The Paschal Triduum is the heart and centre of the Church’s
faith, a three-day festival of the paschal mystery. It begins with the Mass of
the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening, continues with the Celebration of
the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, reaches its climax with the Easter Vigil, and
concludes, officially, with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday evening. Some folks
wonder how we get three days (a Tri-duum [three-days]) out of that. They look like this:
Day 1: Thursday evening to Friday evening
Celebrations: Mass of
the Lord’s Supper
Evening Prayer (only for those
who have not participated in the Mass of the Lord’s Supper)
Morning
Prayer
Celebration
of the Lord’s Passion
Day 2: Friday evening to Saturday evening
Evening Prayer (only for those
who do not take part in the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion. Many parishes
include an evening celebration of the Stations of the Cross; it is not an
official liturgy of the church, but a popular devotion).
Office of Readings (The reading from an Ancient Homily appointed for
the day is worth everyone’s reflection)
Final rites of preparation for
those who will be baptized this evening. Usually celebrated Saturday morning.
Day 3: Saturday evening to Sunday evening
Celebrations: Easter
Vigil
Morning
Prayer
Masses
of Easter Sunday
Evening
Prayer
The psalm refrains for the Eucharistic celebrations for
these three days are:
● The
cup of blessing that we bless is a sharing in the Blood of Christ. (Psalm 116)
● Father,
into your hands I commend my spirit. (Psalm 31)
● Lord,
send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. (Psalm 104 – note that
this psalm with the same refrain returns on the last day of the Easter Season,
Pentecost)
Or
● The
earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. (Psalm 33)
● Protect
me, O God, for in you I take refuge. (Psalm 16)
● Let
us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory. (Exodus 15 – an Old
Testament canticle). It flows directly after the third reading, the Exodus event.
● I
will extol you Lord, for you have raised me up. (Psalm 30)
● With
joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12 – another Old
Testament canticle)
● Lord,
you have the words of eternal life. (Psalm 19)
● As
a deer longs for flowing streams, my soul longs for you, O God. (Psalm 42; 43)
Or
● Create
in me a clean heart, O God. (Psalm 51 – the same psalm with which we began our
Lenten journey)
● Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! (At the Easter Vigil the Solemn Gospel Acclamation has
multiple verses drawn from Psalm 118 and all of them are to be sung)
● This
is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. (Psalm 118 – which we
have pondered in its paraphrased form, “This
Day was Made by the Lord”)
For Reflection:
1. How will you relearn the art of silence?
2. What will you do to reflect on the words of Sacred Scripture proclaimed throughout the Triduum?
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