Palm Sunday, 2019

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Passion Week in the Catholic and Anglican denominations. Thus, Pange Lingua is often used as a processional hymn, with parishioners carrying palms around the church.

As does much of the Gregorian chant I learned in school, this one has stayed with me, running through my head whilst walking. Notice the cadence.

Each religion has its own language. Years ago, a friend of mine converted from her childhood Baptist faith to Catholicism. She found terms like “Passion Week” quite risqué. Never mind ideas such as “transubstantiation”…

10 thoughts on “Palm Sunday, 2019

  1. Lovely, thanks; though a little chant goes a long way with me- I guess it’s the lack of contrast.

    • great for the singing-impaired, such as monks. And for those of us with ADD. Sometimes Bach’s fugues are so busy I get confused…or go into a fugue state. Never mind…

      • In those long-ago days when I smoked dope, I particularly appreciated Bach’s more complex works; the different strands were easier to follow (or so it seemed!)

  2. Those Protestant denominations who observe as Catholics and Anglicans share also in observance of Palm Sunday. As a youth, we would sing “The Palms.” Between our choir, a four-rank Moeller organ, and a standing room only congregation, it was sung with such celebratory joy that the rafters of the sanctuary figuratively shook.

    Now, with what had been has been swiped aside for what is more relevant. The congregation has dwindled greatly in numbers. And, that beautiful organ has been, mostly, replace with a band.

    If you’re unfamiliar with “The Palms,” I’m enclosing a link. It is sung as a solo by Caruso and not at the tempo we sang it. Note that there is a translation included.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR54h-OJhiI

    How I long for those days, but know there is no return to them. No home in the Protestant denominations and felt so out-of-place in the Catholic Church I quit going to mass. I pray that the Lord hasten the end of my earthly journey. Perhaps, there rally is a heavenly choir which sings:

    “Join all and sing, His name declare,
    Let ev’ry voice resound with acclamation
    Hosanna! Praise to the Lord!
    Bless Him who cometh to bring us salvation!”

  3. Palm Sunday which is the celebration of Jesus’ (Yah Shua’s) ride into Jerusalem on the date foretold by Daniel the prophet in the manner foretold by Zechariah the prophet (who from is description of the events must have been the fly-on-the-wall reporter thrust forward about 400 years). Yah Shua showed up when promised and as promised, and the knowledge the Yah keeps His promises, even to the nth, should bring us comfort. Oh and BTW, Yah Shua demonstrated His divinity by riding sidesaddle on a donkey that had never been ridden (try that sometime yourself and see how far or how long you ride, of course, the foal of the donkey was probably insufferable afterwards bragging about Who he carried on his back).
    Still, if Yah kept His promise to show up when and where the first time, you know He will keep His promise to show up again for His church and then for judgment. Therefore today is a day for rejoicing, Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

  4. Thanks for bringing this up – another precious cultural gem I must say (as a pretty committed atheist).

  5. I remember this from my childhood in Catholic schools, hearing and singing it in church, walking processions around the church grounds. I had forgotten all about this; then you posted it and all the memories came rushing back. Thank you for that.

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