Solemn Mass of the Lord's Passion on Palm Sunday

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, from the beginning of Lent until now we have prepared a heart through penance and works of charity. Today we gather to herald with the entire church. the beginning of the celebration of the paschal mystery of our Lord, that is, of his

passion

and resurrection, since it was to fulfill this mystery that he entered his own city of Jerusalem, so with all faith and devotion let us commemorate the entry of the Lord into the city for our salvation.

Following in his footsteps so that, being made by his grace participants in the cause, we may also participate in his resurrection and in his life. Let us pray to the almighty and ever-living God, sanctify these branches with your blessing so that we may follow Christ the King with joy. May you reach the eternal Jerusalem through him who lives and reigns forever and ever the Lord be with you reading of the holy Gospel according to Luke Jesus continued his journey towards Jerusalem, approaching Bethphage and Bethany in the place called the Mount of Los Olivos sent two of his disciples and told them: go to the village opposite and when you enter you will find a tied colt on which no one has ever sat, untie it and bring it here and if someone asks you why you untie it, you will answer that the teacher needs it.

Then those who had been sent went and found everything just as he had told them, and while he was untying the colt, its owner told him why he was untying it. When they untied this colt they said that the teacher needed it, so they brought it to Jesus through their cloaks on the colt and helped Jesus to ride while he wrote, the people spread their cloaks on the road and now, when he approached the slope of the On the Mount of Olives the entire multitude of his disciples began to praise God loudly with joy for all the wonders they had seen they proclaimed blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord peace in heaven and glory in The Pharisees in the crowd said to him, teacher, rebuke your disciples.

He replied: I tell you, if the stones remain silent, they will shout the gospel of the Lord, dear brothers and sisters, like the crowd that proclaims Jesus and Jerusalem, let us go out in peace. . Let us pray to the almighty and eternal God who, as an example of humility to the human race, made our Savior to take flesh and submit to the cause, kindly grant that we may heed his lesson and his patient suffering and thus marry to participate in his Resurrection. live and reign with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever a reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah the Lord God has given me a tongue trained to know how to speak a word to the weary that will wake them up morning after morning open my ear so that I can hear and I have not rebelled I have not turned back I turned my back on those who hit me my cheeks on those who pulled out my beard my face I did not protect myself from the whipping and spitting the Lord God is my help for that I am NOT dishonored I have set my face like flint knowing that I will not be ashamed word of the Lord my god

lord

they divided my clothes I will say your name to my breath reading the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians Christ Jesus, although it was in the form of God, no He considered equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men, and appearing in human appearance.

He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, so God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth. . under the earth and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father the word of the Lord the

passion

of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke the elders of the people, the chief priests and the scribes, rose up and brought Jesus before Pilate . He filed charges against him saying that we found this man deceiving our people.

He opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Christ, a king. Pilate asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? He told him and answer what you say. Pilate then. He led the chief priests and the crowd. I consider this man not guilty, but they were adamant and said that he is inciting the people with his teaching throughout Judea from Galilee, where he even began to listen. I'm listening to this. Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean and upon learning that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at the time.

Herod was very happy to see Jesus, he had wanted to see him for a long time because he had heard about him and was waiting. Upon seeing him perform some sign, he questioned him at length but he did not give an answer, meanwhile the chief priests and scribes were there harshly accusing him. Herod and his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him and after dressing him in a resplendent suit he sent him back to Pilate Herod and Pilate became friends that same day, although before they had been enemies. Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, and said to them: You brought this man and accused him of inciting the people to rebellion.

I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor Herod because you sent him back, so no capital crime has been committed by him, therefore , I will whip him and free him, but they all shot together. Out with this man he released Barabbas to us now Barabbas has been imprisoned for a rebellion that had occurred in the city and for murder again Pilate addressed them still wanting to free Jesus but they continued shouting crucify him crucify Pilate spoke to them a The third time what This man has done wrong.

I found him guilty of no capital crime, therefore, I will have him flogged and then release him with loud screams. However, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion and his voices prevailed. Pilate's verdict was that their demands should be granted and he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder that they asked of him and handed Jesus over to them to do as they pleased while they took him away to a certain Simon of Cyrene. who was coming from the countryside and after placing the cross on him they made him carry it behind Jesus.

A large crowd followed Jesus, among them many women who cried and lamented. Jesus turned to them and said to them, daughters of Jerusalem, do not cry for me, They have stared at us. for you and for your children because in truth the days will come when people will say the best of all the barren wombs that never gave birth and the breasts that never nursed at that time people will say that the mountain falls on us and that the hills cover us or if these things are done when the wood is green what would happen when it is dry now the others both evildoers took with him to be executed when they arrived at the place called the skull they crucified him and the evildoers there one in his right the other On his left then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.

They divided their garments by casting lots. The people stared at the rulers. Meanwhile, they mocked him and said that he saved others. Let him save himself. If he is the chosen one, Christ of God even the soldiers mocked him as they approached to offer him wine they shouted if you are the king of the Jews save yourself on top of him there was no inscription that said this is the King of the Jews now one of the criminals hanging there they insulted Jesus saying are you not the Christ save yourself and us? The other, however, rebuking him, said in response, do you not fear God because you are subject to the same condemnation and in fact we have been justly condemned by the sentence that we received corresponds to our crimes but this man has not done anything criminal, then said Jesus, remember When you come to your kingdom he answered, Amen, I tell you today you will be with me and it was already around noon and darkness covered the entire earth until 3:00 in the afternoon due to an eclipse of the Sun, then the veil of the temple was torn.

In the middle Jesus cried out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit, and having said this, he breathed. Finally, the centurion who witnessed what happened glorified God and said that this man is innocent without a doubt, when all the people who were he had gathered for the show saw what happened, they returned home beating their chests, but everyone they knew kept their distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events the gospel of the Lord dear admirers in Christ Me I am happy to greet you in the name of the Holy Father Pope Francis and to express his closeness and paternal affection to all those who gather here and to all those who join on television and radio at the beginning of this holiest week of the liturgical year, our liturgy began with the

solemn

procession with pallemans disposition bears witness to a faith in Jesus Christ who is the king of kings and Prince of peace in the gospel of seleukus that we hear at the beginning of the liturgy that Jesus joins Jerusalem, is near the Mount of Olives and his possession of the holy city is a reminder of the right of combination of the kings of Israel developed in the time of King Solomon, Jesus, however, is a different type of king is the king of the poor;

He does not enter the city on a war horse or with the best clothing or armor, but rather he participates in a simple cult; His attendants are not those of the royal courts or the soldiers, but the children of Israel. the Anna women who believe and trust in the Providence of God he brings them the hope of his messianic reign they sing his praises blessed is the king who comes in the name of the

lord

peace and heaven and glory in the highest Jesus does not imply kinship domination and control from this he comes to bring peace and glorify God but how does he achieve such peace he brings peace through the blood of his cross the moving recitation the passion recitation captures the drama of establishing peace his kingship involves patiently enduring suffering ? so that the subjects offer them peace that the world cannot give forgiveness of sins Jesus reconciles sinners with the Father through his sacrificial love offers forgiveness to others even at the last moment the Good Thief even asked him remember remember me when you enter your kingdom Jesus answered this day he will be with me in paradise he is the king of Mercy he shows mercy not only to the repentant thief but even to those who mock him and who reject him completely on his lips like other words Father Forgive them, they don't know what they are doing, he is a king who is willing to sacrifice himself for his subjects because he loves his subjects, st.

Juan de Ávila writes, I quote, divine love, the greater you were when you seemed to be so because of so many wounds and bruises, they tell us about a great love but they do not tell us about all its greatness, there was more inside than it seems, with that it was nothing more than a drop that gushed out. For the great sea of ​​infinite love, he is a humble king who uses his authority for service in the mystery of the Incarnation for love of us. The strong God humbled himself to become one of us. He humbled himself throughout his earthly life, having been born in a stable. , he associated himself with the poor, the sick, the publicans, the sinners, instead of seeking the highest place for himself.

Later this week we will hear how he humbled himself to wash the feet of his disciples in the second reading from the letter to the Philippians. Sam Paul tells us that Christ Jesus, although he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a slave, approaching human likeness, and finding himself human in appearance. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Jesus is king on a journey that goes to Jerusalem to fulfill the Father's plan for our salvation.

He goes to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover with his friends, remembering the liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt on the second Sunday of Lent in the gospel of the Transfiguration Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah about his own Exodus he himself will be the new Easter lamp but his journey will not end in death this week we remember his passion and death we will remember on Maundy Thursday his institution of the priesthood and the Eucharist we will enter more deeply into his sacrifice on Calvary meditating on his passion suffering faithfulness and obedience for which the father exalted him the week concludes with the great Easter Vigil remembering the saving works of God in history culminating in the Christ's triumphant resurrection yes, his journey leads us to a new life, but the memory of these events must also awaken in us a vivid sense of life's current path.

We begin this liturgy with the possession. We remain in possession. What does this mean? It means changing our lives. as in the fifth chapter of st. The Gospel of Luke Jesus called the fishermen to follow him. He calls us to leave everything behind to follow Him. Following Jesus means committing to him. His path of humility shows us the way to truly experience the good life, the abundant life that is not. a matter of professional usefulness worldly success and admiration to follow Jesus means to commit myself to something greater than myself to follow him means to lose myself in the service of truth and love to lose myself in the service of my neighbor to lose ourselves for him and in him we find ourselves andWe discover the path of life, it is not that this possession is easy, there will be steps forward and some backwards, but we must follow the path that he has marked for us.

If we are following it naturally, we must ask ourselves where we are going. Of course, it is far away and its path leads. to paradise along the path of the course through his death and resurrection he has opened the door of paradise for us we go towards the new and eternal Jerusalem but sometimes we lose the way Saint Francis of Assisi, when asked why he cried so many times, he responded, he cried for souls and the ignominy of my Lord and what makes me cry most of all is that we, for whom he suffered so much, live in oblivion of him.

Holy Week is a week to remember, it is a week to renew our commitment to the one who is the way, the one who is the truth. and who is life, it is time to continue a pilgrimage journey, let me quote a passage from Pope Francis, he says that pilgrimage is a symbol of life, it makes us think that life works like a path if a person does not walk but rather remains still. This is useless, it is useless to think about water when there is no water in the river, it only causes a soul to remain still and stagnate that does not work in life doing good, doing many things that must be done so that society Help others and whoever does not walk through life seeking God for an inspiration from the Holy Spirit is a soul that ends up in mediocrity and spiritual poverty.

Please, the Pope says, do not stay still in life. Do you like this quote? Do you want? to repeat it to you? I'm sorry, I can't repeat it, it's beautiful. God has not made you my friends from mediocrity, but for greatness, each one of us this week continues the path knowing that he is with us in holy communion, he gives us food for the path through his word. and example through his continuous dialogue with us in prayer he guides the entire church toward his goal and tells us, as he once said to the fishermen, what he says to us, follow me, amen, I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. all things visible and invisible I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God born of the father before all ages God from God light of light true God from true God begotten not made consubstantial with the father by him although things were made for us men and for our salvation, he descended from heaven and by the Holy Spirit he was incarnated from the Virgin Mary and became man for us he was crucified under Pontius Pilate he suffered death and was buried and was resurrected on the third day according to the Scriptures he ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will be forever as I believe in the Holy Spirit the Lord the giver of life who proceeds from the father and the son who with the father and the son is adored and glorified who has spoken through the prophets I believe in a Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church I confess a single baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I hope for the Dead and the life of the world to God amen as we begin our celebration of Holy Week let us humbly ask God in his mercy to hear and answer our prayers that are being made in this holy week the church throughout the world will grow in devotion to God and be united to him through the gift of faith, let us pray to the Lord For us elected leaders to use their power to meet the needs of those who are most vulnerable, especially poor immigrants, abandoned refugees, and the unborn, let us pray to the Lord Paul as catechumens prepare to receive baptism and enter the church in Easter for your godparents and for the academies, may God bless you with renewed faith, let us pray to the Lord for the sick, those confined to their homes, and all those who carry heavy burdens in life, may God grant them divine healing in consolation, let us pray to the Lord that although who has suffered abuse be strengthened by the hope and love that comes from God, let us pray to the Lord, then many will follow the crisis, a sample of faithful service.

As priests, deacons and consecrated religious, let us pray to the Lord for the special needs and intentions that we keep in our hearts. hearts and for those enrolled in the Lytton Remembrance national science, let us pray to the Lord that those who have died may know the fullness of life and peace in the kingdom of God let us pray to the Lord no whistles are allowed to your people in TRAI and listen to the wishes of those who cry out to you that we may be free from all evil and with good works show our dedication to your name through Christ our Lord, we invite you to use the envelopes provided in the pews as a means of sharing in our ministry in the Basilica of the National Shrine, thank you for your continued support and generosity Cley shameless so that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable before God the Father omnipotent may the passion of your only begotten Son the Lord be near our reconciliation with you so that, although we do not deserve it by our own works, yet by these sacrifices made once fallen we can already feel the effects of your mercy that cry out pain the Lord be with you lift up your hearts let us give thanks to the Lord our God is truly just and just our duty and our salvation always and everywhere thank you Holy Lord Father God almighty and eternal through Christ our Lord, because although innocent he willingly suffered for sinners and accepted unjust condemnation to save the guilty, his death was washed away, he has erased our sins and his resurrection as a person our justification and therefore with all We angels praise you as in joyful celebration we acclaim you.

You, then, merciful Father, we make a humble prayer and petition through Jesus Christ your son our Lord, that you accept and bless these gifts, these offerings, these holy and immaculate sacrifices that we offer you first for your Holy Catholic Church, be pleased to grant peace to God. unite and rule it throughout the old world together with your servant Francis our Pope my brother Donald the Bishop of this church and I your unworthy servant and all those who hold to the truth in the Catholic and apostolic faith remember Lord your servants and all gathered here, whose faith and devotion are known to you by them, we offer you the sacrifice of praise or that they offered for themselves and for all their loved ones for the redemption of their souls in the hope of health and well-being and paying homage to you. the eternal God alive and in communion with all those memories venerate especially the glories of a Virgin Mary Mother of our God and Lord Jesus Christ and blessed Joseph her husband her blessed apostles and martyrs Peter and Paul angel James John Thomas James Philip Bartholomew Matthew Simon and Jude Clement Sixtus Cornelius Cyprian Lawrence Chris de Linus Clayton ovals John and Paul cosmas and Damian and all your saints we ask through your medicine players in all things we may be defended by your protection therefore, Lord, we pay with grace accept this abrasion of our service than your own family, oh there are days in your peace and command that will be delivered from eternal damnation and numbered among the flock of those you have chosen, rejoice, oh God, we pray that you bless, recognize and approve This offering in all aspects, make it spiritual and acceptable so that it can become for us the body and blood of your most beloved son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the day before suffering, he took the bread and his holy and venerable hands and with his eyes lifted up. to heaven towards you because God your Almighty Father gives you.

Thank you, said the blessing, he broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying, everyone, take this and eat from it because this is my body that will be given for you in a similar way. When the meal was finished, he took this precious chalice in his holy and venerable hands and Once giving thanks to you, he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples saying, "All of you take this and drink from it because this is the chalice of My Blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant that may be poured out for you and for many to the forgiveness of sins do this in memory of me the mystery of faith, therefore, Lord as we celebrate the memorial of the blessed passion the resurrection from the dead and the glorious ascension into heaven of Christ your son our Lord we your servants and your holy people we offer you glorious majesty for the gift you have given us this pure victim this holy victim this blameless victim the holy bread of eternal life and the chalice of eternal salvation be glad to look at these offerings with a serene and kind countenance and accept them as you were once pleased to accept the gifts of your servant capable of righteousness the sacrifice of Abraham our Father in faith and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek a holy sacrifice a blameless victim in humble prayer we ask you Almighty God command that this gift be born from the hand of your holy angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine Majesty so that all of us who, through participation in the altar, receive the most holy body and blood of your son may be filled with all grace and heavenly blessing.

Remember also, Lord, your servants and those who have gone before us with the sign of faith and are resting in the sleep of peace. Grant them, O Lord, we pray to you and to all who sleep in Christ, a place of refreshment, light and peace to us too. to your servants that those sinners await in your abundant mercies kindly grant us some participation and communion with your holy apostles and martyrs with John the Baptist Stephen Matthias Barnabas Ignatius Alexander Marcellinus Peter Happiness repertoire Agatha Lucy Agnes Cecilia Anastasia and all your saints admit us, we beseech you in your company, not weighing our merits, but granting us your forgiveness through Christ our Lord, through whom you continue to do all these good things, O Lord, you sanctify them, fill them with life, bless them and grant them to us through us. him and with him and in him oh God almighty father in the unity of the Holy Spirit all the glory and honor are yours forever and ever by command of the Savior and formed by divine teaching we dare say our Heavenly Father I believe that I will be done on earth as in heaven give us this day and forgive us our trespasses just as we forgive those who trespass against us and do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil deliver us Lord we pray to you from all evil graciously grant us peace In our days, with the help of your mercy, may we always be free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ Lord Jesus Christ who said to your apostles peace I leave you my peace I give you do not look at our faith but our sins but the faith of your church and kindly grant her peace and unity according to your will who live and reign forever and ever the peace of the Lord be with you always let us offer each other the sign of peace behold the Lamb of God behold the one who takes away the sins of the world blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb if you let us say nourished with these sacred gifts we humbly pray to you oh Lord that just as through the death of your son you have given us brought to the hope of what we believe so that by his resurrection perhaps you guide us you can take us to where you call on Christ our Lord could you sit for just a moment?

We are grateful to His Excellency the Archbishop. Christophe Pierre for being with us as we begin Holy Week with today's celebration of Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. Archbishop Pierre is the absolute Museum for the United States and as such his excellence is the representative person of our Holy Father Francis before our country. We are delighted that the Archbishop is with us throughout Holy Week and we thank him for his excellent homily of this afternoon, of course, we are happy to have each and every one of you fill with us this great National Shrine in this afternoon and today I would like to extend a very warm welcome to His Majesty the King, let's see the third of Lesotho together with the members of his entire entourage.

His Majesty, we are happy to have you with us today, we welcome everyone in a very special way. those who accompany us at home to the Palabra Eterna television network, the Catholic Radio Channel Sirius In our holy great liturgies, a schedule of our ceremonies can be found at the back of today's worship booklet for those joining us at home, you will need to check with your television provider for the schedule and I am very grateful that a wtn will broadcast our

mass

es on Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, as well as a celebration of the Lord's passion on Good Friday thanks to the ministry of Father Michael Westen director of liturgy once his Vito Bonanno our director of pilgrimages dr .

Peter Latona our music director our choir and our liturgical ministers Today's Mass was a beautiful and prayerful beginning of Holy Week this week which our Holy Father Pope Francis speaks of as the culminating moments of salvation history thank you for joining us may God bless you and Mary may the Lord be with you bow down for the blessing look we pray to you oh Lord upon this your family for whom our Lord Jesus Christ did not hesitate to be delivered into the hands of the wicked and submit to the Hagane of the cause who lives and reigns forever and ever and may the blessing of God Almighty Father andof the Son and the Holy Spirit descend upon you and remain with you forever.

The

mass

is over. Thank God.