BLOG POST | The Easter Triduum

The Easter Triduum

The Easter Triduum is its own Liturgical Season, just like Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time. The Word Triduum comes from Latin and means “Three days.” The Triduum begins at sunset on Holy Thursday and ends at sunset Easter Sunday. All liturgies offered during these three days are considered one continuous celebration, like acts in a play or a movie. So, by only joining for Easter Sunday, it is like showing up to the end of show without seeing the beginning or middle.

The main liturgies of these days are Mass on Holy Thursday, Good Friday services, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. Each liturgy has movements and actions that are different from our regular masses, and from each other. There is great spiritual value in participating in all the liturgies during this Triduum, even with your children. You will be able to join in a joyous, “Alleluia” on Easter, especially after you have experienced the events of these three sacred days.

Holy Thursday

This day is sometimes called “Maundy Thursday,” from the Latin root for “mandate or commandment.” We focus on what Jesus mandated at the last supper, particularly, the washing of the feet and the institution of the Eucharist. This is why Holy Thursday mass is called the “Mass of the Lord’s Supper.”

Also, this day comes with the presentation of the Holy oils which were consecrated at the Chrism mass earlier on that week. These oils will be used throughout the following year for various sacraments.

This mass is filled with such wonderful symbolism that helps give light to so much of our faith. Some of these include, Washing of the Feet, The Institution (Or founding) of the Eucharist, the sending out to take care of the poor and bringing Christ to the Homebound, and the preparation of what is to come in the days ahead. This helps us all enter the Easter season.

Also, this day is one that has meaning in a specific way to your priest. Holy Thursday is the celebration of his priesthood. On this day, he unites his priesthood to the Lord in washing the feet and celebrating the Eucharist. Of all the days to celebrate your priest, joining for this mass is one of the best ways to show of your love and appreciation for him.

You will notice that there is no “ending” or final prayer of dismissal at this mass... That is because it is not over! The celebration continues with the solemn celebration on Good Friday.


Good Friday

Good Friday is the only day of the year that there is not a mass celebrated anywhere in the world. This is because it is a continuation of Holy Thursday and does not end until the closing prayer of the Easter Vigil. To help emphasize this point, the celebration starts in silence, and there is no opening prayer.

This day is also the day of the Lord’s Passion and death. It is a celebration of the saddest day to ever exist. The day that Christ was arrested, tortured, and put to death. That is why we do a solemn reading of the passion of Christ for the Gospel that day.

After hearing of the Lord’s death, we have the opportunity to venerate, or pay our respects, to a cross that is brought in procession. This is because we want to show our thankfulness at Christ's sacrifice on behalf of all of us. Remembering that Christ did not just die for every person, but that when he died, he did so with you, specifically in mind.

This day ends, as it began. The Cross is set in front of everyone, and we depart in silence. This is the only time that we genuflect to something other than the Tabernacle or Christ. We are genuflecting to “The Cross, on which hung the salvation of the world.”

Easter Vigil

The Easter Vigil is the greatest and most important celebration in the Church. Every mass is technically ranked on importance, and of all of them, the Easter Vigil is the highest.

This mass is the conclusion of the previous two days. It is the mass of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. But before we can celebrate his resurrection, we must remember why it was important to begin with.

To help us remember, the mass begins in darkness, and as we sing the Exultet (An opening prayer of sorts) it brings us through salvation history and the importance of the mass. Then, the reading takes us through salvation history, starting with creation. Only once we reach the New Testament do the lights come on and The Gloria is sung. This is because we have begun to celebrate what Christ did for us in his death and resurrection. This then reaches the Gospel in which Christ Rose from the dead.

This is also the night in which those who have been learning our faith enter into full communion with us as our brothers and sisters in the Catholic faith. Now that they have heard all of salvation history and why we do what we do, they freely proclaim their desire to enter into the faith. Here is also the blessing of water that is used for baptism, followed by the confirmation of all those entering.

After these mini celebrations inside the Easter Vigil, we move onto the Liturgy of the Eucharist and mass continues like all other masses. So do not hesitate to join us for this wonderful mass as we joyously celebrate Christ’s resurrection, but also welcome those into the Church who have been preparing all this time.



Author:
Katie Newton

Editor:
Fr. Nicholas Newton