Bishop Ruggieri shares a message of love during Palm Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Hundreds filled the pews of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland on Palm Sunday, March 29, joining with Bishop James Ruggieri and Christians around the world in marking the start of Holy Week, the most solemn week of the year on the Church calendar.

On Palm Sunday, Christians celebrate Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, during which crowds cut branches from trees and laid them on the road before him, crying out ‘Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matthew 21:9). It is from those branches that the day gets its name.

Yet, that glorious entrance is followed only days later by Jesus's crucifixion and death, as told during the sharing of the Passion narrative during Palm Sunday Mass.

“Why did this have to happen? Why did Jesus subject himself to all of this?” the bishop asked in his homily.

“For our salvation," he explained. "Sin and death do not have the final word. Love does. We are created in love by God, sustained by love in this life, and saved by love. We are able to live forever with God and the saints in heaven because of love. The Father loves us. Love allows to become what we were made to be.”

The bishop said in these uncertain times, marked by war and political discord, it is important to remember that love will prevail.

“Love, as Jesus shows us, is not an emotional sentiment that ebbs and flows. Love is the offering of oneself as a gift to another. This is the love that prevails,” the bishop said. “We can pray for peace in the world. We can be proactive in encouraging others to pursue peace, but many of the problems in our world and society are beyond our ability to resolve. What is within our reach is this: we can love those whom God places before us each day.”

During the Palm Sunday Mass, parishioners received palms which they held up as the bishop blessed them. He then walked up the center aisle of the church sprinkling them with holy water. Those palm branches are traditionally displayed in homes until the start of Lent next year, when they will be burned to make the ashes used on Ash Wednesday.

Holy Week continues with the Chrism Mass on Tuesday, during which priests from around the diocese will gather with the bishop at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to renew the promises they made at their ordinations. During the Mass, the bishop will bless and consecrate the holy oils that will be distributed to parishes for use in the sacraments throughout the coming year.

On Wednesday, the bishop travels to northern Maine for the Mass of the Oils, which this year will be celebrated at 6 p.m. at St. Bruno-St. Remi Church in Van Buren. During the Mass, the oils blessed during the Chrism Mass will be distributed to northern Maine parishes, and priests from that area will renew their promises.

On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, commemorating the institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples before his Passion and death. During Holy Thursday Mass, the bishop and priests around the diocese will wash the feet of parishioners, recalling that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples in an act of humility and service.

At the end of Holy Thursday Mass, the altar is stripped bare because there is no Mass on Good Friday, the only day of the year that Mass is not celebrated. Instead, parishioners will gather in prayer to commemorate the Lord’s Passion.

Holy Week culminates with the celebration of the Easter Vigil Mass. Considered the “greatest and most noble of all solemnities,” it is on this night that we celebrate Christ’s passage from death to life. The Mass begins in darkness with the lighting of the paschal fire, and from that fire, the paschal candle and then candles throughout the church are lit, signifying the light of Christ spread throughout the world, his victory over death, and our salvation.

You can find a list of times for Masses and services during Holy Week here.