Holy Week Vocabulary Terms

Palm Sunday

the Sunday before Good Friday when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey

Holy Thursday

The beginning of the Easter Triduum, starting with the evening celebration of the Mass of the Lord's Supper.

Good Friday

the Friday before Easter; the day Jesus died on the cross for our redemption

Easter Sunday

the day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Resurrection

Jesus's rise from the dead

Triduum

The three-day period of the liturgical year that begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday and ends with evening prayer on Easter Sunday.

Jerusalem

the city Jesus traveled to on Palm Sunday

Calvary

a hill near Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified

Gethsemane

Aramaic for "oil press"; a garden outside Jerusalem where Jesus went to pray after the Last Supper and where he was betrayed and arrested.

Galilee

A large region in the north of the modern nation of Israel, north of Samaria at the time of Jesus.

Bethlehem

Where Jesus was born

Nazareth

Town where Jesus grew up

Christological

The study of the person and life of Jesus Christ, his ministry, and his mission

Communion

Refers to receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. In general, your companionship and union with Jesus and other baptized Christians in the Church. This union has its origin and high point in the celebration of the Eucharist. In this sense the deepest vocation of the Church is this.

Apostolate

The activity of each Christian that fulfills the apostolic nature of the whole Church by working to extend the reign of Christ to the entire world. Also called Evangelization.

Ascension

The entry of Jesus into Heaven forty days after his Resurrection.

Assumption

The dogma that recognizes that the body of the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken directly to Heaven after her life on earth had ended.

Dogma

A central truth of Revelation that Catholics are obliged to believe

Ekklesia

Greek word for Church

Ecclesial

of or relating to the church

Eschatological

Having to do with the last things: the Last Judgment, the particular judgment, the resurrection of the body, Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory.

Episcopal

overseen by bishops or "overseers"

Ecumenical

universal; general; fostering Christian unity throughout the world

Evangelization

The proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ through words and witness.

Sanctify

to set apart for sacred use, to make holy, to purify