THE PROCESSION FOR PALM SUNDAY

Blessed Palm Crosses

The Triumphal Entrance of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem According to the Liturgy of St. James in the Ancient Church of the West

ANTIPHON

Hosanna to the Son of David: 

Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. 

O King of Israel: 

Hosanna in the highest!

PSALM 24

The earth is the Lord’s, and all that therein is: the compass of the world, and they that dwell therein. 

For he hath founded it upon the seas: and established it upon the floods. 

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall rise up in his holy place? 

Even he that hath clean hands and a pure heart: and that hath not lift up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn to deceive his neighbour. 

He shall receive the blessing from the Lord: and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 

This is the generation of them that seek him: even of them that seek thy face, O Jacob. 

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come in. 

Who is the King of glory? It is the Lord strong and mighty, even the Lord mighty in battle. 

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come in. 

Who is the King of glory? Even the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; 

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

REPEAT ANTIPHON

Hosanna to the Son of David: 

Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. 

O King of Israel: 

Hosanna in the highest!

THE BLESSING OF PALMS

The Lord be with you. 

And with thy spirit. 

Let us pray.

Increase, O Lord, the faith of thy people, and mercifully hear the prayers of thy servants: grant that whosoever shall take these branches in hand in thy Name, may be protected in soul and body; and that in all places into which they shall be carried, the inhabitants thereof may obtain thy blessing. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bless, O Lord, these branches of palm and olive, and grant that whosoever shall receive them with faith may be found worthy of thy protection and may rejoice in the victory of the Cross. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE HOLY GOSPEL

St. Matthew 21:1–9

When they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 

Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 

And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 

All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 

Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.  

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 

And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 

And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 

And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

The Gospel of the Lord. 

Thanks be to God.

THE PROCESSION BEGINS

Let us go forth in peace. 

In the Name of Christ. Amen.

PROCESSIONAL ANTIPHONS AND HYMNS

(to be sung in procession, either responsively or as a hymn)

Hosanna in the highest! 

Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord! 

The King of Israel! 

Hosanna in the highest!

Glory, laud, and honor to thee, Redeemer, King, 

To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. 

Thou art the King of Israel, thou David’s royal Son, 

Who in the Lord’s Name comest, the King and Blessed One.

All glory, laud, and honor to thee, Redeemer, King, 

To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.

The company of angels are praising thee on high, 

And mortal men and all things created make reply. 

The people of the Hebrews with palms before thee went: 

Our praise and prayer and anthems before thee we present.

PSALM 118:19–29

Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord. 

This is the gate of the Lord: the righteous shall enter into it. 

I will praise thee, for thou hast heard me: and art become my salvation. 

The stone which the builders refused: is become the head stone of the corner. 

This is the Lord’s doing: it is marvellous in our eyes. 

This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it. 

Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. 

Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. 

God is the Lord, which hath showed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. 

Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. 

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

AT THE CHURCH DOOR

(If the church doors are closed, the following dialogue may be said or sung responsively)

Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come in. 

Who is this King of glory? 

It is the Lord strong and mighty, even the Lord mighty in battle.  

Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come in. 

Who is the King of glory? 

Even the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

THE CHURCH DOORS ARE OPENED AND THE PROCESSION ENTERS

PRAYER AT THE ENTRANCE

Almighty and everlasting God, who didst cause our Saviour to ride humbly upon a colt and receive the praises of the children: grant that we may follow His example in humility and obedience, and ever sing Hosanna in the highest. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.