Blessing of Palms and Branches

The parishioners will be able to have their palms and willows blessed by
1) Bishop through the livestream this Palm Sunday, or
2) can bless them themselves saying the following prayer and sprinkling them with the Holy Water, or
3) if they feel safe, they can come and pick up the blessed palms and willows at the Cathedral on Sunday, April 5, 2020 between 1 pm – 3 pm.

Keep praying and stay healthy.

Fr. Marek

BLESSING OF PALMS AND BRANCHES AT HOME:

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy!

O Lord our God, enthroned upon the Cherubim , You restored Your power by sending Your Only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to save the world through His cross, burial and resurrection; Who, at His entry into Jerusalem to suffer of His own will, was welcomed by the people, sitting in the land and shadow of death (Mt. 4:16), with the branches of trees and palms – the symbol of victory, thus prefiguring His resurrection; You, 0 Master, + bless these branches and palms, and protect and preserve us, who, in imitation of them , carry in our hands branches of palms and trees on this festive day; that we, as those people and children offering their “Hosanna!” likewise, may attain Christ’s life-giving resurrection on the third day amid the hymns and spiritual songs through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, gracious and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

These branches and palms are being blessed by the sprinkling of this holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.