Lenten Station at Saint John Lateran for Palm Sunday

Non-Italic Text taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal for Palm Sunday
Pictures and italic text taken from Wikipedia (the free encyclopaedia) (unless otherwise accredited)
Station at Saint John Lateran
Indulgence of 25 years and 25 Quarantines
Semi-Double
Privilege of the First Class
Violet Vestments

Facade of the Papal Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran

Archibasilica Sanctissimi Salvatoris et Sanctorum Iohannes Baptistae 

et Evangelistae in Laterano
Omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput

In today's Liturgy, the twofold point of view, from which the Church regards the Cross, is expressed in two ceremonies. One is marked with joy and the other by sadness. First, comes the Blessing and Procession of Palms, in which everything overflows with a holy joy, which enables us after nineteen centuries to revive the spirit of the magnificent scene of Our Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem.. Then follows the Mass, whose Chants and Lessons relate exclusively to the sorrowful memory of Our Redeemer's Passion.

The Blessing and Procession of Palms

At Jerusalem, in the 4th-Century, on the very spot where the event took place, was read the Gospel narrative in which we see Christ hailed as King of Israel and taking possession of His capital, Jerusalem, which is really no more than the type of Jerusalem, above.

After this, a Bishop, mounted on an ass, rode up to the Church of the Resurrection on the summit of the Mount of Olives, surrounded by a multitude carrying palms and singing anthems and hymns. This ceremony was preceded by the solemn reading of the passage from Exodus in which the flight from Egypt is related.

 

The nave of San Giovanni in Laterano.

God's people, encamped under the shadow of the palm trees, near the twelve fountains where Moses promised them the manna, is a type of the Christian people, who, breaking off branches from the trees, bear witness that God's Son, Jesus, comes to deliver Souls from sin, leading them to the baptismal font and nourishing them with the Manna of the Eucharist.

The Church of Rome, it would seem, adopted this practice about the 9th-Century and added to it the rite for the Blessing of the Palms, which has given to this Sunday the name of the Easter of flowers.

In this Benediction, the Church prays for health of mind and body for those who dwell in houses where the palms are preserved.

This procession of Christians, who, with palm in hand and songs of Hosanna on their lips, proclaim Christ's Kingship every year, throughout the whole world and in all generations, is composed of all Catechumens, of public penitents and of the faithful. All of whom will be united at the Easter Feast to this glorious Victor, through the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Penance.

The decorated ceiling of the Basilica

It is this that is represented by the Procession of Palms, when it stops at the door of the Church, into which some members of the Choir have already found their way. They chant, alternately with the Clergy; on the one side, "the angelic choir", and, on the other, Christ's soldiers, still plunged in the strife of battle, hailing the King of Glory each in his turn.

Soon, the door opens, after the Sub-Deacon has knocked on it three times with the foot of the Cross, and the Procession enters the Church; so does the Cross of Christ open Heaven to us and so will the Elect, one day, enter with their Lord into eternal glory.

We should carefully keep a blessed palm in our home. It is a Sacramental, which will obtain for us graces in virtue of the Church's prayer and strenghten our faith in Christ, who, full of mercy, has conquered sin, death and the devil in a victory of which these sacred palms are the type.

 

Choir and Apse of San Giovanni in Laterano

(From Wikimedia Common. Photo taken September 2005 by Stefan Bauer, http://www.ferras.at)

Mass for Palm Sunday

The Blessing of Palms takes place at Saint Mary Major, which, in Rome, represents Bethlehem, the birthplace of Him whom the Magi hailed as "King of the Jews." Thence, the Procession goes to Saint John Lateran, in which Church, in former times, the Station took place, since, by its dedication to Saint Saviour, it calls up memories of the Passion, which is the subject of today's Mass.

The Redeemer's triumph must be preceded by His humiliation "even to the death of the Cross" (Epistle), which is to serve as a model for us, that, "instructed by His patience", we may "partake in His Resurrection".

Every Parish Priest celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.