THE LIFE OF JESUS
HIS FINAL DAYS
HOLY WEEK
Holy Week is the last week of
Lent (the week before
Easter).
A time when we
commemorate and
remember the last week of
Jesus’ life on earth.
Begins on Palm Sunday and
ends on Holy Saturday, the
day before Easter Sunday.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF HOLY WEEK?
The word HOLY means “to set apart.”
Holy Week is a time “set apart” from
the rest of the calendar so that we
might recall the suffering, Death, and
Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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.
MAIN DAYS OF HOLY WEEK
DAY EVENT(S)
The entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem.
Palm Sunday
The institution of Communion and the
Holy Thursday
betrayal by Judas.
The arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and
Good Friday
burial of Jesus Christ.
The Sabbath on which Jesus rested in the
Holy Saturday
grave.
MAIN DAYS OF HOLY WEEK
The Triduum
Palm Holy Good Holy
Sunday Thursday Friday Saturday
Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and reaches its climax in
what we call the Triduum, which means “the three days” of
Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
PALM SUNDAY
Palm Sunday takes place the week
before Easter Sunday. On this day
we commemorate the triumphant
entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem.
“The crowds that went ahead of him
and that followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed
is the one who comes in the name of
the Lord…’” – Matthew 21:9
PALM SUNDAY
When Jesus rode a donkey into
Jerusalem for Passover, people
greeted Him like a king, waving palms
and rejoicing.
The palm tree was considered a royal
tree because it stood so tall and
majestic. People waved palms to
greet victorious armies and royalty.
MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY…
Monday, Tuesday, and
Wednesday of Holy Week do
not have special names as do
Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday,
Good Friday, and Holy
Saturday. However, they are
still important days to set
aside for walking with Jesus
as the Gospels of each day
lead us to the events
surrounding his Crucifixion.
SPY WEDNESDAY
Sometimes, Wednesday of
Holy Week is referred to as
“Spy Wednesday” since, in the
Gospel of that day, Judas
began to “spy” for an
opportunity to betray Jesus.
This day invites us to consider
those times when we have
betrayed Jesus by not being
faithful to him.
HOLY THURSDAY
The Thursday after Palm Sunday is
Holy Thursday, the day Jesus
celebrated the Last Supper with
His disciples.
“Then he took a loaf of bread…
saying, ‘This is my body, which is
given for you. Do this in
remembrance of me.’ And he did
the same with the cup after supper,
saying, ‘This cup that is poured out
for you is the new covenant in my
blood.’” – Luke 22:19-20
HOLY THURSDAY
Also called the Lord's Supper, the Last Supper is significant
because Jesus shows his followers that he would become the
Passover Lamb of God.
HOLY THURSDAY
In the Gospel, we hear how, at the
Last Supper, Jesus got up from the
table, took off his robe, wrapped a
towel around his waist, filled a
basin with water, and washed the
feet of his Apostles, commanding
us to do the same. We call this
command the Mandatum.
HOLY THURSDAY
In Israel at the time, no one, not
even most slaves, could be
required to wash the feet of
another person. By doing this,
Jesus taught the disciples the
meaning of service and humility.
This act reminds us to follow Jesus’
example of selfless love in laying
down our lives for others in service
to them.
HOLY THURSDAY
After the Last Supper and later
that night, Jesus went to pray in
the Garden of Gethsemane as the
events that were to come began
to weigh heavily on him.
It was there that Jesus was
arrested.
GOOD FRIDAY
On Good Friday, Jesus was
sentenced to death and crucified.
Jesus suffered greatly. He was
brutally beaten, mocked, struck on
the head with a staff and spit on by
his enemies. A crown of thorns was
placed on his head and he and was
stripped naked.
GOOD FRIDAY
He was forced to carry his own cross
up Mount Calvary, to which he was
eventually nailed.
After spending hours hanging from
the cross, he died.
His body was placed in a tomb.
“When Jesus had received the wine,
he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he
bowed his head and gave up his
Spirit.” – John 19:30
GOOD FRIDAY
On Good Friday we commemorate the passion and death of
Jesus Christ. We remember that Jesus sacrificed Himself so
that we could have new life in Him.
HOLY SATURDAY
Holy Saturday may be thought of as “Easter Eve.” It is a day of
remembrance and of preparation for the glory of Christ’s
Resurrection.
EASTER SUNDAY
Easter Sunday marks the end of
Holy Week. It celebrates Jesus
Christ’s resurrection on the third
day after His death.
Mary Magdalene and several other
women went to Jesus’ tomb to
anoint Jesus’ body with spices in
order to prepare Him for burial.
When they arrived, they found the
tomb had been opened and it was
empty.
EASTER SUNDAY
Then, Jesus showed Himself to
them. He was alive! He had
risen!
“But the angel said to the women,
‘Do not be afraid; I know that you
are looking for Jesus who was
crucified. He is not here; for he has
been raised, as he said. Come, see
the place where he lay.”
– Matthew 28: 5-6
EASTER SUNDAY
His resurrection marks the triumph of
good over evil, sin and death.
God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice for the
redemption of sin and mankind was
forgiven. The price for the sins of all
of humanity was paid, and the work
of salvation was finished.
We should glory in the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ, for
Through this event, we learn that he is our salvation, our life
and Resurrection. Through
those who trust in God and accept him we are saved and made
Jesus as the Christ will have free.
everlasting life.
