Maundy Thursday

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before He suffered, did institute the Sacrament of His Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may thankfully receive the same in remembrance of Him who is these holy mysteries giveth us a pledge of life eternal, the same Thy son Jesus Christ our Lord; who now liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

(Source 1979 BCP p. 169).

Monday in Holy Week

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first He suffered pain, and entered not into glory before He was crucified.  Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Source: 1979 BCP p. 168).

The Best Images From Holy Week 2010

Alleluia! He Is Risen!

The Lord Is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Almighty God, who through Your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life; Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Source: 1979 BCP p. 222)

The Harrowing of Hell

Painting: The Descent Into Hell by Tintorello (1568)

From an ancient homily for Holy Saturday:

"Today a great silence reigns on earth, a great silence and a great stillness. A great silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. . . . He has gone to search for Adam, our first father, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow Adam in his bonds and Eve, captive with him - He who is both their God and son of Eve. . . . "I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. . . . I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead."

Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 637: "In his human soul united to his divine person, the dead Christ went down to the realm of the dead. He opened heaven's gate for the just who had gone before him."

Wednesday in Holy Week

Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever, Amen. (Source: 1979 BCP p. 220).

Tuesday in Holy Week

O God, by the passion of Your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Source 1979 BCP p. 220)

Monday in Holy Week

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first He suffered pain, and entered not into glory before He was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Source: 1979 BCP p. 220)