Hosanna Filio David

Palm Sunday is "a great and holy day as it commemorates the last triumph of Our Lord Jesus Christ on earth and opens Holy Week. On this day, the Church celebrates the triumphant entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem; when the multitude, going before and following after Him, cut off branches from the trees and strewed then in His way, shouting, "Hosanna (glory and praise) to the Son of David. Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord." It is the commemoration of this triumph that palms are blessed and borne in solemn procession." 

"In fact, this Palm Sunday triumph of Our Lord only led to His death. But we know that this death was not a failure. It was through His Passion and Death that He conquered the world and entered into His Kingdom. 'If I be lifted up ... will draw all things to myself" (John 12:32) ... This triumphal beginning to Holy Week is full of meaning. Although the purple Mass vestments and the Gospel of the Passion remind us that the Cross lies ahead, we alreadty know that this is the means of victory. So the Church asks us to begin Holy Week by joyfully and publicly acknowledging Christ the King." - Roman Missal 1962

​Though we may not be able to  physically partake in the Procession of Palms this Sunday, through the Mass texts and proper hymns, we can spiritually create a path for Our Lord to enter into our hearts, as He entered triumphantly into Jerusalem. 

In the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, numerous hymns, antiphons, and psalms are chanted during the Blessing and Procession of Palms (which can be found in your missal or by clicking here). These chants remind us of the glory and praise that is justly due to Christ our King, particularly as the Entrance Antiphon chants, "Hosanna, filio David: benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. O Rex Israel: Hosanna in excelsis."  (Hosanna, to the Son of David! Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. O King of Israel: Hosanna in the highest!) 

Let us join together today in welcoming our King and Redeemer into our hearts and ask Him to graciously bestow upon us  all the graces Holy Week contains. 

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Lauda Jerusalem

Psalm 146 (147) - Chanted during the Procession of Palms
Listen to the psalm triumphantly sung here.

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion. 
Because He hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates: He hath blessed thy children within thee.
Who hath placed peace in thy borders: and filleth thee with the fat of corn. 
Who sendeth forth His speech to the earth: His word runneth swiftly.
Who giveth snow life wool: scattereth mists like ashes. 

He sendeth His crystal like morsels: Who shall stand before the face of His cold?
He shall send out His word and shall melt them: His wind shall blow and teh waters shall run. 
Who declareth His word to Jacob: His justice and His judgments to Israel. 
He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and His judgments He hath not made manifest to them. ​