Michael Brooks
The Paschal Triduum, or Easter Triduum, is a three-day period in the Catholic Church that begins on the evening of Maundy Thursday and ends after evening prayers at sunset on Easter Sunday. The Triduum includes the liturgical colours for vestments and ornaments, which are white in the Catholic Church, and the ceremonial unveiling of a cross or crucifix. The celebration includes several rituals, such as the washing of feet, the veneration of the cross, and Holy Communion. The Easter Vigil, which includes a ceremony of light and darkness, is considered the pinnacle of the Triduum.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Duration | Three days |
| Days | Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday |
| Liturgy | Liturgy of the Word, Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion |
| Color of vestments | White, scarlet, gold, black, red, or violet |
| Rituals | Washing of the feet, unveiling of the cross, Eucharistic procession, kissing the feet of the Jesus figure, candle lighting, reading of the Old Testament, and seven-week Easter season |
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What You'll Learn
- The liturgical colour for vestments and ornaments is white in Catholic churches
- On Good Friday, Christians recall the passion and crucifixion of Jesus
- Catholics ritually kiss the feet of the Jesus figure upon the cross
- The Easter Vigil is considered the pinnacle of the Easter Triduum
- The Easter Triduum is a three-day season that concludes Lent and introduces Easter
The liturgical colour for vestments and ornaments is white in Catholic churches
The Paschal Triduum, or Easter Triduum, is a period in the Christian calendar that lasts from Thursday morning to before Easter Sunday. It is a time when Christians recall the Passion, Crucifixion, death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus. During this period, the liturgical colour for vestments and ornaments is white in Catholic and Anglican churches.
White is a liturgical colour that symbolises rejoicing and purity of soul, as well as joy and purity resulting from faith. It is one of the most common colours in liturgical vestments, worn by priests every day, regardless of the liturgical season or celebration. In the Coptic tradition, followed by the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Coptic Catholic Church, only white vestments are used, with gold and silver being considered variations of white. In the Greek tradition, gold and white are also the most common colours, with maroon or burgundy being used for solemn feast days.
In addition to white, there are three other liturgical colours used in the Catholic Church: green, red, and purple. These colours were codified by Paul VI in the Roman Rite in 1969. Red symbolises the passion of Christ and the blood spilled in martyrdom. It is worn on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Pentecost, and in the celebrations dedicated to the Passion of the Lord. Purple is used during Advent and Lent as a sign of penance, sacrifice, and preparation.
The Easter Triduum is a significant time in the Catholic Church, with various rituals and traditions. During this time, there is an observance of silence, and music is not played. Church bells are also silenced. On Holy Thursday, the first celebration of the Triduum, there is an evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, during which all church bells may be rung and the organ played. After the homily or sermon, there is a ritual washing of the feet, following Jesus' words to Peter: "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed" (Jn 13:10). On Good Friday, a cross or crucifix is ceremonially unveiled, and clergy traditionally begin the service prostrate in front of the altar. Holy Communion is distributed, having been consecrated on Holy Thursday. Following Good Friday is Holy Saturday, a day that commemorates Jesus' lying in the tomb, and there are no daytime Masses in the Roman Catholic Church. The Easter Vigil on Saturday night or before dawn on Sunday marks the end of the Triduum, with the solemn procession of the paschal candle, symbolising the resurrection of Christ.
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On Good Friday, Christians recall the passion and crucifixion of Jesus
Good Friday is a solemn Christian holy day that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary (Golgotha). It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum or Easter Triduum, a three-day Christian period that begins with the liturgy on the evening of Maundy Thursday and ends with evening prayer on Easter Sunday.
The second part of the liturgy is the Veneration of the Cross, where a cross is solemnly displayed to the congregation and then venerated by them individually if possible. In some churches, a large cross is carried out of the sanctuary by the priest, accompanied by incense and candles, and placed in the centre of the congregation. This is followed by the third part of the liturgy, Holy Communion, where the Eucharist consecrated at the Mass of Holy Thursday is distributed. At the conclusion, the priest and congregation depart in silence, and the altar is left bare.
Good Friday is observed with fasting and church services by members of many Christian denominations, including Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, and Reformed traditions. In the Byzantine Rite of the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches, the Matins service for Good Friday is called the "Matins of the Twelve Passion Gospels", and includes twelve readings from the Gospel Book detailing the events of the Passion, from the Last Supper to the burial of Jesus. In addition, every Wednesday and Friday throughout the year is dedicated to commemorating the Passion in these traditions.
The Paschal Triduum is a period of solemn reflection and remembrance of the passion, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, as portrayed in the canonical Gospels. It is a time for Christians to meditate on the sacrifice of Jesus and his victory over death, and to participate in liturgical ceremonies that recall these events. While specific traditions and practices may vary among different Christian denominations, the common thread is the remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice and the hope of resurrection.
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Catholics ritually kiss the feet of the Jesus figure upon the cross
The Paschal Triduum, or Easter Triduum, is a period in the Christian calendar that lasts from the evening of Maundy Thursday to before Easter Sunday. It is observed by Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Moravians, and Reformed Christians. During this time, the faithful commemorate the Passion, Crucifixion, death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus.
The liturgical colour for the Mass vestments and other ornaments is white in the Catholic and Anglican Churches, scarlet or white in the Lutheran Church, white or gold in the Reformed tradition, and black in the United Methodist Church. On Good Friday, Christians recall the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus. In the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglo-Catholic traditions, a cross or crucifix is ceremonially unveiled. In the Catholic ritual, clergy traditionally begin the service prostrate in front of the altar.
The celebration on Good Friday consists of three parts: liturgy of the Word, veneration of the cross, and Holy Communion. During the second part, the Veneration of the Cross, a cross is displayed to the congregation and then venerated by them. In the Catholic Church, the faithful typically venerate the crucifix by kissing the feet of the corpus. This act of kissing the feet of Jesus is also observed outside of the Triduum, as some Catholics kiss their crucifix necklaces or medals on their rosaries. In the Eastern Churches, kissing icons is an integral part of venerating them, and it is common to kiss statues, crosses, and rosaries in the Latin Rite.
The Easter Vigil Mass, which is the high point of the Triduum, includes a ceremony of darkness and light, where the paschal candle is lit to symbolise the resurrection of Christ. This is followed by the Exsultet, seven readings from the Old Testament, seven psalms and canticles, and evening prayers.
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The Easter Vigil is considered the pinnacle of the Easter Triduum
The Easter Triduum is a three-day Christian period that begins on the evening of Maundy Thursday and ends with evening prayers at sunset on Easter Sunday. It is a separate liturgical period that commemorates the Passion, Crucifixion, Death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus.
The Easter Vigil, which takes place on Holy Saturday after nightfall or before dawn on Easter Sunday, is considered the pinnacle of the Easter Triduum. It is a highly anticipated celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. The ceremony of darkness and light, also known as the Service of Light, marks the beginning of the Easter Vigil Mass. The paschal candle, a symbol of the resurrection of Christ, is lit from the new Easter fire, and a solemn procession to the altar follows.
The Exsultet, or Easter Proclamation, is then intoned, marking the beginning of the
The Rite of Christian Initiation is also celebrated during the Easter Vigil, where individuals are formally initiated as members of the faith through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist.
The Easter Vigil is a significant and joyous occasion in the Christian liturgical calendar, marking the culmination of the Easter Triduum and the celebration of Christ's resurrection.
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The Easter Triduum is a three-day season that concludes Lent and introduces Easter
The Easter Triduum, also known as the Paschal Triduum, is a three-day liturgical period in the Catholic Church that begins on the evening of Holy Thursday (or Maundy Thursday) and ends after sunset on Easter Sunday. It commemorates the Passion, Crucifixion, Death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, as depicted in the canonical Gospels.
The Triduum is a distinct liturgical season in the Roman Catholic tradition, marked by several rituals and liturgical services. On Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord's Supper is celebrated, during which bells are rung, and the organ is played. This is followed by the ritual washing of the feet, symbolising Jesus' commandment to his apostles to serve others. The altars are then stripped of ornamentation, except for the cross and candlesticks.
Good Friday is marked by the unveiling and veneration of the cross. Catholics may ritually kiss the feet of the Jesus figure on the cross. The liturgy includes the reading or chanting of specific biblical passages, such as Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9, and the Passion account from the Gospel of John. Holy Communion is distributed, but Mass is not celebrated on this day.
Holy Saturday is a day of commemoration of Jesus' time in the tomb. In the evening, a vigil service is held, symbolising the waiting for the resurrection of Jesus. This service includes a ceremony of light and darkness, where a paschal candle is lit to represent the resurrection. The Exultet (Easter Proclamation) is intoned, followed by seven readings from the Old Testament, psalms, and canticles.
The Easter Triduum concludes with evening prayers at sunset on Easter Sunday, marking the beginning of the Easter season. This day is a joyous celebration of the resurrection and rebirth of Jesus and mankind. The Easter Vigil Mass includes the lighting of the paschal candle, symbolising the resurrection, and a solemn procession to the altar.
The liturgical colour for vestments and ornaments during the Triduum is white in the Catholic Church, although there may be variations in different traditions. The Triduum is a significant period in the liturgical year, uniting Christ's Paschal Mystery and serving as a conclusion to the Lenten season.
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Frequently asked questions
The Easter Triduum is a three-day Catholic liturgical season that commemorates the Passion, Crucifixion, Death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus. It begins on the evening of Maundy Thursday with the Mass of the Lord's Supper and ends with evening prayers at sunset on Easter Sunday.
The liturgical colour for the Mass vestments and other ornaments is white in the Catholic Church. During the Mass of the Lord's Supper, all church bells may be rung and the organ played; afterwards, bells and organ are silenced until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil. On Good Friday, a cross or crucifix is ceremonially unveiled. Altars are stripped of ornamentation, leaving only the cross and candlesticks.
The Easter Triduum consists of three parts: liturgy of the Word, veneration of the cross, and Holy Communion. On Holy Saturday, Catholics hold a vigil service that represents the faithful awaiting the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his burial. This service includes a ceremony of light and darkness, in which a paschal candle is lit to represent the resurrection of Christ.
