Three Great Days
Very soon we will celebrate what the liturgy documents call the “culmination of the entire liturgical year” – the Easter Triduum. There are noticeable and important differences between the celebrations during this time and other Masses during the year.The three celebrations of the Easter Triduum – Mass of the Lord’s Supper, The Passion of the Lord and the Easter Vigil – are distinct but closely related liturgies.
Holy Thursday Mass begins in the usual way but ends with the prayer after communion, transfer of the Holy Eucharist to the altar of repose, and silence – no blessing and dismissal.
The Lord’s Passion on Good Friday starts with the entry in total silence – the first words of the ritual being those of the collect. There are none of the usual Introductory Rites. The central elements of the Lord’s Passion are the proclamation of the Passion from John, the General Intercessions, Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion. The celebration finishes with the prayer over the people. There is no final blessing or dismissal and people depart in silence.
On the night of the Easter Vigil we gather in silence in the dark around the fire for the Service of Light before processing into the darkened church for the singing of the Easter Proclamation (Exsultet). Once again, this is not the usual way to begin Mass. Not until the end of the Vigil do we hear a blessing and dismissal (the special Easter form with lots of alleluias) because the three-in-one celebration that began on Holy Thursday evening has only now been brought to completion. Processions are a key part of the liturgy on both days.
On Holy Thursday night the Blessed Sacrament is solemnly carried through the church to a special place of reservation. On Good Friday, many parishioners will participate in a procession to Venerate the Cross or by following the path that Jesus trod en route to his crucifixion as they join in the traditional parish celebration of the Stations of the Cross. At the Easter Vigil, there is a procession into the Church from the Easter Fire and towards the font for the blessing of the water and the celebration of Baptism. I invite you all to attend these three great days to celebrate the Easter Story.
Fr. Mark Franklin
