Holy Week 2026 🙏 with Pope Leo XIV

Holy Week   🙏  2026

Holy Week begins on Sunday, March 29 (Palm Sunday) and concludes on Saturday, April 4 (Holy Saturday). The week is followed immediately by Easter Sunday on April 5. 

Holy Week 2026 Calendar (Western Christianity)

Day	Date	Significance
🌿Palm Sunday	March 29	Commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
🙏Holy Monday	March 30	Recalls Jesus clearing the temple and his humanity.
✨Holy Tuesday	March 31	Commemorates Jesus' final teachings and the anointing at Bethany.
😪 Spy Wednesday	April 1	Recalls Judas Iscariot's decision to betray Jesus.
🍞Maundy Thursday	April 2	Commemorates the Last Supper and the washing of feet.
✝️Good Friday	April 3	Observes the crucifixion and death of Jesus.
🕯️ Holy Saturday	April 4	Marks the burial of Jesus and the anticipation of His resurrection.
🌅 Easter Sunday	April 5	Celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

Holy Week 2026

Schedule with Pope Leo XIV

The most sacred week of the year is approaching. The Vatican has officially released the schedule of liturgical celebrations that the Holy Father will preside over from March 29th to April 5th. This marks a historic moment as we join Pope Leo XIV for his first Holy Week.

🙏

Accompany the Pontiff in prayer through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord:

Palm Sunday (March 29)

10:00 AM — Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

Holy Thursday (April 2)

9:30 AM — Chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.

5:30 PM — Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran.

Good Friday (April 3)

5:30 PM — Celebration of the Passion of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica.

9:15 PM — Stations of the Cross at the Roman Colosseum.

Holy Saturday (April 4)

9:00 PM — Easter Vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Easter Sunday (April 5)

10:15 AM — Easter Sunday Mass and Urbi et Orbi blessing in St. Peter’s Square.

Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper (c. 1495–1498) is a landmark High Renaissance mural in Milan's Santa Maria delle Grazie, depicting the apostles' dramatic reactions to Jesus announcing his betrayal. Famed for its masterful perspective, emotion, and experimental technique on dry wall, this fragile masterpiece requires strict climate control. 

Key Details About the Masterpiece

• Location: Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan, Italy.
• Subject: The moment Jesus announces, "One of you will betray me," as told in the Gospel of John, capturing the emotional "motions of the soul" of the twelve apostles.
• Artistic Innovation: Leonardo utilized a unique one-point perspective, directing all lines towards Jesus' right temple.
• Condition: Due to Leonardo using tempera and oil on dry plaster instead of traditional wet fresco, the painting has deteriorated significantly over the centuries but was meticulously restored in 1999.
• Judas's Inclusion: Unlike earlier versions, Leonardo placed Judas on the same side of the table with other apostles, but in shadow. 

Visiting Information

• Booking: Tickets must be booked months in advance via the official Cenacolo Vinciano website to secure a 15-minute viewing slot.
• Experience: Visits are limited to small groups to maintain the fragile climate control of the refectory. 

Replicas and Artistic Impact

A 16th-century copy by Giampietrino in London's Royal Academy of Arts  👇

Key Observances

• The Paschal Triduum: This three-day period begins on the evening of Holy Thursday and continues through the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, forming the spiritual peak of the year.
• Orthodox Holy Week: For those following the Eastern Orthodox calendar, Holy Week 2026 begins later, on April 6, with Easter (Pascha) celebrated on April 12.
• Lent: The Lenten season of fasting and prayer officially ends at sundown on Holy Thursday, April 2. 

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Posts	👇  👇     Links    👇  👇
Ave Maria 🎼 Michał Lorenc 🇵🇱	https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/2022/03/ave-maria-micha-lorenc.html
Duccio di Buoninsegna 🎨 Maestà	https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/2019/04/duccio-di-buoninsegna.html
Easter Eggs 🥚 Tradition 🐣 Beyond Ishtar	https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/2022/04/easter-eggs-tradition-beyond-ishtar.html
Easter Parade 🎩 Sunday 👒 Apr 20, 2025	https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/2020/04/easter-parade-sunday-april-12-2020.html
Easter 🐤 True Origins	https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-truth-about-easter.html
Lamentation of Christ 🎨  by Giotto	https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/2019/04/lamentation-of-christ-by-giotto.html
Michelangelo's Pietà 🙏 Things You Should Know	https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/2019/04/michelangelos-pieta.html
Passover 🕍 A Jewish Holiday for Gentiles	https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/2020/04/passover-jewish-holiday-for-gentiles.html
Pergolesi 🎼 Stabat Mater 🙏 Talens Lyriques	https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/2019/04/pergolesi-stabat-mater-talens-lyriques-x.html
Stabat Mater 🎼 Music Score	https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/2019/04/stabat-mater-music-score.html
The 10 Commandments 📽️ Making Miracles	https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-ten-commandments-making-miracles.html
The Last Supper  🍽️  (c. 1495–1498) 📽️	https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-last-supper_14.html
The Ten Commandments 📺 TV Staple	https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-ten-commandments-tv-staple.html

  

 📅  Holy Week 2026 Dates:

 🌿  Palm Sunday – March 29

🕊️  Holy Monday – March 30

✨  Holy Tuesday – March 31

🙏  Holy Wednesday – April 1

🍞  Maundy Thursday – April 2

✝️  Good Friday – April 3

🕯️   Holy Saturday – April 4

🌅  Easter Sunday – April 5

༺*⌎° •.✨ ⋅ ✧ ⋅ *⋅ ✶ ⋅⋅ ✧ ⋅⌎° •. 🌟 .•༺*⌎° •.✨ ⋅ ✧ ⋅ *⋅ ✶

 

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*https://paulcpw.blogspot.com/search/label/Christianity

            

Easter 🐤 True Origins

The Truth About Easter

by Timothy A. & Kimberly B. Southall
Revised January 9, 2001

Please note that all scripture references are linked to The Bible Gateway. Therefore, if you click on a scripture reference, it may take a few moments for it to load. Once you are finished reading the scripture(s), click "back" on your browser to return to this article.

 

Many Christians are unaware of the origins of Easter, which is actually a pagan festival held in honor of idols. In fact, Easter was celebrated hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus Christ. It wasn't until at least 300 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the establishment of his church that the celebration of his resurrection began to be intermingled with the pagan practices of Easter. You should know the truth.

 
Origins of the Word "Easter" and the Goddess it Represents. 

"Easter" is derived from "Eostre," the pagan Anglo-Saxon goddess, and/or "Eostare," the Norse pagan festival of spring. When God gave the law to the Israelites in the Old Testament, he clearly instructed them not to even utter the name of other gods (Exodus 23:13). Aphrodite, Asherah, Ashtoreth, Astarte, Diana, Eostre, Ianna, Ishtar, Isis, Ostara, Semiramis, Venus . . . call her what you will, but she is one and the same--a false goddess, an idol, worshiped by pagans. And God declares that she is detestable. Asherah is mentioned in the Old Testament quite frequently (Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 7:5; Deuteronomy 12:2-4; Deuteronomy 16:21;; Micah 5:14).  Ashtoreth (the Babylonian goddess of the woods and nature) is also mentioned by name in the Bible (Judges 2:11-13; 1 Samuel 7:3; 1 Kings 11:5, 33). In every instance, she is an idol which greatly angers God. Inanna, the Sumerian patron of the temple prostitutes (also considered the merciful mother who intercedes with the gods on behalf of her worshipers), is represented with a star inscribed in a circle. There are several scriptures which clearly show that worship of any of the celestial elements (sun, moon or stars) is forbidden by God (Deuteronomy 17:2-5; 2 Kings 21:3-7; 2 Kings 23:4-15; Ezekiel 8:15-16). Ishtar [pronounced "Aes-tar"] (the Babylonian/Chaldean goddess of love and war) and Semiramis (an Assyrian goddess) were both known as the "Queen of Heaven." And the "Queen of Heaven" is specifically mentioned in the Bible (Jeremiah 7:18; Jeremiah 44:19, 25).
What, other than the obvious connection of the words "Easter" and "Eostre" does this goddess have to do with the modern celebration of Easter? Plenty.

 
Easter's connection with spring and nature. 

Diana (the Ephesian goddess of sex, fertility, virginity and motherhood) was said to be the source of nature. Eostre (an Anglo-Saxon/Teutonic goddess) was the goddess of the sunrise and spring. Ostara (a Norse/Saxon goddess) was the maiden goddess of spring.

 
Origins of Hares (Bunnies) and Eggs. 

According to Teutonic myth, the hare was once a bird whom Eostre changed into a four-footed creature. Thus, it can also lay eggs. The hare is also the sacred companion and sacrificial victim of Eostre. Astarte (a Phoenician/Syrian goddess), on the other hand, was believed to have been hatched from a huge egg which fell into the Euphrates.

 
Origins of Good Friday. 

Did you ever wonder why Good Friday is recognized as the day Jesus died and Sunday as the day he arose but yet had trouble explaining how he could thus be buried for three days and three nights? (Matthew 12:40; Matthew 27:63; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31; Mark 10:34) The answer is simple: He didn't actually die on "Good Friday." The Chaldeans offered cakes to Ishtar on the equivalent of the day we know as Good Friday. When the established church wanted to appease the paganistic people in order to "convert" them to Christianity, they moved the dates accordingly. Jesus actually died on the day of Preparation of Passover Week, which that year occurred on Wednesday (John 19:14, 31-42). Thursday was the Sabbath of the Passover. Friday, Christ was still in the tomb. Saturday was the "regular" Sabbath. Jesus arose after the Saturday Sabbath was concluded, which was the first day of the week, the day we know as Sunday (Mark 16:9; John 20:1). For further clarification of the days concerning Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, see Matthew 27:50-28:7; Mark 15:25-16:6; Luke 23:44-24:8; John 19:14-20:17. An in-depth study from another author which addresses the timing of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection is also currently available on the Internet at www.thevictor.org/bowen/bowenpp.htm.

 
Origins of Hot Cross Buns and Fires. 

Cakes bearing a cross-like symbol representing the pair of cow-horns on the moon goddess, Isis, were offered by ancient Egyptians. The cakes which Greeks offered to Astarte and other divinities were called bous or boun, from which the word "bun" is derived. The Babylonians/Chaldeans offered similar cakes to the "Queen of Heaven." Fires were lit on top of mountains and had to be kindled from new fire, drawn from wood by friction. The fire was then used to bake cakes in sacrifice to Semiramis, the "Queen of Heaven." This practice, along with burning incense, was used in conjunction with baking the cakes and is mentioned specifically in the Bible (1 Kings 11:8; 2 Kings 17:7-16; 2 Kings 18:4; 2 Kings 23:4-15; Isaiah 17:8; Isaiah 27:9; Ezekiel 8:7-12; Jeremiah 7:16-19; Jeremiah 44:19, 25). In addition to the cross imprinted on these cakes representing the horns of the goddess, it also sometimes represented the four seasons or four phases of the moon. Cakes were also offered to or eaten in honor of Apollo, Diana, Hecate, and the moon (also Diana's symbol).

 
Origins of Lent. 

The word "lent" is of Anglo-Saxon origin meaning "spring." Lent developed from the pagan celebration of weeping, fasting, and mourning for 40 days over the death of Tammuz (one day for each year of his life). Tammuz (the son/husband of the Babylonian idol Ishtar) was killed by a wild boar and then allegedly resurrected. This mourning of Tammuz is specifically prophesied by Ezekiel in the Bible and is characterized by God Himself as being detestable (Ezekiel 8:13-15).

 
Origins of the use of the lily. 

Asherah (a Sidonian goddess) was frequently represented as a nude woman bestride a lion with a lily (symbolizing grace and sex appeal) in one hand and a serpent (symbolizing fecundity) in the other.

 
Origins of wearing new clothing for Easter. 

The tradition of wearing new clothing for Easter comes from the superstition that a new garment worn at Easter means good luck throughout the year.

 
Origins of the timing. 

The timing of the festival of "Eostar" (the festival of spring) predates the birth of Jesus Christ, and the festival was always celebrated in conjunction with pagan idol worship. In 325 A.D. it was conveniently linked to the full moon on or following the spring or vernal equinox, March 21, when nature is in resurrection after winter. This is also when Easter is celebrated in modern times. The timing of Jesus' resurrection is linked to the Passover rather than to the vernal equinox.

 
Who celebrates Easter? 

Witches, who base their celebrations (including Halloween) on the phases of the moon, celebrate Easter. Christians, however, are clearly forbidden from observing this pagan celebration (Deuteronomy 12:30-31; Luke 4:8; 1 Corinthians 10:20-22; Ephesians 5:11). There is a good reason why the early church never spoke of Easter and why there is absolutely no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament. (The only exception is a mistranslation in the King James version of Acts 12:4, where it gives the word "Easter" instead of the correction translation "Passover.") It was not an oversight on God's part; Christians simply are not to celebrate Easter, a pagan festival.

 
Honoring Christ. 

While there isn't anything wrong with spring, nature, rabbits, eggs, pastries, fires, lilies, or wearing new clothing, doing or observing such things only for "Easter" is either knowingly or unknowingly participating in pagan practices. Christians who do not yet see anything wrong with such practices should prayerfully read and study 1 Corinthians 10:18-11:1.
The intent of most Christians who celebrate "Easter" is actually to remember and honor Jesus Christ. Rather than celebrate His resurrection with worldly traditions, there are biblical ways for Christians.

 
First, we should call biblical things by Bible names. Rather than using the name of a false goddess, "Easter," Christians should use words which do not dishonor God. Some acceptable terms are "Resurrection Day" and "Resurrection Sunday."
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus can still be remembered through observance of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26) and other Christian worship.
Christians should always remember that the focus of the resurrection is Jesus Christ. Surely His sacrifice is enough. Easter eggs, Easter bunnies, and other pagan activities which add worldliness and traditions of men are unnecessary in our observation of Resurrection Day.

 
A decision to make. 

You now have a decision to make concerning Easter. In the oft-quoted words of Joshua: "Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." 

Palm Sunday 2026          29-Mar-26
Palm Sunday 2027          21-Mar-27
Palm Sunday 2028          9-Apr-28
Palm Sunday 2029          25-Mar-29

April Fools' Day 😲 No Idea How it Started

🤡 No Kidding 🤡

We Have No Idea

How April Fools' Day Started

By Ashley Ross

The what of April Fools’ Day is pretty clear: in the U.S. at least, April 1st will be a time for pranks—for better or for worse. 

But the why is a mystery. 

Though many holidays have cloudy origins, the history of April Fools’ Day is particularly blurry, as there are several competing claims for the invention. Some see the holiday’s sources in a storybook, while others consider it an evolution of the general rejoicing of springtime.

🤡
One possible precedent is in the Greco-Roman festival called Hilaria, which was celebrated on March 25. The festival honored Cybele, an ancient Greek Mother of Gods, and its celebrations included parades, masquerades and jokes to celebrate the first day after the vernal equinox.

“Traditionally, the vernal equinox was thought of as the beginning of the year in the Julian calendar,” notes Simon J. Bronner, a professor of American Studies and Folklore at Penn State.

🤡
In the 16th century, the Christian world switched from the Julian calendar, which was introduced by Julius Caesar, to the Gregorian calendar named for Pope Gregory XIII. The change moved the New Year up to January 1. Some historians find another origin for April Fools in that switch, as those still using the Julian calendar were fooled by the new date. Meanwhile, others insist that the tradition of an April’s new year celebration simply evolved into a jocular time, which is how the pranks began.

🤡
Another origin story, which Bronner says is very controversial, is rooted in Geoffrey Chaucher’s 1392 book The Canterbury Tales.

🤡
“The controversy is over what Chaucer really wrote and whether there can be a direct link to April Fools’ Day,” he explains. “The line in question is ’32 March,’ which was thought to be a joke because there is no March 32, but there are some medievalists who claim it was a misprint.

🤡
One idea about the holiday that’s not really a possibility is that it’s universal. While various cultures around the world do have celebrations around the same time, like the Hindu holiday Holi and the Jewish holiday Purim, the prank-centric nature of April Fools’ Day is particular to Europe and North America, Bronner says.

🤡
To Bronner, it’s interesting that the celebrations have taken such hold on culture, considering their murky origins.

🤡
“When I talk to students in folklore class,” he says, “[I tell them] that it seems to be part of a more general pattern of spring being a time of hilarity.”

http://time.com/4276140/april-fools-day-history