Bishop Anton Coșa presided at the "Divine Providence" Cathedral in Chisinau in the Holy Mass on Palm Sunday, marking the beginning of our liturgical Holy Week.

The Bishop emphasized the significance of the cross, which is at the heart of this Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, the beginning of Holy Week, when we remember Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, his suffering and death on the cross: . Our earthly life must be directed to the heavenly Father, no matter what joys or sorrows we go through. Pope Francis said that "Flowers and the cross go together." Only by thanking God for them and accepting them both with full confidence in divine help can we reach heavenly life. ”

PS Anton Coșa blessed the branches that the faithful had in their hands, the symbol of this Sunday and a sign of joy, which, despite the suffering on the cross, must accompany the path of faith of every believer. The bishop also reminded us that joy and sorrow are often found in human life: “Today, on Palm Sunday, we live the only day of the year when joy is combined with sadness, light with darkness, ecstasy with agony, triumph with rejection. , the day when, in addition to the hymn of praise: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" (Lk 19:38), we hear the frightening cry: "Crucify him, crucify him!" (Lk 23:21) ”.

"Given this specific Sunday of Flowers, we could say that this is the day when, as in a mirror, we see our whole life as a succession of happy moments and trials, of joys and disappointments, of light and despair. And this succession of good and evil is an opportunity for everyone to reflect on their own relationship with God. ”

During Holy Week, the bishop will preside at the Liturgy of the Chrism on Holy Thursday, with the blessing of the holy oils, in the presence of the entire clergy who will renew their priestly promises. The Easter Triduum will begin on Thursday afternoon, and the bishop will preside over the celebration of the "Lord's Supper," the Passion of the Lord on Friday, the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening, and the Easter Mass on Sunday.

Source: ROMAN CATHOLIC EPISCOPY OF CHISINAU