A Message for the Triduum

The events commemorated during Holy Week stand at the very heart of our faith. It is in the death and resurrection of Jesus that Paschal Mystery – the mystery of human salvation - is accomplished, opening for us the hope of heaven through faith, conversion, and the sacraments.

The liturgical climax of Holy Week, of course, is found in the Triduum, a word that means “three days”. These three days are Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday-Easter Sunday (The Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday are considered the same liturgical day). Strictly speaking, these days are not holy days of obligation, save for Easter Sunday. However, we should make every effort to celebrate each day of the Triduum by participating in each of the liturgies. If work or other reasons prevent this, then honor each day by making a little time for prayerful reflection on the Word and perform some act of penance.

Commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus does not mean we are simply remembering a past event by re-enacting it. Christ’s death and resurrection are timeless in their benefit to the human race. What Christ achieved for us once and for all is given to us today in the sacraments of the Church, and what we possess now in sacrament will come to its’ completion in heaven.

On each day of the Triduum, morning prayer (Lauds) from the Liturgy of the Hours will be prayed in church at 8:30 am. Please make special note that confessions will not be heard on Holy Saturday afternoon and that there is no 5:00 pm Vigil Mass.

Holy Thursday
Today we remember two sacraments instituted by Christ at the Last Supper and which are intrinsically joined together, the Eucharist and Holy Orders. It is Christ, made truly and substantially present on the altar through his priest, who gives himself to us for our salvation and life. We remember the call to selfless service that is reflected in the washing of the feet, which itself is an image of the passion, and receive the holy oils, blessed by the bishop at the Chrism Mass, that will be used for the administration of the sacraments in our parish. The Blessed Sacrament is transferred from the tabernacle at the conclusion of the liturgy and will be reposed in the Blessed Sacrament chapel until Holy Saturday night. The chapel will remain open until 11:00 pm for prayer on Thursday night.

Good Friday
Good Friday is like no other day in the Church. No Mass may be said. The day is solemn as we contemplate the mystery of the cross. The Liturgy of the Passion is celebrated at 3PM, the traditional hour of the Lord’s death and is celebrated in 3 parts: The Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and the Rite of Holy Communion Apart from Mass. This is a day of fast and abstinence. All unnecessary work should be set aside. Please make every effort to participate in the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion. It is the principal and liturgical event of the day and no other devotional should be substituted for it, if one can attend it.

Holy Saturday-Easter Sunday
The Fathers of the Church referred to Holy Saturday as the “harrowing of hell”, a term used to describe Christ’s descent into hell to claim victory over Satan and his works and to lead the just to heaven. It is a good image to think about as we proclaim the resurrection of Christ and the hope of our rising with Him from the grave. The Easter Vigil always begins after sunset. This Mass is sometimes referred to as the Mother of All Liturgies and is the chief celebration of the entire year. It begins with the lighting of the new fire and the preparation of the paschal candle, which is the image of the Risen Christ. We listen as 9 readings tell the story of salvation history, from creation to the Lord’s resurrection. We lead men and women to participation in the new life of grace through the sacraments of initiation and celebrate the Eucharist in which we proclaim the death and resurrection of the Lord until He comes again. While the Easter Vigil is a lengthy Mass, it is well worth participating in if you have never done so.

The early Church Fathers called Easter Sunday, the Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord, the eighth day of creation, the day that completed the old order of creation and began the new. In Christ, the reign of sin and death are destroyed. Everything is now pledged to be made new again in the kingdom where we will “see God face to face” and “He will wipe away the tears from our eyes” (Rev.). Remember well that there is a tomb in Jerusalem whose occupant is no longer there. Because of that, everything is different…everything!