1. The Easter Triduum

2.  The word Triduum means:  Three days.

3.  The days of the Holy Triduum are:  A. Holy Thursday  B. Good Friday  C. Holy Saturday

4.  A. The Triduum is one celebration of three holy days.  B. The Triduum is the climax of Holy Week.  C. The entire season of Lent is a preparation for these three days.

5.  The Triduum is a celebration that highlights the Paschal mystery.  Through the liturgy of these three days the Church remembers that Christ suffered and died, but that he also came to life.  The Triduum is the celebration of the Church’s salvation through Christ.

6.  The forty days of Lent are a time of spiritual preparation for these three holy days.  Lent’s renewal through prayer, fasting and almsgiving helps us prepare to understand the meaning of each of these three holy days.

7. AA. The Holy Triduum remembers and celebrates Christ’s victory over sin and death. BB. The Church celebrates Christ’s victory over the power of death from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.  C C. Fifty days of joy and celebration.

8.  The days of the Holy Triduum are counted the way the Hebrews counted their days.  From dusk to dusk. For example:  From the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Good Friday one day.  From the evening of Good Friday to the evening of Holy Saturday a second day.  From the evening of Holy Saturday to the evening of Easter Sunday another day.  Three days in total but one celebration.

9.  Lent officially ends on Holy Thursday when the Mass of the Lord’s Supper begins.  The Holy Triduum begins at that evening celebration of Holy Thursday.  On Holy Thursday there is only one mass.  The mass of the Lord’s supper which is celebrated in the evening, and includes the ceremony of the washing of the feet.  No morning masses are celebrated on this day.

10.  A. The faithful gathers in church to celebrate the institution of the Eucharist.  B. The washing of the feet is a reminder of Jesus’ command to serve one another.  C. At the end of the mass the Blessed Sacrament is moved to a chapel during a solemn procession.  D. The faithful is invited to stay in the chapel to pray before the Blessed Sacrament.

11. AA. This is a holy day of fasting and abstinence. BB. Is the only day in the liturgical calendar that a mass is not celebrated. CC. The liturgy of the Lord’s Passion is celebrated, followed by a homily, the General intercessions, communion, and the veneration of the cross.

12.  The veneration of the cross is the last section of the Liturgy of Good Friday.  The faithful are presented with the cross, then the faithful venerate or honour the cross with a kiss, as a sign of respect and devotion.

13.  A. The Easter Vigil is the highest point of the Easter Triduum.  B. The Easter Vigil begins on the evening of Holy Saturday.  C. This is the longest celebration in Catholic worship.  D. The Easter Vigil celebration proclaims Jesus’ triumph over the powers of evil and death.

14.  A. The Easter Vigil begins at night with the blessing of the fire, a solemn procession and the singing of the Exsultet.  B. The Exsultet is a song sung by the deacon or cantor proclaiming the salvation of the risen Christ.

15.  A. The fire is blessed, from this fire the Paschal candle is lit.  The Paschal candle is a symbol of Christ resurrected.  B. The priest blesses the candle reminding the people of God that Jesus is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. All time belongs to Christ.

16.  A. The Paschal candle is carried by the deacon into the darkened church.  B. As the procession progresses the lights of the church are gradually turn on.  C. People light their own candles from the Paschal candle carried by the deacon.  D. At the end of the procession the deacon sings the Exsultet or exultation song. The people hold their candles during the song which proclaim God’s loving and saving actions.

17.  The darkened church, the procession, the paschal candle,the fire, and the Exsultet are all symbols that remind us that Christ’s resurrection defeated the darkness of evil.  This ceremony reminds us the power of Christ cannot be defeated nor can those who have faith in Him.

18. AA. After the exultet is sung the history of salvation is proclaimed through a series of seven readings from the Old Testament. BB. The readings from the book of Exodus are giving special attention on this night. CC. After each reading a psalm and a prayer is said. DD. At the end of the last reading the Glory is sung. EE. The altar and the sanctuary are decorated and bells, the musicians and the choir proclaim the joy of Easter.

19. AA. During the Glory, in certain churches, a group of people are in charge of decorating the bare altar and sanctuary with banners, linens, and flowers. BB. All the lights of the church are turned on as a symbol of the resurrection. CC. After the Glory an epistle from Paul is read followed by the Alleluia which is sung for the first time after Lent. DD. Then, the Gospel of the resurrection is proclaimed, followed by a homily or reflection.

20.  A. After the homily the baptismal water is blessed with the Paschal candle.  B. The catechumens and candidates are initiated with the sacraments of initiation.  C. The congregation renews their baptismal vows.  D. After the baptismal ceremony the second part of the mass, the liturgy of the Eucharist, continues as usual.  E. This is the first mass of Easter and the beginning of the Easter season, fifty days of celebration that end on Pentecost Sunday, the feast of the Holy Spirit.

21. The Lord is Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!