Some people have been asking about the blessing of palms on Palm Sunday, when the Holy See has stipulated that during the #COVID19 pandemic the third form is to be used. Here are some thoughts.

In the 2002 Missale Romanum there are three forms for the entrance on Palm Sunday. The first and second forms (Procession and Solemn Entrance) include the rites of the blessing of palms. The third form (Simple Entrance) does not.

The rubrics prescribe that the Solemn Entrance takes place “When a procession outside the church cannot take place.” That is the case at the moment due to the restrictions on public worship, hence cathedrals are being instructed to use the second form.

The third form is used “At all other Masses of this Sunday,” indicating that, as a norm, the first or second form should happen only once. This of course makes sense—we don’t repeat the other ceremonies of Holy Week.

Understandably people want to have palms for their homes, and in this difficult time some tangible sign of the events and rites of Holy Week. This is a good instinct. But there’s something underlying this that I think we should consider, and which might help.

The palms are not principally blessed for personal use: to put behind a picture or crucifix in the home, or to place in the car. They are principally blessed because they will be used in the sacred liturgy. That they are blessed leads them to be taken home and reverently kept.

We see this in the rites themselves: there are times, even in normal circumstances, when the palms are not blessed: i.e., whenever the third form is used.

I certainly do not underestimate the sadness of people not participating in these rites this Holy Week. It pains me greatly. At the same time, these regrettable circumstances may help us to understand the nature of the liturgy more deeply—and that can only be a good thing.