The Triduum

The Triduum is the highest point of the entire liturgical year. It is not three liturgies, but actually three parts of one liturgy extending over three days, celebrating and making present the paschal mystery of Christ: his passion, death, and resurrection. So let’s break down what you may see, hear, and smell during the shortest liturgical season: 

The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on the evening of Holy Thursday. During this Mass, we celebrate three great events in our Church - the memorial of Passover, the institution of the Eucharist, and the institution of the priesthood. 

Ever heard Holy Thursday called “Maundy Thursday”? The word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word mandatum, meaning “mandate” or “command.” It refers to Jesus’ words at the Last Supper, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” At the Last Supper, Jesus showed His disciples how to love one another—He washed their feet. The ritual of the “washing of the feet” at Mass is a reminder that we are all called to love and serve each other by humbling ourselves and loving as Christ does. 

It is during this liturgy when Christ institutes the holy Eucharist, the Mass. We hear in the Gospel of the Last Supper, Jesus blessed the bread and the wine, gave it to them saying, “This is my body, this is my blood.” Then he says “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19). This is the moment when He institutes the priesthood by giving His priests, the apostles, this responsibility. Our bishops and priests today continue this action at every Mass.

There is no formal ending to Mass on Holy Thursday because it continues with the Good Friday liturgy (Remember? Three days, one liturgy). At the conclusion of Mass, the Eucharist is taken in procession from where Mass has been celebrated to the altar of repose - the place where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved for a period of solemn adoration. This procession is led by the priest, a cross bearer, and accompanied by candles and - you smelled it - incense! This procession reminds us of Jesus' walk to the Garden of Gethsemane.

At the Good Friday liturgy the Church reflects on the passion of her Lord and Spouse, adores the cross on which He hung, and prays for the salvation of the whole world. St. John Chrysostom reminds us that Good Friday, underneath the solemnity and sorrow over Christ’s passion and death, is a celebration of hopeful joy.

The Good Friday liturgy has no official beginning and no official ending - because it’s picking up where Holy Thursday left off and will continue with the third day of the Triduum liturgy. The three parts are the Liturgy of the Word, Adoration of the Holy Cross, and Holy Communion. At the beginning of the liturgy the priests enter the sanctuary area and lie prostrate as an act of humility and to show the grief and sorrow of the Church. During the Liturgy of the Word we hear the narrative of the Passion of Christ as a reminder of what Jesus did for the salvation of humanity. Then the faithful are invited to venerate the cross with a gesture, such as a kiss or a reverent bow. The liturgy concludes with reception of Holy Communion, which was consecrated at and reserved from the Holy Thursday liturgy. 

The cross, which had been a symbol of death and condemnation, gained a new meaning through Christ. The cross is a symbol of celebration; a solemn, spiritual feast. It is an object that represents honor, blessing and reconciliation.

The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night, when the Lord rose again, is considered the “mother of all holy Vigils,” in which the Church awaits the Resurrection of Christ. Beginning and ending in darkness, this is a nocturnal vigil, retaining its ancient character of vigilance and expectation, as the Christian people await the Resurrection of the Lord during the night. Fire is blessed and the paschal candle is lighted to illumine the night so that all may hear the Easter Proclamation and listen to the Word of God proclaimed in the Scriptures. For this reason the Solemn Beginning of the Vigil (Lucernarium) takes place before the Liturgy of the Word. 

One of the unique aspects of the Easter Vigil is the recounting of the outstanding deeds of the history of salvation. These deeds are related in seven readings from the Old Testament chosen from the law and the prophets and two readings from the New Testament,namely from the Apostle Paul and from the Gospel. Thus, the Lord meets us once again on our journey and,“beginning with Moses and all the prophets” (Lk 24:27) opens up our minds and hearts, preparing us to share in the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the cup.

During the Vigil, we welcome new members into the Church through the celebrations of the Sacraments of Initiation. We beg the saints’ intercession and celebrate the Eucharist. At the conclusion of this Mass, we hear and respond to the Easter dismissal. “Mass is ended. Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life. Allelu-”

Whoops! We still have another week to wait until we can sing that joy-filled proclamation.