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The Easter Triduum
The Easter Triduum begins at sundown on Holy Thursday and ends at sundown on Easter Sunday. During this time we remember and celebrate Jesus’ suffering, death, and Resurrection. This three-day celebration is the heat and center of the liturgical year.
Holy Thursday
Holy Thursday commemorates the institution of the Eucharist. It also includes a foot-washing rite that impresses upon the faithful that Jesus’ ministry is all about loving and serving one another. The Mass of the Lord’s Supper, which is celebrated in the early evening, begins the Easter Triduum. Following the Mass is a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to a special repository in a separate chapel or side altar. The Eucharist will remain there until the Communion Service on Good Friday.
Good Friday
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion continues the Triduum. It is the one time that Mass is not celebrated. Instead, the liturgy has three parts: the reading of the Passion Narrative according to the Gospel of John, the veneration of the Cross, and a communion service. The hosts consecrated at the Holy Thursday liturgy are distributed in a simple rite. A simple blessing follows and then the assembly quietly exits from the church. The word “good” when used in Scripture means created and ordered by God. It is in that sense that the day of Jesus’ death is called Good Friday. The death and Resurrection of Jesus are part of God’s plan for our salvation. Our salvation is the result of Christ’s victory over suffering and death. His Resurrection leads us to newness of life in heaven. Good Friday is good because is part of something much bigger—God’s plan to save the world.
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday is the third day of the Triduum. Genesis 2;2 tells us that God rested on the seventh day. He rested because his work was finished. There is no liturgy on Holy Saturday. Instead, the Church rests just as Jesus rested in the tomb on the Sabbath. The liturgical work of the Church will resume when the Easter Vigil begins.
Easter Sunday
Easter is the Sunday of all Sundays. It is the Lord’s Day—the day of Jesus’ Resurrection. The Easter Vigil is the Holy Night of Easter. It begins at nightfall on Holy Saturday. At the Easter Vigil the new fire is blessed, the Paschal Candle is lit, and the beautiful Exultet is sung, “Jesus Christ our King is risen!” The Lenten penitential tone is over. Now the Church celebrates the glorious victory of life over death. The Easter Vigil then continues with the Liturgy of the Word, the Litany of the Saints. The blessing of water, the baptism of the RCIA catechumens, the renewal of baptismal promises, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The RCIA catechumens also receive the sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion at this time. And for the first time since Lent began we sing the Alleluia. For the first eight days of Easter we sing a double Alleluia at the Dismissal Rite. We are doubly joyful to go forth and praise the Lord.
