Holy Week - Definition of Holy Week
Holy Week is the week preceding Easter and the final week of Lent. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and ends with Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. Holy
Week includes Holy Thursday (also known as Maundy Thursday) and Good Friday, which, together with Holy Saturday,
are known as the Triduum. Before the revision of the liturgical
calendar in 1969, Holy Week was the second week of Passiontide; in the current calendar, Passiontide
is synonymous with Holy Week.
During
Holy Week, Christians commemorate the Passion of Christ, Who died on Good
Friday in reparation for the sins of mankind, and rose on Easter Sunday to give
new life to all who believe. Thus, while Holy Week is solemn and sorrowful, it
also anticipates the joy of Easter through the recognition of God's goodness in
sending His Son to die for our salvation.
