2. Holy Week
Palm Sunday through the evening of Holy Saturday
Commemorates the Passion of Jesus Christ
Latin passio; cognate to Greek pathos
3. Maundy Thursday
Traceable to the fourth century
Emphasis in the Gospel of John on Thursday of Holy
Week:
Foot washing and the New Commandment to love one another
(Latin mandatum; John 13:4-5, 34), from which we get “Maundy”
Emphasis of the Synoptic Gospels on Thursday of Holy
Week:
The Lord’s Supper established
Thus, Communion (Eucharist) is often celebrated this day
Greek eucharistia = “thanksgiving”: verb equivalent at 1 Corinthians
11:24: “And when he had given thanks . . . ”; cf. Mark 14:23
4. Good Friday
The atoning death of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world
(John 1:29, 36)
Christ is the Paschal (Passover) Lamb (cf. 1 Corinthians
5:7; Mark 14:12; Revelation 5:6)
Passover (Pesach), celebrated by people of the Jewish faith
Good Friday among Christians is recognized by fasting
6. The Paschal Vigil
Begins Saturday night
vigil = night watch
Ancient set of rituals (from the 2nd century), now rediscovered in the
Western Church
Concludes with the Baptism of Christian initiates
And their first Communion
7. Easter Sunday
The morning Jesus rose from the dead (Mark 16; Matthew 28; Luke 24;
John 20; 1 Corinthians 15:5-6)
Part of the Gospel message: Romans 1:3-4; 6:9; Acts 2:23-24; 4:33;
10:39-41; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
8. All this encapsulated in The Apostles’ Creed
Based on the baptismal creed of the ancient Roman Christians
Latin credo = “I believe”
9. The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and
earth,
And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
And born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into Hell (Greek Hades).
The third day He rose again from the dead,
Ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father
Almighty.
From there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy catholic [= “universal”] church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.