What is the Triduum? Definition: The Easter Triduum (sometimes also referred to as the Paschal Triduum) is the proper name for the liturgical season that concludes Lent and introduces us to the joy of the Easter season. Starting with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on the evening of Holy Thursday, continuing through the Good Friday service and Holy Saturday, and concluding with vespers (evening prayer) on Easter Sunday, the Easter Triduum marks the most significant events of Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday (also known as Passiontide).

The Easter Triduum is often commonly referred to simply as the Triduum (with a capital T). However, a triduum is simply any three-day period of prayer, recalling the three days that Christ spent in the tomb. Encompassing the final three days of the discipline of Lent, the Easter Triduum has traditionally been observed with even stricter fasting and abstinence, as well as prayer and almsgiving. Since 1956, however, the Paschal Triduum has been regarded as its own liturgical season, and thus liturgically Lent ends before the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday.

Here’s “the rub,” the Triduum isn’t three separate and distinct days or Masses or services. It is one, continuous liturgical celebration—thus the Triduum is comprised of two Masses and a service: (1) the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, (2) Good Friday’s Passion Service, and either (3) Holy Saturday’s Vigil Mass or Easter Sunday Mass. I say “the rub” because most folks celebrate Easter as just “Sunday”—Easter Sunday, but not Holy Thursday or Good Friday (well, maybe many include Good Friday too?). But rather it is the celebration of the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, so the Church highlights the entire event which brings about our human salvation.

When we attend the one liturgical event, the Triduum, we learn is:

Holy Thursday brings us Christ’s creation of the Priesthood as a form of His being with us through the Sacramental life of the Catholic Church in all ages—to all peoples, in every place and time. This loving God does not abandon us but is with us always. We also learn on Holy Thursday that His Priesthood is to be of a “Servant Leadership” style: “to love one another as he has loved us (John 13:4-17).” as we witness in the mandatum or the Washing of the Feet (Latin mandatum, commission, order.);

Good Friday we learn of the suffering and death of Christ. That though He was without sin, He died for the sinful, to wash away our weakness and to reconcile us with The Father. He who is God and took on human form now suffers and dies for His adopted brothers and sisters;

Holy Saturday/Easter Sunday’s Resurrection Mass shows us the power of God which raised Christ from human death and illustrates for us—each one of us— the gift of Eternal Gladness —everlasting Joy, and a share in God’s own Divine nature. We will come to possess His Joy and Happiness, His Wisdom and Glory, His Peace and Beauty—because He, as Saint Paul tells us, will possess our soul (Philippians 3:8-14).

This is a wonderful understanding and knowledge in which to share. While all the rituals: the washing of the feet and the procession at the end of Mass to the altar of repose, to the priest lying prostate before the altar at the Three O’clock service on Good Friday and the Veneration of the Cross to Holy Saturday’s Vigil Mass with baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation are all beautiful. It is the message of God’s Love and His desire to save each and every one of us for His Kingdom that should and must touch our hearts and transform us into His light and love in our families, our parish, our world. For this is why we are created: to love and serve the Lord in this world, so that we may be with Him in the next world for eternity (CCC).

And that invitation, my friends, isn’t just for the wealthy or the “holy” — or the ordained or consecrated—it is for all the other sinners (because we are all sinners) which we acknowledge at every Mass in the Penitential Rite. God wants us. God Loves us.

And if that isn’t enough—and I cannot understand why it isn’t—the music at Easter is especially beautiful and there is pretty good food at the Alleluia Party on Holy Saturday night. And God’s invitation is always open to us. I hope you’ll accept. “We are a party!” to quote Lady Mary. Alleluia!

Happy, happy! I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every member of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish for your kind participation and support of our parish’s life. It truly is because of you that we have such an active and living parish. From the work of so many to the prayers of even more, and your financial support that keeps the lights on and the heat/air going so that we can be here when you need us—thank you!