Hosanna

"And the multitudes that went before and that followed, cried, saying: Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that come in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest" (Matthew 21:9; cf. Matthew 21:15, Mark 11:9-10, John 12:13). St. Jerome said that the word originated from two Hebrew words of Psalm cxvii (cxviii), 25. This psalm was recited by one of the priests every day during the procession round the altar, during the Feast of Tabernacles, when the people were commanded to "rejoice before the Lord" (Leviticus 23:40); and on the seventh day it was recited each time during the sevenprocessions. When the priest reached verses 25, the trumpet sounded, all the people, including boys, waved their branches of palms, myrtles, willows, etc., and shouted with the priest. The Hebrew forsalvum fac or serva nunc was hoshi'a na. This was repeated so frequently that it became abbreviated into hosanna; the seventh day of the feast was called the Great Hosanna; and the palm-branches of willow, myrtles, etc., received the name of hosannas.

The Feast of Tabernacles was a season of great rejocing, and it was a saying amongst the Jews that those who had not witnessed it did not know what joy meant. In this wayhosanna became associated with rejoicing. The same has to be said of the use of palm-branches. In I Mach., xiii, 51-52, we read: "And they entered. . . with thanksgiving, and branches of palm-trees, and harps, and cymbals, and psalteries, and hymns, andcanticles, because the great enemy was destroyed out of Israel; and he ordained that these days should be kept every year with gladness." In II Mach., x, 6, 7: "And they kept eight days with joy, after the manner of the feast of tabernacles."

Jesus' triumphal entry to Jerusalem

The Petroglpyh of Jesus riding on a colt entering Jerusalem

On these occasions hosanna was, doubtless, exclaimed in tones of joy and triumph. Like all acclamations in frequent use it lost its primary meaning, and became a kind of vivat or hurrah of joy, triumph, and exultation. It is clear from the Gospels that it was in this manner it was uttered by the crowd on Palm Sunday. St. Matthew has instead of hosanna in excelsis "peace in heaven and glory on high".

It was with this indefinite meaning that the word hosanna passed, at a very early date, into the liturgies of the Church; a position which it has ever since retained both in the East and the West. It is found in the "Didache", and the "Apostolic Constitutions". Eusebius (Church History II.23), quoting the account given by Hegesippus of the death of St. James, has: "And as many as were confirmed and gloried in the testimony of James, and said Hosanna to the Son of David", etc. St. Clement of Alexandria says it meant "light, glory, praise".

In every Mass the word hosanna is said twice during the Sanctus at the end of the Preface. It is sung by the choir at high Mass. It is also repeatedly sung during the distribution of the palms, and the solemn procession on Palm Sunday. We gather from St. Jerome (Matthew 21:15) etc. that the faithful, in some places, were accustomed to salute bishops and holy men with cries of hosanna.

Published Date: 
Sunday, April 10, 2022