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Q&A
From the June AD 2000
Our Lady of the Rosary
Parish Bulletin
Question: What do the
palm branches blessed on Palm Sunday signify? What were those other branches you
blessed?
Answer: On Palm
Sunday, Catholics bless the branches of palm and olive trees. Other branches may
be used if necessary, and, often enough, palms alone are blessed (we were
fortunate this year to have a parishioner bring us some olive branches a few
days beforehand). Like many religious symbols, palm and olive branches have
several meanings.
Both plants were well known to the Jews of the Bible. The
palm was an oasis plant; one that grew in watered regions of the desert, with
some species bearing edible fruit, and many being used for construction, small
fabrication, and even clothing. It is mentioned in connection with the exodus
from Egypt, the celebration of the harvest festival in the promised land, and as
a decoration of the temple in Jerusalem.1
The olive fruit can be rendered edible,
and its oil is used for numerous purposes; cooking obviously, medicine, and
sacramental anointing. The name "Christ" means the "anointed
One," referring to the ancient custom of anointing kings and priests. The
olive branch has been associated with God's peace ever since Noe's dove returned
to the Ark with a branch in its mouth. As modern people, looking back over the events of Holy
Week, we can surely think of the blessed branches as a reminder of the Kingship
of Christ, who was born a king "into the world, to bear witness to the
truth."2 They also ought to call to mind the fickle nature we share with the
people of Jerusalem, who spread a carpet of branches in His path on Sunday only
to demand His crucifixion on Friday -- a reminder that it is all too easy to
fall from grace to sin. Nonetheless, here are some of the more significant
prayers of the Palm Sunday blessing, so that our readers can draw their own
conclusions:
Let us pray. We beseech Thee, O
Holy Lord, Father almighty, and everlasting God, that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to
bless + and sanctify + this creature, the Olive tree, which Thou hast caused to
shoot forth from the substance of wood, and which the dove, returning to the
ark, brought in its mouth. May all who receive it receive protection of soul and
body, and may it become, O Lord, a saving remedy and a sacred sign of peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who with Thee . . . world without end.
Amen.
Let us pray. O God, who dost
gather what is dispersed, and dost preserve what is gathered together; who didst
bless the people who went forth to meet Jesus, bearing branches of palm; bless +
likewise these branches of palm and olive, which Thy servants receive faithfully
in honor of Thy name. May those who dwell in whatever place they are brought
obtain Thy blessing, find all adversity removed, and be protected by Thy right
hand; those who have been redeemed by our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son . . . world
without end. Amen.
Let us pray. O God, who, by a
wonderful order and disposition, hast been pleased to manifest the dispensation
of our salvation even by means of things insensible; grant, we beseech Thee,
that the devout hearts of Thy faithful may profitably understand what is
mystically signified, when on this day the multitude, taught by a heavenly
illumination, went forth to meet their Redeemer, and strewed branches of palm
and olive at His feet. The branches of palms, therefore, signify His triumphs
over the prince of death; and the branches of olive proclaim the coming of a
spiritual unction. For that blessed company of men understood that these things
were then prefigured; that our Redeemer, compassionating human miseries, was
about to fight with the prince of death for the life of the whole world, and, by
dying, to triumph. For which cause, they dutifully ministered such things as
signified in Him the triumphs of victory and the riches of mercy. And we also,
with full faith, retaining this as done and signified, humbly beseech Thee, O
holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
that in Him and through Him, whose members Thou hast pleased to make us, we may
become victorious over the empire of death, and may deserve to be partakers of
His glorious resurrection. Who liveth .... world without end. Amen.
NOTES:
1. Exodus xv; Leviticus xxiii; 3 Kings vi-vii.
2. John xviii: 37.
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