Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church at 3760 McKinley Street, Corona, CA 92879 US - TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION

Most Christians today receive a bunch of palm fronds, olive branches, pussy willow, or forsythia (a relative of the olive) to carry in procession and to bear home in blessing. Some even offer sprigs of palm or other branches as a gesture of peace to those they have offended. The desire is to make a clean sweep of your spiritual house before the Easter feast. Accepting the branch is a token of the bearer's willingness to journey with the Church through a grateful remembrance of Jesus Christ's passion, death, and life-giving resurrection. Traditionally, the plants associated with today's feast are planted in cemeteries as a sign of Christ's victory over death and the promise of new life. The joy of this day's opening procession soon gives way to a solemn reading of the Passion, this year according to Matthew. The ritual is meant not only to strengthen us to hear this account, but to stir us up to accompany the Church on this journey through Holy Week. It also prepares us for next Sunday's joyful renewal of our baptismal vows.

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