(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 29 March 2026 : Introit and Collect

Liturgical Colour : Violet

Introit

Psalm 21 : 20, 22 and 2

Domine, ne longe facias auxilium tuum a me, ad defensionem meam aspice : libera me de ore leonis, et a cornibus unicornium humilitatem meam.

Deus, Deus meus, respice in me : quare me dereliquisti? Longe a salute mea verba delictorum meorum.

Response : Domine, ne longe facias auxilium tuum a me, ad defensionem meam aspice : libera me de ore leonis, et a cornibus unicornium humilitatem meam.

English translation

O Lord, do not remove Your help to a distance from me, look toward my defense, deliver me from the lion’s mouth, and my lowness from the horns of the unicorns.

O God, my God, look upon me, why have You forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my sins.

Response : O Lord, do not remove Your help to a distance from me, look toward my defense, deliver me from the lion’s mouth, and my lowness from the horns of the unicorns.

Collect

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui humano generi, ad imitandum humilitatis exemplum, Salvatorem nostrum carnem sumere et crucem subire fecisti : concede propitius; ut et patientiae ipsius habere documenta et resurrectionis consortia mereamur. Per eumdem Dominum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivis et regnas in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Almighty and eternal God, who in order to give mankind an example of humility, did will that our Saviour should assume our flesh and suffer on the cross, grant in Your mercy that we are found worthy of the heritage of His patience and the fellowship of His resurrection. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 29 March 2026 : Entry into the Church

Liturgical Colour : Red

Responsory

Ingredente Domino in sanctam civitatem, Hebraeorum pueri resurrectionem vitae pronuntiantes, Cum ramis palmarum : Hosanna, clamabant, in excelsis.

Priest : Cumque audisset populus, quod Jesus veniret Jerosolymam, exierunt obviam ei. Cum ramis palmarum : Hosanna, clamabant, in excelsis.

Priest : Dominus vobiscum.

Response : Et cum spiritu tuo.

Oremus.

Domine Jesu Christe, Rex ac Redemptor noster, in cujus honorem, hos ramos gestantes, solemnes laudes decantavimus : concede propitius : ut, quocumque hi rami deportati fuerint, ibi tuae benedictionis gratia descendat, et, quavis daemonum iniquitate vel illusione profligata, dextera tua protegat, quos redemit. Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Responsory

As our Lord entered the holy city, the Hebrew children, declaring the resurrection of life, with palm branches cried out, “Hosanna in the highest!”

Priest : When the people heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they went forth to meet Him, with palm branches cried out, “Hosanna in the highest!”

Priest : The Lord be with you.

Response : And with your spirit.

Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, our King and Redeemer, in whose honour we have borne these palms and gone on praising You with song and solemnity, mercifully grant that wherever that these palms are taken, there the grace of Your blessing may descend. May every wickedness and trick of the demons be frustrated, and may Your right hand protect those it had redeemed. You who lives and reigns with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 29 March 2026 : Procession with Blessed Palms

Liturgical Colour : Red

Procedamus in pace.

Response : In Nomine Christi. Amen.

English translation

Let us go forth in peace.

Response : In the Name of Christ. Amen.

First Antiphon

Occurrunt turbae cum floribus et palmis Redemptori obviam : et victori triumphanti digna dant obsequia : Filium Dei ore gentes praedicant : et in laudem Christi voces tonant per nubila : Hosanna in excelsis!

English translation

The multitude goes forth to meet our Redeemer with flowers and palms, and pays the homage due to a triumphant conqueror : the Gentiles proclaim the Son of God, and their voices thunder through the skies in praise of Christ. Hosanna in the highest!

Second Antiphon

Cum angelis et pueris fideles inveniamur, triumphatori mortis clamantes : Hosanna in excelsis!

English translation

Let the faithful join with the angels and children, singing to the conqueror of death, “Hosanna in the highest!”

Third Antiphon

Turba multa quae convenerat ad diem festum, clamabat Domino : Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini : Hosanna in excelsis!

English translation

A great multitude that was met together at the festival cried out to the Lord, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!”

Fourth Antiphon

Coeperunt omnes turbae descendentium gaudentes laudare Deum voce magna, super omnibus quas viderant virtutibus, dicentes : Benedictus qui venit Rex in Nomine Domini; pax in terra et gloria in excelsis.

Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Israel es Tu Rex, Davidis et inclita proles : Nomine qui in Domini, Rex benedicte, venis.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Caetus in excelsis Te laudat caelicus omnis, et mortalis homo, et cuncta creata simul.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Plebs Hebraea tibi cum palmis obvia venit : Cum prece, voto, hymnis, adsumus ecce tibi.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Hi tibi passuro solvebant munia laudis : Nos tibi regnanti pangimus ecce melos.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Hi placuere tibi placeat devotio nostra : Rex bone, Rex clemens, cui bona cuncta placent.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

English translation

Near the descent the whole multitude began with joy to praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying, “Blessed be the King who comes in the Name of the Lord, peace on earth and glory on high!”

Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

Hail, King of Israel, David’s Son of royal fame! He who comes in the Name of the Lord, o blessed King.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

The Angel host laud You on high, on earth mankind, with all created things.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

With palms the Jews went forth to meet You. We greet You now with prayers and hymns.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

On Your way to die, they crowned You with praise. We raise our song to You, now King on high.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

Their poor homage pleased You, o gracious King! O clement King, accept ours too, the best that we can bring.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

Fifth Antiphon

Omnes collaudant Nomen Tuum et dicunt : Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini : Hosanna in excelsis.

Psalm 147

Lauda, Jerusalem, Dominum : lauda Deum tuum, Sion.

Quod firmavit seras portarum tuarum : benedixit filiis tuis in te.

Composuit fines tuos in pace : medulla tritici satiat te.

Emittit eloquium suum in terram : velociter currit verbum ejus.

Dat nivem sicut lanam : pruinam sicut cinerem spargit.

Projicit glaciem siam ut frustula panis : coram frigore ejus aquae rigescunt.

Emittit verbum suum et liquefacit eas : flare jubet ventum suum et fluunt aquae.

Annuntiavit verbum suum Jacob : statuta et praecepta sua Israel.

Non fecit ita ulli nationi : praecepta sua non manifestavit eis.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Omnes collaudant Nomen Tuum et dicunt : Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini : Hosanna in excelsis.

English translation

All praise Your Name highly and say, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!”

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord, o Jerusalem, praise your God, o Zion.

Because He had strengthened the bolts of your gates, He had blessed your children within you.

Who had placed peace in your borders and filled you with the fat of corn.

Who sends forth His speech to the earth, His word runs swiftly.

Who gives snow like wool, scatters frost like ashes.

He sends His crystal like morsels, who shall stand before the face of His cold?

He shall send out His word and shall melt them, His wind shall blow and the waters shall run.

Who declares His word to Jacob, His justices and His judgments to Israel.

He had not done in like manner to every nation, and His judgments He had not made manifest to them.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

All praise Your Name highly and say, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!”

Sixth Antiphon

Fulgentibus palmis prosternimur advenienti Domino; huic omnes occurramus cum hymnis et canticis, glorificantes et dicentes : Benedictus Dominus!

English translation

We are strewn with the shining palms before the Lord as He approaches, let us all run to meet Him with hymns and songs, glorify Him and say, “Blessed be the Lord!”

Seventh Antiphon

Ave, Rex noster, Fili David, Redemptor mundi, quem prophetae praedixerunt Salvatorem domui Israel esse venturum. Te enim ad salutarem victimam Pater misit in mundum, quem exspectabant omnes sancti ab origine mundi, et nunc : Hosanna Filio David. Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis!

English translation

Hail, our King, o Son of David, o world’s Redeemer, whom prophets did foretell as the Saviour to come of the house of Israel. For the Father sent You into the world as victim for salvation, from the beginning of the world all the saints awaited You. Hosanna now to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 29 March 2026 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : Red

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

Matthew 21 : 1-9

In illo tempore : Cum appropinquasset Jesus Jerosolymis, et venisset Bethphage ad montem Oliveti : tunc misit duos discipulos suos, dicens eis : Ite in castellum, quod contra vos est, et statim invenietis asinam alligatam, et pullum cum ea : solvite, et adducite mihi : si quis vobis aliquid dixerit, dicite quia Dominus his opus habet, et confestim dimittet eos.

Hoc autem totum factum est, ut adimpleretur quod dictum est per prophetam, dicentem : Dicite filiae Sion : Ecce Rex tuus venit tibi mansuetus, sedens super asinam et pullum, filium subjugalis.

Euntes autem discipuli, fecerunt sicut praecepit illis Jesus. Et adduxerunt asinam et pullum : et imposuerunt super eos vestimenta sua, et cum desuper sedere fecerunt. Plurima autem turba straverunt vestimenta sua in via : alii autem caedebant ramos de arboribus, et sternebant in via : turbae autem, quae praecedebant, et quae sequebantur, clamabant, dicentes : Hosanna Filio David : Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini.

English translation

At that time, when Jesus drew nigh to Jerusalem, and had come to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives, He then sent two disciples, and said to them, “Go to the village that is over there against you, and immediately you shall find a donkey tied, and a colt with her, loosen them and bring them to Me, and if anyone shall say anything to you, say that the Lord had need of them, and forthwith He shall let them go.”

Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, which says, “Tell to the daughter of Zion, behold your King comes to you meekly, and sitting upon a donkey, and the colt that is her foal who is used to the yoke.”

And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. And they brought the donkey and its colt, and laid their garments upon them, and made Him to sit upon them. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way, and others cut boughs from the trees and strewed them along the way, and the multitudes who went before and those who followed after cried, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!”

(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 29 March 2026 : Distribution of the Palms

Liturgical Colour : Red

First Antiphon

John 12 : 13 and Mark 11 : 9

Pueri Hebraeorum, portantes ramos olivarum, obviaverunt Domino, clamantes, et dicentes : Hosanna in excelsis.

English translation

The children of the Hebrews, carrying olive branches went forth to meet the Lord, crying aloud and repeating, “Hosanna in the highest!”

Psalm 23

Domini est terra, et plenitudo ejus : orbis terrarum et universi qui habitant in eo.

Quia ipse super maria fundavit eum : et super flumina praeparavit eum.

(First Antiphon)

Attollite portas, principes, vestras, et elevamini portae aeternales : et introibit Rex gloriae.

Quis est iste Rex gloriae? Dominus fortis et potens : Dominus potens in proelio.

(First Antiphon)

Attollite portas principes vestras, et elevamini portae aeternales : et introibit Rex gloriae.

Quis est iste Rex gloriae? Dominus virtutum ipse est Rex gloriae.

(First Antiphon)

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

(First Antiphon)

English translation

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and all those who dwell in it.

For He had founded it upon the seas, and had prepared it upon the rivers.

(First Antiphon)

Lift up your gates, o you princes, and may you be lifted up, o eternal gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in.

Who is the King of Glory? The Lord who is strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

(First Antiphon)

Lift up your gates, o you princes, and may you be lifted up, o eternal gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in.

Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory.

(First Antiphon)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

(First Antiphon)

Second Antiphon

Matthew 21 : 8-9

Pueri Hebraeorum vestimenta prosternebant in via et clamabant, dicentes : Hosanna Filio David : Benedictus, qui venit in Nomine Domini.

English translation

The children of the Hebrews strewed their garments in the way and cried aloud, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!”

Psalm 46

Omnes Gentes, plaudite manibus : jubilate Deo in voce exsultationis.

Quoniam Dominus excelsus, terribilis : Rex magnus super omnem terram.

(Second Antiphon)

Subjecit populos nobis : et Gentes sub pedibus nostris.

Elegit nobis hereditatem suam : speciem Jacob, quam dilexit.

(Second Antiphon)

Ascendit Deus in jubilo : et Dominus in voce tubae.

Psallite Deo nostro, psallite : psallite Regi nostro, psallite.

(Second Antiphon)

Quoniam Rex omnis terrae Deus : psallite sapienter.

Regnabit Deus super Gentes : Deus sedet super sedem sanctam suam.

(Second Antiphon)

Principes populorum congregati sunt cum Deo Abraham : quoniam dii fortes terrae vehementer elevati sunt.

(Second Antiphon)

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

(Second Antiphon)

English translation

O clap your hands, all you nations. Shout unto God with the voice of joy.

For the Lord is high, terrible, a great King over all the earth.

(Second Antiphon)

He had subdued the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

He had chosen for us His inheritance, the beauty of Jacob which He had loved.

(Second Antiphon)

God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet.

Sing praises to our God, sing all of you, sing praises to our King, sing all of you.

(Second Antiphon)

For God is the King of all the earth, sing all of you wisely.

God shall reign over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.

(Second Antiphon)

The princes of the people are gathered together, with the God of Abraham, for the strong gods of the earth are exceedingly exalted.

(Second Antiphon)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

(Second Antiphon)

(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 29 March 2026 : Blessing of the Palms

Liturgical Colour : Red

Antiphon

Matthew 21 : 9

Hosanna Filio David : benedictus, qui venit in Nomine Domini. Rex Israel : Hosanna in excelsis.

Priest : Dominus vobiscum.

Response : Et cum spiritu tuo.

Oremus :

Benedic +, quaesumus, Domine, hos palmarum ramos : et praesta; ut quod populus Tuus in Tui venerationem hodierna die corporaliter agit, hoc spiritualiter summa devotione perficiat, de hoste victoriam reportando et opus misericordiae summopere diligendo. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

English translation

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. O King of Israel : Hosanna in the highest!

Priest : The Lord be with you.

Response : And with your spirit.

Let us pray :

Bless +, we beseech You, o Lord, these palm branches, and grant that what Your people this day do in the flesh in Your honour, it may do in spirit with uttermost devotion, winning the victory over the enemy, and loving with all its heart the exercise of mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saturday, 28 March 2026 : 5th Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures and as we approach the beginning of Holy Week which will begin tomorrow with the Palm Sunday, we are reminded what it is again that we are truly commemorating and marking during this upcoming Holy Week, which is focusing our attention on everything that the Lord had done for our salvation, His faithfulness to the Covenant which He had made with us, His beloved people, the promises that He has constantly repeated and reassured to us and our predecessors. And He bas fulfilled everything perfectly, even to the point of sending His own Beloved Son to us, to fully accomplish all that He had planned for the beginning of time.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel, we heard of the words of the Lord Himself to His people in exile in Babylon through the prophet Ezekiel who was called to minister to them there. And the Lord reassured and promised to His people that He would not leave them to suffer alone in those places of exile, and that He would gather them all back to their ancestral lands, restoring them to grace and favour once again. While those people ended up there in those places of exile because of their disobedience and therefore sins against God, but the Lord did not seek or plan to have them eradicated and destroyed on purpose, as He still loved them all, and their exile was in fact a way that the Lord had done in showing His love by chastising them from their mistakes.

Through what the Lord presented to the people by the words of the prophecy of the prophet Ezekiel, God was essentially going to restore them once again to grace and greatness, which had once been lost from them due to sin. They had been divided into two kingdoms and groups opposed to each other by their and their king’s refusal to obey the Law and commandments of God, preferring and choosing to follow their own ways and worshipping the pagan idols and false gods of their neighbours instead of trusting in their Lord and God, the One Who had constantly and repeatedly shown His love and kindness, ever greater patience and compassion towards each and every one of them. He would also gather them all back from their lands of exile

Then, from our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, in which we heard of the discussion and debate among the leaders of the influential Pharisees and other elders of the community, the chief priests and others who made up the members of the Sanhedrin, also known as the Jewish High Council. Those people debated about what they ought to do because the Lord Jesus kept on making miraculous signs and works among the people, and increasingly more and more people came to believe in Him, and as this happened, the members of the Jewish High Council were gradually losing their influence and prestige within the community of the people of God as the Lord often clashed with them and they themselves also stubbornly refused to listen to Him.

They thought that being those who had been charged and entrusted with the guardianship and leadership over the people of God, then they were better, superior and more worthy of God than the others, and that they could not have been wrong in how they practiced their faith and believed, in their understanding and application of the Law of God that has been revealed through Moses and passed down through the generations. This prideful attitude, haughtiness and sense of self-importance were what ultimately became the great stumbling blocks in their path to accept what the Lord had taught and shown them all through His many actions, miracles and wonders, which many of them had witnessed with their own eyes.

That was why the Lord revealed to them their insecurities and their lack of true and genuine faith, as a warning to all of us that we should also not end up walking down this same path. And yet, the Lord was still very patient in dealing with them, and He still reached out to them and forgave them their sins nonetheless, just as He had been patient with their ancestors, the people of Israel and Judah in the past. Nonetheless, as we heard, the great opposition, plots and all the things which the Lord had to endure as His ministry was coming to its climax at that time as He approached the moment of His Passion, His suffering and death, preparing all of us with these things we heard, for the coming commemorations of next week’s Holy Week.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to these words from the Sacred Scriptures and as we reflect upon their meaning and importance to us, let us all therefore ponder on our own attitudes in life, in how we have lived our lives daily, on whether we have indeed been faithful to the Lord our God, on whether we are merely paying lip service to Him, outwardly faithful but on the inside, we are truly no better than those Pharisees and the chief priests, who served primarily themselves and their agenda, their ambitions and worldly desires, instead of listening to the Lord and obeying Him and His commandments. We are reminded not to harden our hearts and be humble and open-minded instead, and put our trust and faith in the Lord more.

May the Lord, our most loving God continue to help and strengthen us all through this journey of faith and life especially during this time of Lent and as we are about to enter into the solemn time of the Holy Week starting from tomorrow. May He continue to provide us all with the courage and strength to keep on going in living our lives with faith, doing our very best so that by our examples, actions and everything that we do, we will always inspire everyone around us, in continuing to move forward in life with great faith and courage, in doing our best to glorify God by our lives, in trusting in Him and believing in His promises, providence and love at all times. Let us all enter into the time and season of Holy Week with great enthusiasm and faith, and make best use of this time provided to us. Amen.

Saturday, 28 March 2026 : 5th Week of Lent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

John 11 : 45-56

At that time, many of the Jews who had come with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw what He did; but some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees called together the Council.

They said, “What are we to do? For this Man keeps on giving miraculous signs. If we let Him go on like this, all the people will believe in Him and, as a result of this, the Romans will come and destroy our Holy Place and our nation.”

Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all, nor do you see clearly what you need. It is better to have one Man die for the people than to let the whole nation be destroyed.” In saying this Caiaphas did not speak for himself, but being High Priest that year, he foretold like a prophet that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also would die to gather into one the scattered children of God. So, from that day on, they were determined to kill Him.

Because of this, Jesus no longer moved about freely among the Jews. He withdrew instead to the country near the wilderness, and stayed with His disciples in a town called Ephraim. The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and people from everywhere were coming to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover. They looked for Jesus and, as they stood in the Temple, they talked with one another, “What do you think? Will He come to the festival?”

Saturday, 28 March 2026 : 5th Week of Lent (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Jeremiah 31 : 10, 11-12ab, 13

Hear the word of YHVH, o nations, proclaim it on distant coastlands : He Who scattered Israel will gather them and guard them as a shepherd guard his flock.

For YHVH has ransomed Jacob and redeemed him from the hand of his conqueror. They shall come shouting for joy, while ascending Zion; they will come streaming to YHVH’s blessings.

Maidens will make merry and dance, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness, I will give them comfort and joy for sorrow.

Saturday, 28 March 2026 : 5th Week of Lent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Ezekiel 37 : 21-28

You will then say to them : Thus says YHVH : I am about to withdraw the Israelites from where they were among the nations. I shall gather them from all around and bring them back to their land. I shall make them into one people on the mountains of Israel and one king is to be the king of them all.

They will no longer form two nations or be two separate kingdoms, nor will they defile themselves again with their idols, their detestable practices and their sins. I shall free them from the guilt of their treachery; I shall cleanse them and they will be for Me a people and I shall be God for them.

My servant David will reign over them, one shepherd for all. They will live according to My laws and follow and practice My decrees. They will settle in the land I gave to My servant Jacob where their ancestors lived. There they will live forever, their children and their children’s children. David My servant will be their prince forever.

I shall establish a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I shall settle them and they will increase and I shall put My sanctuary in their midst forever. I shall make My home at their side; I shall be their God and they will be My people. Then the nations will know that I am YHVH Who makes Israel holy, having My sanctuary among them forever.