The Triduum begins - reflex on HOLY THURSDAY

Today we enter into three of the most beautiful days of theliturgical year: the Triduum. During these three days, the regular rhythm ofthe liturgy – our daily Mass times – are disrupted so that our whole attentionis focused on the events we commemorate.

This Holy Week began on Palm Sunday, when we accompaniedJesus on his entry into Jerusalem, with hosannas and waving of palms. TheTriduum itself begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper this evening, when weare drawn into the depths of the New Commandment, as Jesus washes the feet ofhis disciples, giving us an example to follow and showing what it means totruly love and serve others. Immediately after this act of humble love, Jesusoffers the Passover meal, establishing the New and Everlasting Covenant and givinghimself to us so that we are empowered by his grace to follow this New Commandmentof love.  

Note that this Mass has no real “ending” or dismissal. The Triduumcontinues, but the Mass offered on this night is the last Mass until the EasterVigil on Holy Saturday. We “fast” from the liturgy as a way to immerseourselves in the events we are remembering.

The altar is stripped bare and the Blessed Sacrament transferredin a procession, lit by candles and reverenced by incense, to another place aswe follow Jesus into the Garden of Gethsemane and watch and pray with him as heis betrayed and arrested. Adoration may take place for some time at this placeof “repose,” where we meditate on the Passion now begun, and Jesus’ acceptanceof the Father’s will even unto death, death on a cross.

On Good Friday there is no celebration of sacraments, exceptReconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. Instead, there is a liturgy ofthe Passion of the Lord on the bare altar. The setting evokes in us a sense ofemptiness, and longing.

Hopefully, our 40 days of Lenten practices and penances haveprepared us well for these holy days. These three days are the climax of theyear, and we are in a quiet darkness, keeping vigil, before we celebrate resurrectioneven longer: 50 days.

In our busy world, I pray we are all able to slow down andbe fully present to what the Church offers us during these days, so that we areable to open ourselves fully to the glorious joy of Easter!