Palm Sunday, March 29, opens the way. At 9 AM, in the Church of San Giuseppe delle Benedettine, the first mass introduces the faithful into a climate of reflection. At 10:30 AM, at the Iblei Gardens, the blessing of the palms begins the procession towards the Mother Church of San Giorgio, where at 11 AM the solemn holy mass is celebrated, among the most attended moments of the entire week. In the afternoon, at 4 PM, the celebration at Itria prepares for the solemn exposition of the Holy Sacrament at 4:30 PM in the cathedral, the spiritual heart of the Forty Hours. At 5 PM, from the Church of Santa Maria dell'Itria, the procession of the Virgin of Sorrows begins, a rite that impresses every year with its intensity and composure; following, at 5:30 PM, is the eucharistic fervorino of the brotherhood of the Virgin of Sorrows. The evening continues with masses at 6:15 PM in the cathedral and at Maddalena; from the latter, at 7 PM, the procession of Maddalena heads towards San Giorgio. At 7:30 PM, a new fervorino closes the day, while the city gathers in a dense and suspended silence.
Holy Monday, March 30, is a time for meditation: the rituals become more sober but no less intense. At 5 PM, in the cathedral, the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament brings attention back to the mystery of the Passion. At 6:15 PM, the mass celebrated at both San Giorgio and San Giacomo introduces the procession at 6:45 PM, when the statue of Christ in the Garden of Olives slowly makes its way through the streets, accompanied by the confreres and an eloquent silence. At 7 PM, in the cathedral, the short sermon of the Archconfraternity of San Giacomo calls the faithful to reflection. The day concludes with one of the most touching moments: at 8 PM, from the Church of Santa Maria dello Spasimo, the procession of the Pietà begins, an emblematic image of the composed sorrow of the Iblean tradition; at 8:30 PM, the short sermon of the Good Death confraternity seals the second day of rituals.
At 5:30 PM, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed in the Cathedral. After the 7:30 PM Mass at the Church of St. Philip Neri, the statue of Veronica will be carried in procession to the Cathedral, where the Archconfraternity of St. Philip Neri will recite the Eucharistic fervor.
At 5:30 PM, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed in the Cathedral. Sacramento, while Holy Mass will be celebrated at St. Thomas. From 7:00 PM, Holy Mass will be celebrated in the cathedral, followed by the closing of the Forty Hours, and from 9:00 PM, prayers before the Crucifix.
At 6:00 PM, Holy Mass of the Lord's Supper will be celebrated at the Church of St. Thomas. At 8:00 PM, Holy Mass of the Lord's Supper will be celebrated in the cathedral. From the Holy Hour (11:00 PM), prayer will be held in the cathedral until midnight, continuing with a prayer vigil until morning.
At 5:00 PM, celebration of the Passion of the Lord at the Church of St. Joseph and in the cathedral. At 8:00 PM, Solemn procession of the Dead Christ and Our Lady of Sorrows, departing from the cathedral.
At 6:00 PM, the Hour of the Mother will be celebrated in the Cathedral. At 10:00 PM, the Easter Vigil and Holy Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral.
Morning Masses: 9:00 AM St. Joseph, 10:30 AM Purgatory, 11:00 AM Cathedral. Afternoon Masses: 5:30 PM St. Thomas, 7:00 PM Cathedral. Around 8:00 PM, at the end of Mass in the Cathedral, the traditional "Scinnuta" of the statue of the Patron Saint George and the Holy Ark will take place.
