Holy Week around the world
The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.”And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.” — Matthew 21: 8-11
LAGUNA, Canary Islands: A group of young girls wave palms during celebrations marking the Christian feast of Palm Sunday in Laguna on the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife. Palm Sunday is held annually on the Sunday before Easter and commemorates the entry into Jerusalem of Jesus Christ. Photo by Desiree Martin for AFP.
During the procession, in which participants carry palms in imitation of the crowds who placed palms upon the ground as Jesus made his entrance, a hymn is typically sung. Often it is “
:All glory, laud, and honor
to thee, Redeemer, King!
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the King of Israel,
thou David’s royal Son,
who in the Lord’s Name comest,
the King and Blessed One.
The company of angels
are praising thee on high;
and mortal men and all things
created make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
with palms before thee went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before thee we present.
To thee before thy passion
they sang their hymns of praise;
to thee, now high exalted,
our melody we raise.
Thou didst accept their praises;
accept the prayers we bring,
who in all good delightest,
thou good and gracious King.
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And today we celebrate...
