Holy Week is here. We've put together ten suggestions for helping you draw closer to Jesus ahead of celebrating His resurrection on Easter Sunday.
1. Start your day with a prayer
We're offering you a Holy Week reflection each day. These are published on our Facebook, Twitter and website at 8am.
https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghRCdiocese/videos/210478020232705/?__xts__[0]=68.ARCxNzv3NJTzWPXNz07QGqpBfRKkq47PSSpf9OHv7eQhGnocyUO-eAhpTCoqbLPHaGLiBLuLmAjLiNa29yBfWig6e63InxFAD0SOvmEtuNbWBfafQgYrVfiUKwhzWk9tQBqhNR_QnSnEXs0wblp3Nj0TDMf_IOr5u8HfiFRKRUwWyjx-fHdg0Qu-5CtJk1nBOFaweSmy43q20pcWff1rXWtbCuFIEF1YCTLTC9pr68sxSkjBKkdoLLQVDR4jaz7YKXElsrDws1xk3Kwjceo9wumpWMQYGFa5zLNLjhdZyvBaSCWZtkGAwCJguaut36RnoAjo95pI5PROAjtTIKrYcWZwRn6bs50gMOo&__tn__=-R
2. Prepare for the Triduum
Join Archbishop Cushley from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday with Masses/Services from St Bennet's. These can be viewed on Facebook, YouTube and our website.
3. Get familiar with the Act of Spiritual Communion...
While we are not receiving Holy Communion, you can receive Jesus in your heart at any time, day or night. Find out more here.
4. ...and the Memorare
Archbishop Cushley has asked us to recite the Memorare each day to Our Lady, Health of the Sick. Find out more here. This prayer is recited in our daily Holy Week reflections (See No.1, above).
5. Get in the stream team
Many parishes are streaming Masses/Services/Reflections online. Find out where Masses are being streamed in our Archdiocese here.
Updated: Live Streaming Sunday Mass List.
For information: a list of live Paschal Triduum Masses and services will be published early next week. God bless. https://t.co/F7VhxeRtt3 pic.twitter.com/UoxP0PTZVt— RC Politics (@rcpoliticsuk) April 3, 2020
6. Help children make the most of Holy Week
Our catechetics commission has provided helpful resources for families here (with a helpful guide here).
Holy Week is approaching. We've compiled a daily guide for families so that children are prepared spiritually for Easter.https://t.co/rMZuznGdHi
— Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh (@archedinburgh) April 1, 2020
7. Put a cross or holy statue in your window
Be a witness for Christ in this most Holy Week in the church's calendar.
A few people suggesting that we place small tree branches in windows to mark Palm Sunday. Great idea!
How about we also place a crucifix and/or a holy statue next to windows for the duration of Holy Week? pic.twitter.com/erFtgLJgV5
— RC Politics (@rcpoliticsuk) April 4, 2020
8. Do the Stations of the Cross
This Catholic devotion commemorates Jesus Christ's last day on Earth as a man. We'll be posting our Stations of the Cross on Friday at midday. In the meantime, you can use the below Stations of the Cross, written and prayed by the parish youth group at St Francis Xavier's in Falkirk.
9. Know about fasting from the Eucharist...
Most of us can't receive Holy Communion while our churches are closed. Read Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) on fasting from the Eucharist here.
10. ...and fasting from food!
Don't forget that Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence.
Plus
Check out these resources from Fr Daniel Doherty who leads our Catchetics Commission:
Holy Week Service
We watch with the Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane. Click here.Seven Last Words
A Lenten Service on the Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross. Click here.Stations of the Cross
Read the Stations of the Cross with your family. Click here.