Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday) with acclamations of “Hosanna” celebrating Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. and culminates in the “mother of all holy vigils” on Easter night.

As ever, the responsorial psalms provide a beautiful and poignant soundtrack as we recall the events of the story of our salvation.

Here are the links to accessible, contemporary settings that have been tried and tested. They are free to download for use in your school or church.

• Palm Sunday – “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” (Ps 21:2)
• The Mass of Chrism – “I will sing forever of your love, O Lord.” (Ps 88:2)
• Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Maundy Thursday) – “The blessing cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ…” (Ps 115)
• Good Friday – “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Ps 30)
• The Easter Vigil
  1. “Send for you spirit, O Lord and renew the face of the earth.” (Ps 103:30)
  2. “Preserve me God, I take refuge in you” (Ps 15:1)
  3. “I will sing to the Lord, glorius his triumph…” (Ex 15:1)
  4. “I will praise you Lord, you have rescued me.” (Ps 29:2)
  5. “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation…” (Is 12:3)
  6. “You have the message of eternal life, O Lord…” (Ps 18)
  7. “Like the deer that yearns for running streams…” (Ps 41:2)
• Easter Night & Easter Sunday – “This day was made by the Lord we rejoice and are glad.” (Ps 117:24)

We hope these psalm settings will truly help you enter deeply into the mystery of God’s love that we celebrate in this Great Week.

How do you plan to use the Psalms during Holy Week? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below…