| The Easter Triduum |
|
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening marks the beginning of these three days. From the moment we are greeted on Holy Thursday until we are sent forth with the Easter Alleluia ringing in our ears after the high point of the Easter Vigil, we remember and celebrate the key moments of our Christian story. Through the liturgies of these three days as we share in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, we move with him from death to new life. On Good Friday, the most solemn of days, we begin the liturgy in silence. Since it is Jesus’ triumph over death we celebrate, we call the day 'Good'. There are three main parts: the Liturgy of the Word, when we listen again to the story of the passion and death of Jesus, the Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion. Again we depart in silence. Easter Sunday is the first day of the Easter Season: for fifty days until Pentecost (the "fiftieth"day") we celebrate Our Lord's resurrection in joyful exultation, as one “great Sunday”. These are the days, above all others, for singing Alleluia. |
The Easter Triduum is the most important celebration in the church year. The word triduum means ‘a space of three days’ and during these days - Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday - we celebrate, as a community, the central mystery of our faith. As a Christian community we are invited to celebrate the three main liturgies, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the celebration of the Lord’s Passion and the Easter Vigil, as one great liturgy taking place over three days and in three parts. The three liturgies together tell the whole story.
Saturday night. This Mass is celebrated in the evening because the Passover Feast began at sundown. During this liturgy we celebrate the heart of the Paschal Mystery, sacrament and service. We commemorate the institution of the Mass and of priesthood and we are challenged to follow the example of Jesus who washed the feet of his disciples. At the end of the liturgy, the altar is stripped bare, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession to its place of repose and we are invited to ‘stay and keep watch’ or depart in silence. 
service of light – a fire that shatters the darkness, the Easter Candle lit and brought in procession for the singing of our song of joy, the Exsultet. On this night we have an extended Liturgy of the Word during which we listen to the story of God’s saving plan for us in history. The Liturgy of Baptism welcomes new members into the church and invites the faithful to renew their own baptismal commitment. Finally we celebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist with renewed understanding and faith. We leave the Vigil knowing that we are indeed an Easter people and 'Alleluia is our song'.