievous crime one could be accused of and worthy of capital punishment.
They carried him out of the town and stoned him with his sons. Ahab told the king to take possession of the vineyard as the legal heir.
The Injustice and False Accusation
The story of Naboth is fundamentally one of injustice. Naboth, a righteous man, refuses to sell his ancestral vineyard to King Ahab, following God’s command that the land should remain within his family. When Naboth is falsely accused and wrongfully executed, it echoes the injustice of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Just as Naboth was killed for standing firm in his righteousness, Jesus was crucified despite His innocence.
By reading Naboth's story during Holy Week, the Church invites the faithful to reflect on the suffering and injustice that Jesus endured, while also reminding them that righteousness and truth will ultimately triumph. This reading also serves as a call for the faithful to stand firm in the face of injustice and to recognise that, like Naboth and Jesus, those who suffer for the sake of righteousness will receive God's justice in the end.
Wednesday-The Rite of the Lamp/Job or Ayoub Wednesday
The Rite of the Lamp is a special liturgical celebration in the Maronite Church observed on Wednesday of Holy Week, also known as Job Wednesday. This rite is deeply connected to the story of Job (Ayoub), who is renowned for his remarkable patience in the face of tremendous suffering. Job lost his wealth, his health, and the lives of his beloved children, yet he remained faithful to God. His story is one of endurance and trust in God's will, even when faced with overwhelming hardship.
Job's patience is seen as a reflection of Christ, who also endured suffering and death with patience. Job’s perseverance in times of trial points to Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the Cross, where He endured unimaginable suffering for the salvation of humanity.
The Rite of the Lamp
On Job Wednesday, the Rite of the Lamp is celebrated as a symbolic act of prayer, light, and healing. During the Rite, the faithful watch as dough, with seven burning candles inserted into it, rises in the sanctuary, accompanied by their prayers. The dough symbolizes the good leaven of Christ, who is the source of life and transformation for the world. Just as leaven causes dough to rise, Christ's presence transforms the hearts of believers. The seven candles represent the light of Christ, reminding the faithful that they are called to be lights in the world, just as Jesus is the Light of the world.
Before the altar, a bowl of risen dough is placed, signifying how Christians are meant to be leaven in the world, spreading the love and teachings of Christ. The seven candles inserted into the dough also symbolise the light that Christians are called to bring into the world through their actions, prayers, and faith. As Christ brought light into the darkness, His followers are called to reflect that light.
Blessing of Oil and Anointing
During the Rite, the priest blesses vials of oil, and the faithful receive the anointing of oil. This anointing recalls the healings Jesus performed, where oil was often used to symbolize spiritual and physical healing. The Rite also draws on the teachings of Saint James in his letter to the early Christian community:
Thursday of Mysteries
Thursday of the mysteries is the heart of the Holy Week. It commemorates the Last Supper and the washing of the feet of the disciples. The parishes celebrate the divine sacrifice, which includes the ritual of washing, and the believers continue the vigil before the Holy Eucharist with hymns, spiritual readings, and meditations, which is like vigil with Jesus in the Garden of Olives.
On that day, we remember Christ's total self-giving and service to us. It is the day when Jesus gave himself, body and blood to us in the Eucharist and established the Sacraments of Eucharist and the Priesthood.
According to tradition, believers visit seven churches where the Eucharist is displayed for adoration, thanking the Lord Jesus for the blessing of the seven sacraments that symbolise the presence of Jesus. However, according to an ancient tradition, it seems that the Virgin Mary, after learning of the arrest of her only Jesus, went looking for him in seven places.
Maronite Traditions during Holy Thursday
Great Friday
Mass is not celebrated on Good Friday. The Christian world halts on this day to recall the death of Jesus and to meditate on the mystery of salvation. In the Maronite Rite, two ceremonies are to be celebrated on that day. The first is the Adoration of the Cross and the second is the Liturgy of the Burial of the Lord.
People bring flowers to the service, and women generally wear black. The ceremony incorporates prayers, readings, a procession, the burial and the Adoration of the Cross.
The cross is raised on a table in front of the altar with a violet cloth where a picture of the Virgin Mary is placed on it. In front of it there is a dark cover in which the believers put the roses they offer which symbolises the embalming ointment (spices and Myrrh) which Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea have anoint the body of Christ with it before His burial.
People line up to walk under the cover, that is full of roses, at the end of the ceremony where They have to kiss the cross which marks the end of the ceremony.
It is called Good because of God: good because God's love has conquered. God's Son Jesus overcame the world and once again opened the gates of heaven to those who believe.
Maronite traditions
Many Christians during that day bring some flowers to honour the Holy Cross.
All flowers will be put into the blanket that will be laid in the tomb prepared especially for this day.
People have to go under the tomb and kiss the Cross which signifies the end of the ceremony.
After the Ceremony, the cross is buried until Easter Sunday.
On Good Friday the Maronite make Special food called 'monk's soup', in Arabic it's called kibet el rahib" .
Kibet lakteen is aslo made on this day.
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
These were Jesus’ final words but they are also words that echoed throughout the earthly life of Jesus. This prayer is a prayer of complete surrender to the Father, a prayer of total abandonment and unwavering trust.
Let us pray, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”
"Living Holy Week means increasingly entering into God's logic, the logic of the Cross, which is not first of all that of pain and death, but of love and of self-giving that brings life." Pope Francis
Saturday of the Light
This is the last day of Lent. During that day, a ceremony called “the Prayer of Forgiveness” is celebrated. ". It is an old prayer of the Maronite Church. The Maronite Church and all the Syriac Churches celebrate the forgiveness won by the death of Jesus Christ. All Christians are invited to confess their sins during the ceremony and ask for forgiveness.
At the end of the ceremony the joy begins and people say to each other: Christ has risen . Every time we reconcile with God we live the Resurrection.
Holy Week – A Passage to Love
We begin the celebration of Holy Week, the greatest week in the calendar of the Church as it celebrates the Good News: God has reconciled the world to Himself in the suffering, death and Resurrection of Jesus. The liturgy of this week is not an exercise in recalling past events. We share, here and now, in the saving mysteries of Christ. It is no exaggeration to say that our whole vocation as Christians is to share in the paschal mystery of Christ, to join with Him in his self-emptying love. As we share this final journey with our Lord, it is good to remind ourselves that our lives are a journey, too, that take us to Him, and He is always with us.
The measure of His love
As Holy Week begins, we are going to contemplate Christ's unending love that is beyond measure. God emptied himself and went down to the lowest depths of poverty and humiliation, dying naked and as a convicted criminal. As we go through this week, we watch Jesus, not just to admire, but also to learn to walk in his footsteps and to commit ourselves to His love.
Holy Week in our Maronite Church, starts with “Naheero” or the “Coming or Arrival to the Harbour” and ends on Resurrection Sunday.
Holy Week, in our Maronite Church, is sometimes considered an independent Liturgical Season inside the Season of Lent. It starts with “Naheero” or the “Coming or Arrival to the Harbour” on Monday and ends on Resurrection Sunday. One week seems to be too short to be considered an independent Season; however, the importance and intensity of ceremonies, and the profound spirituality found in the prayers and hymns in that blessed week, make it worthy to be the most important week of the liturgical year.
Holy Week celebrates the fulfilment of so many wonderful prophecies. It is a time for Christians to prepare their hearts for the agony of His Passion and the joy of His Resurrection.
Prayers and celebrations
During the Holy Week, the faithful participate in specific prayers and celebrations, such as:
the procession of Palm Sunday, the rite of arrival at the harbour, the rite of the oil lamp, the rite of blessing the oils, the rite of the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday, the rite of the burial of Christ on Good Friday and the rite of forgiveness on Holy Saturday.
“Naheero” or the “Coming or Arrival to the Harbour”- Sunday night or Monday
Gosepl: Mt. 25:1-13
The Rite begins outside the Church and concludes inside. The faithful gather in front of the closed door of the Church, standing on both sides, each holding an unlit candle, like the Wise Virgins (Mt. 25:1-13) awaiting the Bridegroom. After the priest reads the Gospel of the Ten Virgins, he knocks on the Church door three times, symbolising the invitation to enter. The door is then opened to welcome the faithful into the Church. As the faithful enter, it symbolises our spiritual journey towards the Kingdom of God, represented by the Church. While entering, each person lights their candle, signifying their readiness, like the wise virgins, to participate in the wedding feast. Having completed the Lenten journey, we, as believers, are now ready to join Christ, the Bridegroom, in His wedding on the Cross. The parable of the Ten Virgins reminds us that it is only through a life of dedication to God—marked by vigilance, fasting, and prayer—that we can be prepared to welcome the Bridegroom and partake in the joy of the Resurrection.
Tuesday
Gospel: Luke: 13:22-30
"Lord, will only a few be saved?"
In this passage, Jesus is asked a crucial question: “Lord, will only a few be saved?” His response is both profound and challenging. He describes entering the Kingdom of God as entering through a narrow door—a door that requires effort, commitment, and determination to pass through. This narrow door symbolises the path to salvation, which is not easy, but requires conscious striving and active participation in God’s work.
To enter the narrow door, is not simply about following rules; it’s about an active pursuit of holiness and love, a constant striving to reflect God’s love in all we do.
We are called to be peacemakers, to heal brokenness, and to be sources of help for those in need. This work is not just about deeds, but about embodying Christ’s love in the world. As followers of Jesus, we are meant to be lights in the world, bearing witness to God’s redeeming love. Our words and actions must reflect the love of Christ, offering hope and peace to those around us.
Salvation isn’t just about the afterlife; it’s about living fully in God’s presence here and now, letting His love transform every part of our lives.
Naboth’s Story
On this day, we also contemplate on Naboth’s story (1 king 21) who refused to sell his inheritance to the king Ahab and obeyed the Lord before he obeyed his king.
Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard situated beside the king Ahab’s palace. Naboth’s inheritance was well cared for and precious. Ahab was king and had wealth beyond what most of us will ever experience, he was not content and wished to acquire the Naboth’s vineyard to convert it into a vegetable garden. Naboth, had inherited his land from his father, and, according to Jewish law, could not alienate it. Accordingly, he refused to sell it to the king Ahab who became deeply unhappy at not being able to obtain the vineyard. Ahab thought he could use his position and wealth to gain whatever he wanted but Naboth obeyed the Lord before he obeyed his king.
Returning to his palace, he collapsed with depression. His wife, Jezebel, after learning the reason for his misery and depression, promised that she would obtain the vineyard for him. To do so, she plotted to kill Naboth by mock trial accusing him of blasphemy. Blasphemy was the most grievous crime one could be accused of and worthy of capital punishment.
They carried him out of the town and stoned him with his sons. Ahab told the king to take possession of the vineyard as the legal heir.
The Injustice and False Accusation
The story of Naboth is fundamentally one of injustice. Naboth, a righteous man, refuses to sell his ancestral vineyard to King Ahab, following God’s command that the land should remain within his family. When Naboth is falsely accused and wrongfully executed, it echoes the injustice of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Just as Naboth was killed for standing firm in his righteousness, Jesus was crucified despite His innocence.
By reading Naboth's story during Holy Week, the Church invites the faithful to reflect on the suffering and injustice that Jesus endured, while also reminding them that righteousness and truth will ultimately triumph. This reading also serves as a call for the faithful to stand firm in the face of injustice and to recognise that, like Naboth and Jesus, those who suffer for the sake of righteousness will receive God's justice in the end.
Wednesday-The Rite of the Lamp/Job or Ayoub Wednesday
The Rite of the Lamp is a special liturgical celebration in the Maronite Church observed on Wednesday of Holy Week, also known as Job Wednesday. This rite is deeply connected to the story of Job (Ayoub), who is renowned for his remarkable patience in the face of tremendous suffering. Job lost his wealth, his health, and the lives of his beloved children, yet he remained faithful to God. His story is one of endurance and trust in God's will, even when faced with overwhelming hardship.
Job's patience is seen as a reflection of Christ, who also endured suffering and death with patience. Job’s perseverance in times of trial points to Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the Cross, where He endured unimaginable suffering for the salvation of humanity.
The Rite of the Lamp
On Job Wednesday, the Rite of the Lamp is celebrated as a symbolic act of prayer, light, and healing. During the Rite, the faithful watch as dough, with seven burning candles inserted into it, rises in the sanctuary, accompanied by their prayers. The dough symbolizes the good leaven of Christ, who is the source of life and transformation for the world. Just as leaven causes dough to rise, Christ's presence transforms the hearts of believers. The seven candles represent the light of Christ, reminding the faithful that they are called to be lights in the world, just as Jesus is the Light of the world.
Before the altar, a bowl of risen dough is placed, signifying how Christians are meant to be leaven in the world, spreading the love and teachings of Christ. The seven candles inserted into the dough also symbolise the light that Christians are called to bring into the world through their actions, prayers, and faith. As Christ brought light into the darkness, His followers are called to reflect that light.
Blessing of Oil and Anointing
During the Rite, the priest blesses vials of oil, and the faithful receive the anointing of oil. This anointing recalls the healings Jesus performed, where oil was often used to symbolize spiritual and physical healing. The Rite also draws on the teachings of Saint James in his letter to the early Christian community:
- James 5:13-18:
"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."
Thursday of Mysteries
Thursday of the mysteries is the heart of the Holy Week. It commemorates the Last Supper and the washing of the feet of the disciples. The parishes celebrate the divine sacrifice, which includes the ritual of washing, and the believers continue the vigil before the Holy Eucharist with hymns, spiritual readings, and meditations, which is like vigil with Jesus in the Garden of Olives.
On that day, we remember Christ's total self-giving and service to us. It is the day when Jesus gave himself, body and blood to us in the Eucharist and established the Sacraments of Eucharist and the Priesthood.
According to tradition, believers visit seven churches where the Eucharist is displayed for adoration, thanking the Lord Jesus for the blessing of the seven sacraments that symbolise the presence of Jesus. However, according to an ancient tradition, it seems that the Virgin Mary, after learning of the arrest of her only Jesus, went looking for him in seven places.
Maronite Traditions during Holy Thursday
- Churches will be open for visitors to visit the Blessed Sacrament
- The believers visit seven churches during the afternoon, as a pilgrimage.
- The Blessed Sacrament is exposed usually after the ceremony of the washing of the feet until the morning of the next day, Good Friday.
- Many faithful stay in the church praying and meditating upon the Mystery of Salvation, and participating in the “agony of Gethsemane” where Jesus spent his night in prayer.
Great Friday
Mass is not celebrated on Good Friday. The Christian world halts on this day to recall the death of Jesus and to meditate on the mystery of salvation. In the Maronite Rite, two ceremonies are to be celebrated on that day. The first is the Adoration of the Cross and the second is the Liturgy of the Burial of the Lord.
People bring flowers to the service, and women generally wear black. The ceremony incorporates prayers, readings, a procession, the burial and the Adoration of the Cross.
The cross is raised on a table in front of the altar with a violet cloth where a picture of the Virgin Mary is placed on it. In front of it there is a dark cover in which the believers put the roses they offer which symbolises the embalming ointment (spices and Myrrh) which Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea have anoint the body of Christ with it before His burial.
People line up to walk under the cover, that is full of roses, at the end of the ceremony where They have to kiss the cross which marks the end of the ceremony.
It is called Good because of God: good because God's love has conquered. God's Son Jesus overcame the world and once again opened the gates of heaven to those who believe.
Maronite traditions
Many Christians during that day bring some flowers to honour the Holy Cross.
All flowers will be put into the blanket that will be laid in the tomb prepared especially for this day.
People have to go under the tomb and kiss the Cross which signifies the end of the ceremony.
After the Ceremony, the cross is buried until Easter Sunday.
On Good Friday the Maronite make Special food called 'monk's soup', in Arabic it's called kibet el rahib" .
Kibet lakteen is aslo made on this day.
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
These were Jesus’ final words but they are also words that echoed throughout the earthly life of Jesus. This prayer is a prayer of complete surrender to the Father, a prayer of total abandonment and unwavering trust.
Let us pray, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”
- Whenever we are troubled,
- Whenever we are faced with impossible problems,
- Whenever we doubt that God loves us,
- Whenever we think that He is not listening to us,
- Whenever we feel we are broken and
- Whenever our loved ones are suffering and we can’t do anything. .
"Living Holy Week means increasingly entering into God's logic, the logic of the Cross, which is not first of all that of pain and death, but of love and of self-giving that brings life." Pope Francis
Saturday of the Light
This is the last day of Lent. During that day, a ceremony called “the Prayer of Forgiveness” is celebrated. ". It is an old prayer of the Maronite Church. The Maronite Church and all the Syriac Churches celebrate the forgiveness won by the death of Jesus Christ. All Christians are invited to confess their sins during the ceremony and ask for forgiveness.
At the end of the ceremony the joy begins and people say to each other: Christ has risen . Every time we reconcile with God we live the Resurrection.