22nd March, 2018
Catholic faithful in Nigeria will on Sunday join their counterparts all over the world to celebrate the Palm Sunday.
The Director of Social Communications, Msgr Gabriel Osu, on Thursday in Lagos, said that Palm Sunday would mark the triumphant entry of Jesus Christian into Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago.
He said that it would also signify the commencement of the Holy Week which starts with the sixth Sunday in Lent.
“This Sunday, Christians will observe the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that was marked by the crowds who were in Jerusalem for Passover waving palm branches and proclaiming him as the messianic king.
“The four gospels in the Bible tell us that Jesus Christian rode into the city on a donkey, enacting the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, and in so doing emphasised the humility that was to characterise the Kingdom he proclaimed,” Osu said in a statement.
On the significant of the Holy Week, Msgr. Osu revealed that it was the last week of Lent, the week immediately preceding Easter or Resurrection Sunday.
“For us Catholics, it is observed as a time to commemorate and enact the suffering (Passion) and the death of Jesus through various observances and Masses.
“It comes to a climax on Good Friday with the crucifixion of Jesus and his eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday which falls on April 1, this year,’’ he said.