How to Make the Most of Holy Week

It’s hard to believe that we are less than a week away from the Triduum — and then Easter!

Here’s a few suggestions for living out this last week with greater intentionality and an increased awareness of the amazing mystery that we are entering into.

Without further ado: 7 ways to Make the Most of Holy Week.

Go to Confession

Seriously, first things first. If you haven’t gone to confession this Lent, Go! This would be my number one word of advice for opening yourself up to the ocean of graces that God is waiting to pour out on you this Holy Week.

So what are you waiting for? Go, go, go!

Consider upping your game by taking on a few more penances or sacrifices in this last week.

Listen, if you are like my husband and are doing crazy things like Exodus 90 this Lent, then you can probably skip this suggestion. You already have enough on your plate. Just try to faithfully keep those penances going.

If you are like me, on the other hand, then you definitely could “up your penance game” this week.

Adding one or two thoughtful penitential practices is an excellent way to make this week different than the other weeks of the year.

It’s also an excellent way to spiritually unite yourself with Christ and walk the Via Dolorosa, or the Sorrowful Way, with Him this week, as well.

Be Mindful that sometimes those extra penances will find you this Holy Week

Sometimes you don’t need to look for the extra penances — sometimes they find you.

If this just happens to be a week where you’re feeling awful, or your kids are feeling awful, or you get some unexpectedly bad news — you can likely forget the extra penances.

Just try to gracefully accept the crosses that come your way and know that these can be amazingly redemptive moments when offered to God.

Consider adding extra time to reading the Passion accounts in one of the 4 Gospels.

At the very least, try to spend more time in prayer and contemplating the Passion of Christ this week.

Really try to meditate on His sufferings and the Love that inspired Him to take it all on for you.

Don’t forget to thank God for loving you that much.

Attend the Triduum services at your local Catholic Church.

Guys, the Church really makes it so easy to enter into this Holy Week.

Go to Holy Thursday Mass, Good Friday Service and the Vigil Mass and you have an amazing way to make the most of this week.

And if you have young kids and you end up running around chasing them and feel like you’re getting “nothing out of the services” — just know that this might be your little way to suffer alongside of Christ.

Shoutout to all parents bringing young kids to the Triduum, you are amazing! Also, I’ll likely to see you in the back of church with my own little ones. Save some space for me. 🙂

Work on detachment from money and “things”by donating to a worthy cause.

Might I suggest Children Waiting Everywhere? 100% of funds goes to the poorest of the poor in Africa. It is an amazing organization!

You can go here to find out more and to donate.

Educate yourself a bit on the symbolism of the Passover, the tie in with the Last Supper and God’s plan for the salvation of all men, women and children.

For some reading to get you into the mindset of Holy Week, here’s a post I wrote last year on Entering into the Triduum.

It touches upon the fascinating symbolism that can be discovered when growing in familiarity with the Jewish Passover Feast and the changes made by Jesus at the Last Supper — more specifically the significance of the 4th Cup.

Scott Hahn, dives way deep into the symbolism of the 4th Cup and the beautiful tie in between Christians and our elder brothers in the faith, the chosen people of Israel.

You might enjoy listening to his talk below. I haven’t listened to it yet — but hey, it’s Scott Hahn — so it’s bound to be good.

I’ll be listening later this week.

Consider dedicating Holy Thursday to pray for all priests, for future vocations and thanking God for the gift of the priesthood.

Okay, this is technically number 8 in my suggestions, but Holy Thursday is the historical founding of the priesthood and it is traditionally a day to pray for priests.

Take some time to pray for our priests!

Holy Thursday usually involves a procession where Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is taken to a chapel outside of the Church and all night adoration begins.

This is a perfect time to remember to pray for priests — if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have Jesus’ true presence in the Blessed Sacrament in the first place.

Personally, I have to say that time of Holy Thursday Adoration always is a very powerful time of feeling His presence in the Eucharist.

Don’t miss out on this very intimate encounter with Christ.

That’s about it. I hope this helps to get you thinking about what you are going to do to make this Holy Week different than the rest.

Don’t just phone it in — you will get out of Holy Week what you put into it.

I pray this is a beautiful and blessed Holy Week for you!