The season of Lent ends at sunset on Holy Thursday. As Lent comes to an end, the Paschal Triduum begins. These "three days" (the literal meaning of Triduum), extending from sunset on Holy Thursday through sunset on Easter Sunday, are the heart and culmination of the entire liturgical year. One liturgy is celebrated over these three days:
In these days, we remember and celebrate ever more intensely Christ's Paschal Mystery, "since Christ accomplished his work of human redemption and of the perfect glorification of God principally through his Paschal Mystery, in which by dying he has destroyed our death, and by rising restored our life" (Norms, no. 18).
The liturgy of the Sacred Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper, celebrated on the evening of Holy Thursday. This Mass celebrates the institution of the Eucharist, the institution of the priesthood, and Christ's giving of the new commandment, "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34). After the homily, the celebrant may follow the example of Jesus and wash the feet of selected people. After the people have received Holy Communion the Mass does not conclude with the usual Blessing and Dismissal. Instead, the celebrant, ministers, and all the faithful join in processing the reserved Eucharist to an Altar of Reposition where the faithful may watch prayerfully until midnight.
On Good Friday, Mass is not celebrated in accordance with the ancient tradition of the Church. No sacraments may be celebrated except Penance and Anointing of the Sick. Instead, the liturgy picks up where the community left off the evening before, to now celebrate the Lord's Passion. The ministers enter in silence and the priest prostrates before the altar. The celebration has three parts:
Holy Saturday is spent in silence, prayer, and vigil near the tomb of the Lord. After night falls, the Easter Vigil begins. The Norms for celebrating the Easter Vigil state:
"The Easter Vigil, in the holy night when the Lord rose again, is considered the 'mother of all holy Vigils' (St. Augustine, Sermo: 219: PL 38, 1088), in which the Church, keeping watch, awaits the Resurrection of Christ and celebrates it in the Sacraments. Therefore, the entire celebration of this sacred Vigil must take place at night…and ends before the dawn on the Sunday" (Norms, no. 21).
The liturgy begins outside the church with the blessing of the new fire and the preparation of the Paschal Candle. This candle will burn during all Masses throughout the Easter season as well as at Baptisms and funerals throughout the year. The faithful enter the church behind the Paschal Candle hailing Christ, the true light. This first part of the vigil ends with the proclamation of the Exsultet, an ancient hymn of thanksgiving for the candle and a reflection on the gift of salvation.
The second part of the Easter Vigil is an extended Liturgy of the Word. Nine readings are assigned, each with its own Psalm and prayer. The first seven readings, taken from the Old Testament, trace salvation history from the creation of the world to the time of the prophets. The Epistle is taken from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans and reflects on the mystery of Baptism and our incorporation into Christ. After the joyful proclamation of the Easter Alleluia, the Gospel recounts the Resurrection.
In the third part of the Easter Vigil, the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation are celebrated. The congregation then renews their baptismal vows. The Easter Vigil concludes with the celebration of the Eucharist where the newly baptized receive the Eucharist for the first time.
Easter Sunday is the final day of the Triduum. In the dioceses of the United States, the faithful renew their baptismal promises, after which they are sprinkled with the newly blessed water. The Triduum concludes with the solemn celebration of the Evening Prayer of Easter.
David J. Conrad
- Sunset Holy Thursday to Sunset Good Friday - Day 1
- Sunset Good Friday to Sunset Holy Saturday - Day 2
- Sunset Holy Saturday to Sunset Easter Sunday - Day 3
In these days, we remember and celebrate ever more intensely Christ's Paschal Mystery, "since Christ accomplished his work of human redemption and of the perfect glorification of God principally through his Paschal Mystery, in which by dying he has destroyed our death, and by rising restored our life" (Norms, no. 18).
The liturgy of the Sacred Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper, celebrated on the evening of Holy Thursday. This Mass celebrates the institution of the Eucharist, the institution of the priesthood, and Christ's giving of the new commandment, "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34). After the homily, the celebrant may follow the example of Jesus and wash the feet of selected people. After the people have received Holy Communion the Mass does not conclude with the usual Blessing and Dismissal. Instead, the celebrant, ministers, and all the faithful join in processing the reserved Eucharist to an Altar of Reposition where the faithful may watch prayerfully until midnight.
On Good Friday, Mass is not celebrated in accordance with the ancient tradition of the Church. No sacraments may be celebrated except Penance and Anointing of the Sick. Instead, the liturgy picks up where the community left off the evening before, to now celebrate the Lord's Passion. The ministers enter in silence and the priest prostrates before the altar. The celebration has three parts:
- The Liturgy of the Word centers on the proclamation of the Passion according to John, followed by an extended form of the Intercessions.
- The Veneration of the Cross, giving all due honor to the instrument of our salvation while remembering Jesus' sacrificial love.
- Holy Communion is distributed to the faithful from the hosts reserved from the Mass of the Lord's Supper. The ministers then leave as they entered: in silence.
Holy Saturday is spent in silence, prayer, and vigil near the tomb of the Lord. After night falls, the Easter Vigil begins. The Norms for celebrating the Easter Vigil state:
"The Easter Vigil, in the holy night when the Lord rose again, is considered the 'mother of all holy Vigils' (St. Augustine, Sermo: 219: PL 38, 1088), in which the Church, keeping watch, awaits the Resurrection of Christ and celebrates it in the Sacraments. Therefore, the entire celebration of this sacred Vigil must take place at night…and ends before the dawn on the Sunday" (Norms, no. 21).
The liturgy begins outside the church with the blessing of the new fire and the preparation of the Paschal Candle. This candle will burn during all Masses throughout the Easter season as well as at Baptisms and funerals throughout the year. The faithful enter the church behind the Paschal Candle hailing Christ, the true light. This first part of the vigil ends with the proclamation of the Exsultet, an ancient hymn of thanksgiving for the candle and a reflection on the gift of salvation.
The second part of the Easter Vigil is an extended Liturgy of the Word. Nine readings are assigned, each with its own Psalm and prayer. The first seven readings, taken from the Old Testament, trace salvation history from the creation of the world to the time of the prophets. The Epistle is taken from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans and reflects on the mystery of Baptism and our incorporation into Christ. After the joyful proclamation of the Easter Alleluia, the Gospel recounts the Resurrection.
In the third part of the Easter Vigil, the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation are celebrated. The congregation then renews their baptismal vows. The Easter Vigil concludes with the celebration of the Eucharist where the newly baptized receive the Eucharist for the first time.
Easter Sunday is the final day of the Triduum. In the dioceses of the United States, the faithful renew their baptismal promises, after which they are sprinkled with the newly blessed water. The Triduum concludes with the solemn celebration of the Evening Prayer of Easter.
David J. Conrad
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