30 ways to have a great Holy Week

Holy Week is THE BIGGEST week of the Catholic year. While the rest of the world carries on like normal, we dive into the mysteries of Christ’s Passion, death and Resurrection.

Yet we don’t just remember these events, we “live” them through the liturgy. With the Church as our guide, we join the disciples in the Upper Room at the Last Supper, sit with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, walk with Him to Calvary, and finally behold the empty tomb on Easter Sunday.

This is a moving, powerful week. You can even receive indulgences for participating in the Easter Triduum.

Ready to deepen your experience of Holy Week? Here are 30 practical ways to do that.

Holy Thursday

1. Go to the Holy Thursday liturgy.
2. Pray in thanksgiving for the Eucharist.
3. Pray for your parish priest(s).
4. Meditate on the Last Supper. Picture yourself there with Jesus and the disciples.
5. Meditate on the First Sorrowful Mystery, the Agony in the Garden. Picture yourself there with Jesus.
6. Visit your parish church at night and spend 20 minutes there praying. Many churches remain open after the Holy Thursday liturgy.
7. Go to different churches in the area at night (a modern form of pilgrimage).
8. Read the Last Supper narrative in the Gospel of Luke or John.
9. Use these Lent and Triduum cards with your kids.

Good Friday

1. As best as you are able, keep a quiet atmosphere in the home. Turn off TV shows, movies and music. At the very least, limit screen time as much as possible.
2. If you can’t make it to the Good Friday liturgy, read the Passion narrative in John’s Gospel. The Church uses this version every Good Friday.
3. Observe a moment of silence at 3:00 p.m., when Christ died on the cross.
4. Pray a special intention for Christian unity.
5. Pray the Divine Mercy chaplet.
6. Pray the Stations of the Cross.
7. Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
8. Read a devotional book like “What Jesus Saw From the Cross.”
9. Place a crucifix in a prominent spot for the day.

Holy Saturday

1. As best you can, keep the day subdued. This is the day Christ lies in the tomb. 
2. Try to keep the TV, movies and music off until sundown. If you do listen to music, listen to Christian music.
3. Clean your house (in the spirit of preparing for Easter tomorrow).
4. Prepare the Easter gifts and baskets. 
5. Pray for the people entering the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.
6. Attend the Easter Vigil.
7. Bring home holy water from the church.

Easter Sunday

1. Wear your best clothes to Mass (like these adorable Easter socks).
2. Feast! Enjoy a nice lunch or dinner. Say a special prayer before the meal.
3. Pray the Easter Prayer of St. Gregory the Great. 
4. Turn up the Easter music. Here are some ideas. Classical: Handel’s Messiah. Traditional: “Easter at Ephesus” by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. Contemporary: “Christ is Risen” or “Because He Lives” by Matt Maher.
5. Light this Easter lily candle today and through the Easter season.