Palm Sunday & Blessed Pussy Willows

What’s in the Basket? Why?

The Pussy Willow: A Resurrection  Branch

Nature Announces Spiritual Rebirth

The inspiring beauty and simplicity of Polish family traditions are captured in the blessed branch of Palm Sunday. They are prepared and brought to church by each person as a natural way to worship the wounded Savior: Jesus. Few leaders in the world were handed over to such a mob, tormented, publicly tortured, and physically abused, as was the Son of God in the hands of human beings.

The darkness, messy dirt, craggy ice, and the cold freezing onslaught of winter recedes, as the Son of God rises from a cemetery grave. His burial place is solemnly and beautifully depicted here (below) at St Casimir’s, one of our most loved and revered traditions.

Fruits of the fasts are gathered here, at the Lord’s Tomb, because we recognize Jesus suffering in every needy and marginalized person (above family). In some very spiritual way as our Lenten “promises” our sacrifices, have been filling the blessed St Casimir giving cups. A way to carry Jesus’ Cross, His own instrument of execution, is in lightening the burden of our Kaisertown neighbors, who seek some refreshment at our monthly Hospitality Table and Food Pantry. Your Lenten, sacrifices and donations pay for the food we distribute remembering the mission of the Prince of the Poor.

Yes, in Polish spirituality the pussy willow proclaims Jesus’ upcoming victory over all pain and abuse. He carried our weaknesses to heal our wounds of our misgivings.

So, celebrate the Pussy Willow! Contemplate the generosity of God who sent His Son do things unimaginable! Just for us.

The Pussy Willow is a victory branch, quietly and resiliently saying: there is no evil, out of which good cannot come (Polish proverbs use double negatives) a version of the Biblical: all things will work out well for those who love God (Rm 8:28).

That’s why we bless this branch, which once sanctified and carried in procession, is used as a Resurrection branch, a sign of our healing.

The blessed pussy willow is a true Resurrection branch, a symbol of our heritage and faith. Often accompanied by spring or tissue flowers, greens (fragrant or creeping myrtle, boxwood), and ribbons, it far outshines atrophied palm strips distributed in some churches, which look more like rigid masking tape.  Their best use, however, is for weaving and plaiting into the Passion and Resurrection symbols of Holy Week.

As a palm weaver registered at Michigan State University in Lansing, Fr Krysa each year fashions 21 various weaves as he meditates in celebration of Holy Week. Check out last year’s procession photo (above with red-stained Coptic Cross --a symbolic action-prayer for victims of abuse and the martyred Christians of Cairo). He can also boast of a number of students who have picked up this symbolic faith art.

His 32 year collection of priests’ processional palms drew much attention during the 3 year exhibit at St Casimir’s Social Center, and last year during all of Holy Week and Easter Season in St Casimir’s sanctuary. St Casimir’s has also hosted numerous palm weaving seminars, Now, insights and meaning are shared through instructional videos available  on Youtube.com/stcasimirbuffalo.  All in celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection victory.

I am still amazed at seniors who complain that there are not enough young people in church. Did you ever show a young person how to weave a palm into a faith symbol? Did you talk to them about the wonders Jesus worked and endured during each day of Holy Week? What makes each day of Holy Week, holy? Do you bring them to the Lord’s Tomb (above pic)? Light a vigil candle with them? Pray with them at the Lord's Tomb for a recently deceased loved one? Or do you just bless sausage for them, pray for them, do everything for them?  Pray with them, not just for them. And the best prayer involves a symbolic action.

Today’s 20-somethings are looking for real meaning in life. Meaning is the opposite of depression, illness, and loneliness. Most of them say “No one ever showed us anything we could  hand on.”  It’s that long lost “I wished I would have gotten that recipe before Grandma died?”  Yes. the lost recipe saga. The lost recipe for living. Too late now.

Meaning is more effectively handed on by doing something with a younger person, and almost never by buying them something. Why do we try so hard to fool ourselves and our loved ones?

All I can say: tap them, at least, on the shoulder with a blessed palm in the name of Jesus and his upcoming victory. My father tapped me. Tap them and say: “In six days the great day! In six sleeps the great awakening!”

Maybe you’ll knock some meaning into your soul.

Palm tapping with a blessed branch is a PolAm family, Holy Week celebration (above pic).