What is Passiontide? How to have a fruitful Passiontide.
Passiontide: beginning on Passion Sunday, the fifth Sunday of Lent, consists of the final two weeks of Lent – Passion Week and Holy Week
During Passiontide, the crucifixes, statues, and holy images throughout the church – with the exception of the Stations of the Cross – are all veiled with plain violet cloth, to serve as a stark and inescapable visual reminder that these two weeks are the most spiritually intense, solemn and mournful weeks of the liturgical year.
In order to properly prepare for the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday), Catholics ought to intensify the penitential works they undertook during the first four weeks of Lent.
Sadly, many Catholics don’t know about Passiontide because it has been removed from the post-Second Vatican Council liturgical calendar that accompanies the new rite of Mass. Yet Passiontide is the privileged time for all Catholics to increase their penances and so earn greater merit and graces.
How to have a more fruitful Passiontide

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee; because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Helpful suggestions and resources:
Let us offer these sacrifices out of love to Our Lord during Passiontide:
(or at any time!)
- Meditate fifteen minutes a day.
- The Fatima Center provides a daily meditation.
- Use a helpful spiritual book (view a recommended list).
- Learn about Mental Prayer from Fr. Albert or Kevin Roerty (video / audio).
- Adhere to the 1917 Code of Canon Law (or do even more!)
- Fast every day of Lent (Sundays excluded).
- Abstain from meat every Friday and Saturday of Lent.
- Intensify personal Lenten fasting and/or penance resolutions.
- Attend Holy Mass more frequently, even daily.
- The Fatima Center provides Daily Mass Prayers (according to the traditional rite).
- Learn about Fatima and the Traditional Latin Mass.
- Pray the Rosary every single day.
- Pray it slower and more meditatively.
- Pray all Fifteen Decades on a given day.
- Make the Stations of the Cross daily, or at least once a week.
- Contact The Fatima Center for a leaflet with Station Meditations and the Litany of the Passion.
- Make Spiritual Communions throughout the day.
- Pray any one or all of the Seven Penitential Psalms.
- Offer prayers to honor and console Our Lady of Sorrows.
- Download The Fatima Center’s devotional booklet.
- Meditate upon Our Lady’s Seven Sorrows (and/or download a simple prayer card).
- Offer prayers in honor of the Five Wounds of Our Lord.
- Pray aspirations throughout the day.
- Here are 20 Practices to Observe During Lent. Its always good to begin to observe them, or intensify them, in Passiontide.

CHURCH LAW REGARDING FAST AND ABSTINENCE
Here we provide the applicable portions from the 1917 Code of Canon Law, followed by the 1983 Code. Catholics will recognize the most significant changes to the Church’s laws of fast and of abstinence by reading Canon 1252 (1917 Code). Another noted change regards the age of the person to whom these laws apply.
Passiontide and the Message of Fatima
To help many souls avoid eternal damnation, Our Lady of Fatima requested a few simple things from us. During Passiontide, let us unite with, and compassionate, our Redeemer by heeding the requests of Our Lady of Fatima, and offering Penance, Penance, Penance!
- Foster devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Including one’s own Consecration to Our Lady. - Practice and promote the First Saturday devotion.
- Pray the Rosary every day.
- Pray for the Consecration of Russia.
- Make reparation for sin; offer sacrifices and prayers for sinners.
- Pray for the Pope.
- Wear the Brown Scapular.