EASTERTIDE

 

Eastertide or Paschaltide

Is a festal season

That begins on Easter Sunday

And lasts for fifty days

Ending on Pentecost Sunday

Celebrated throughout

The Christian world

As a single joyful feast

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Maundy Thursday

The sixth day of Holy week

Which remembers the Maundy

The day when Jesus

Washed the feet of his disciples

As well as the last supper

On the feast of Passover

And marks the start

Of the Easter Triduum,

That commemorates

The passion, death,

And resurrection of Christ

HOLY WEDNESDAY

 

In Western Christianity,

Holy Wednesday

Is the Wednesday before Easter

The fifth day of holy week

Often called "Spy Wednesday",

To mark the betrayal of Jesus

By his apostle Judas Iscariot

And on Holy Wednesday

He first conspired with the Sanhedrin

To betray the Lord

For thirty pieces of silver

HOLY WEEK

 

Holy Week

Is the last week of Lent

Which precedes Easter

Starting on Lazarus Saturday

It includes Palm Sunday

Maundy Thursday

And Good Friday

And ends on Holy Saturday

HOLY MONDAY

 

Holy Monday is

The Third day of holy week

Is notable for several reason

We are told in The Gospels

That amongst other things

The cursing of the fig tree

The questioning of Jesus' authority

And the Cleansing of the Temple 

All took place on Holy Monday

PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD

 

With the Roman Rite

Of Palm Sunday

Or Passion Sunday

Holy Week begins

Marking the humble entrance

Of the Messiah

Into Jerusalem on a donkey,

So he could accomplish

His paschal mystery,

But Palm Sunday

Also marks with the

Blessing of palm leaves

The beginning

Of his journey to the cross

LAZARUS SATURDAY

 

Lazarus Saturday

Is the day preceding

Palm Sunday

Which celebrates the raising

Of Lazarus of Bethany

A day of joy and triumph

Which begins Holy Week