Holy Week

This week is known as Holy Week in the Christian world and indeed for many good reasons.

The week starts with Palm Sunday when Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, to the cheers and clapping of the people waving palm branches and singing Hosanna, hosanna… Mark 11,1-10

On Holy Thursday we remember the celebration of the last Supper with Jesus and his 12 apostles. Here, He gave us the gift of the Eucharist. In our Book of the Institute N° 19, it reads, ’The Eucharist is the centre of our apostolic life because it proclaims and brings about the New Creation established by Jesus.

 ‘We must go on receiving Jesus in Holy Communion so that eventually He may take possession of us. The real aim of the Eucharist is to complete in us the mystery of the Incarnation, the purpose of which is to enable all people to share in the divinity of Christ’. (Conference on the Eucharist given by Nicolas Barré)

Good Friday is a day of quiet, of prayer, of silence as we think of Jesus who died on the cross because of his great love for each of us.

In letter 10, N. Barré wrote to a religious: ‘Accept your trials wholeheartedly in union with those of Jesus Christ. Unite yourself both to the cross and to Jesus’.

Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom

Jesus, remember all those suffering in our world today

Be their hope and strength