Holy Week 2027 begins on Palm Sunday, March 21, and ends with the Easter Vigil on the night of Saturday, March 27; Easter Sunday is March 28. It is the most sacred week of the Christian year, in which the Church follows Jesus day by day through his entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, his passion and death, his rest in the tomb and his Resurrection.
Below is the meaning of each day, what happens in your parish, and a short prayer for every day of Holy Week.
Holy Week 2027 calendar
| Day | 2027 date | What the Church remembers |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Sunday | Sunday, March 21 | Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem; the Passion according to Mark |
| Monday of Holy Week | March 22 | Mary anoints Jesus’ feet at Bethany (John 12:1–11) |
| Tuesday of Holy Week | March 23 | Jesus foretells Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial (John 13:21–38) |
| Wednesday of Holy Week (“Spy Wednesday”) | March 24 | Judas agrees to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14–25) |
| Holy Thursday | March 25 | The Last Supper; the Easter Triduum begins in the evening |
| Good Friday | March 26 | The passion and death of the Lord |
| Holy Saturday | March 27 | Jesus rests in the tomb; the Easter Vigil after nightfall |
| Easter Sunday | March 28 | The Resurrection of the Lord |
Palm Sunday: the King enters Jerusalem
The week opens with palms and “Hosanna!”, and immediately turns to the Passion. Keep your blessed palm behind a crucifix at home. Full guide: Palm Sunday 2027.
Lord Jesus, I welcome you as my King.
Enter the Jerusalem of my heart this week,
and let me stay with you to the cross and the empty tomb. Amen.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week
The weekday Gospels follow the last days before the Passion: Mary of Bethany pours costly ointment on Jesus’ feet; at supper Jesus announces that one of the Twelve will betray him; Judas goes out to arrange the betrayal. Many parishes offer extra confessions and penance services on these days, and some cathedrals celebrate the Chrism Mass.
Lord, like Mary of Bethany let me give you my best;
keep me from the betrayal of Judas and the fear of Peter;
and if I fall, give me the grace to return to you. Amen.
Prepare for Easter confession with our guide on how to go to confession.
Holy Thursday: the Last Supper
Lent ends and the Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper: the washing of feet, the gift of the Eucharist and the priesthood, the procession to the altar of repose, and the watch with Jesus. In 2027 the Solemnity of the Annunciation, which would fall on this day, is moved to Monday, April 5. Full guide: Holy Thursday 2027.
Lord Jesus, you loved your own to the end
and gave yourself to us in the Eucharist.
Teach me to serve as you served, and to watch with you tonight. Amen.
Good Friday: the cross
A day of fasting, abstinence and silence. In the afternoon the Church celebrates the Passion of the Lord: the Passion according to John, the Solemn Intercessions, the veneration of the cross and Holy Communion. Many pray the Stations of the Cross and meditate on the Seven Last Words. The Divine Mercy Novena begins. Full guide: Good Friday 2027.
We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee,
because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world.
Holy Saturday: the silence of the tomb
Holy Saturday is a day of quiet waiting. There is no Mass during the day; the altar is bare and the tabernacle empty. The Church waits at the tomb with Mary. Many families prepare Easter food, have Easter baskets blessed, and dye eggs. After nightfall, the Easter Vigil begins with the new fire. Full guide: the Easter Vigil.
Lord, you lay in the tomb and descended to the dead
to bring them the light of your victory.
Be with all who sit in darkness and grief,
and keep my heart watching for your Resurrection. Amen.
Easter Sunday: he is risen!
The Resurrection of the Lord, the greatest feast of the year, begins fifty days of Easter joy. Full guide: Easter 2027 and Catholic Easter prayers.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
How to keep Holy Week well
- Plan to attend the Triduum: Holy Thursday evening, Good Friday afternoon and the Easter Vigil (or Easter morning Mass). These are the heart of the Church’s year.
- Go to confession early in the week; lines are long on Holy Saturday.
- Simplify: fewer screens and outings, more silence and prayer, especially from Thursday evening to Sunday.
- Read the Passion in one of the Gospels at home with your family.
- Pray the Stations of the Cross with our interactive Stations or the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
- Prepare Easter together: clean the house, bake, decorate eggs, prepare a basket to be blessed.
Frequently asked questions
When is Holy Week 2027?
From Palm Sunday, March 21, 2027, to Holy Saturday, March 27; Easter Sunday is March 28. In 2028 Holy Week runs from April 9 to April 15.
What is the Easter Triduum?
The three days from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday, celebrated as one great liturgy of Christ’s passion, death and Resurrection.
Are the days of Holy Week holy days of obligation?
No, apart from Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, which are Sundays. But Catholics are strongly encouraged to attend the liturgies of the Triduum.
What is Spy Wednesday?
A traditional name for Wednesday of Holy Week, because on that day Judas went to the chief priests and agreed to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14–16).
What is Tenebrae?
A service of readings and psalms in which candles are put out one by one until the church is in darkness, held in some parishes on Wednesday evening or during the Triduum. Its name means “darkness.”
More Lent and Easter pages
- The Exsultet (Easter Proclamation)
- The Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem
- Lent 2027
- Palm Sunday
- Holy Thursday
- Good Friday
- The Easter Vigil
- Easter 2027
Texts and sources
- Reading references follow the Lectionary for Mass, Holy Week.
- Roman Missal, Holy Week and the Sacred Paschal Triduum.
- The Good Friday versicle “We adore thee, O Christ” is traditional; the other prayers were written for this page.