Michael Brooks
The Easter Triduum, also known as the Sacred Triduum or Paschal Triduum, is a three-day Christian observance that 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. This period is considered the most solemn part of the liturgical year in the Catholic Church, surpassing even Christmas in significance. It commemorates the Passion, Crucifixion, Death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus, marking the end of the Lenten season and leading to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord. The Triduum is observed by various denominations, including Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and Moravians, each with its own unique traditions and liturgical colours. In the context of the SSPX Triduum in Rome, two locations offered the Triduum according to the 1962 Missale Romanum, with a focus on traditional Catholic practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Denomination | Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian, Reformed |
| Period | Three days from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday |
| Liturgy | Mass of the Lord's Supper, Easter Vigil, Evening Prayer |
| Vestments | White, scarlet, gold, black, red, violet, purple |
| Traditions | Washing of the feet, procession of the Blessed Sacrament, stripping of the altars, Eucharistic adoration, covering of statues, ritual unveiling of a cross or crucifix, veneration of the cross, celebration of the Lord's Passion |
| Texts | The Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Meaning of Catholic |
| Authors | St. Athanasius, St. John Chrysostom |
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What You'll Learn
- The Easter Triduum is a three-day period from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday
- The Triduum is the summit of the liturgical year
- The Triduum is also called the Sacred Triduum or Paschal Triduum
- The Triduum includes the Mass of the Lord's Supper and ends with evening prayers
- The Triduum is a separate liturgical period since the 1955 reform
The Easter Triduum is a three-day period from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday
The Easter Triduum, also known as the Sacred Triduum or Paschal Triduum, is a three-day period in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on the evening of Holy Thursday and ends on the evening of Easter Sunday. It is considered the most solemn part of the liturgical year as it commemorates the Passion, Crucifixion, Death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus, as described in the canonical Gospels.
The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, celebrating the last meal Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles and disciples before his death. On this day, in the Catholic Church and Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism, all church bells may be rung and the organ played; afterwards, they are silenced until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil. A ritual washing of the feet may follow the homily or sermon of the Mass, after which there is a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose. Eucharistic adoration is common after the Holy Thursday Mass and continues until midnight.
Good Friday is a day when Christians ritually recall the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus. Mass is not celebrated, but Holy Communion is distributed at the Celebration of the Lord's Passion, traditionally at 3 pm. In the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglo-Catholic rites, a cross or crucifix is ceremonially unveiled. In Catholicism, statues are veiled or covered with purple or black cloths, and votive lights before these images are not lit. Movable crucifixes are hidden, while immovable ones are veiled until the Easter Vigil.
The Triduum reaches its high point with the Easter Vigil, which marks the Resurrection of the Lord. The paschal candle, symbolic of the resurrection of Christ, is lit from the new Easter fire, and a solemn procession is formed. Seven readings from the Old Testament, seven psalms, and canticles are recited. The Easter Vigil is the first liturgy of Eastertide and marks the end of the Lenten season.
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The Triduum is the summit of the liturgical year
The Triduum, also known as the Easter Triduum, Sacred Triduum, or Paschal Triduum, is a Christian period of three days that marks the summit of the liturgical year. It begins with the liturgy on the evening of Maundy or Holy Thursday and ends with evening prayer on Easter Sunday. Although chronologically three days, the Triduum is liturgically one day that unfolds the unity of Christ's Paschal Mystery.
The Triduum is considered the most solemn and glorious part of Holy Week, which itself is the pinnacle of the liturgical year. Holy Week commemorates the final week of Jesus' life, starting with Palm Sunday when Jesus made his final entrance into Jerusalem. The Triduum's three days are considered the most solemn part of Holy Week, commemorating the Passion, Crucifixion, Death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus.
The first day of the Triduum is the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, which celebrates the last meal Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles and disciples before his death. In the Catholic Church, all church bells may be rung and the organ played during the Gloria in Excelsis Deo. After the homily or sermon of the Mass, there may be a ritual washing of the feet, followed by a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose. The second day of the Triduum is Good Friday, when Christians recall the passion and crucifixion of Jesus. Mass is not celebrated on this day, but Holy Communion is distributed at the Celebration of the Lord's Passion. The third day of the Triduum is Easter Sunday, which marks the end of the Lenten season and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.
The Triduum is thus the summit of the liturgical year as it commemorates the most significant events in the final week of Jesus' life, from his Last Supper with his disciples to his Passion, Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection.
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The Triduum is also called the Sacred Triduum or Paschal Triduum
The Triduum, also called the Sacred Triduum or Paschal Triduum, is a Christian period of three days that begins with the liturgy on the evening of Maundy Thursday, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and ends with evening prayer on Easter Sunday. In the Catholic Church, the Triduum is also referred to as the Easter Triduum, denoting the three days from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday.
The Triduum is the summit of the liturgical year, commemorating the Passion, Crucifixion, Death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus, as portrayed in the canonical Gospels. It is considered more sacred than Christmas as it was the very purpose for which Christmas happened. The liturgical colour for the Mass vestments and other ornaments is white in the Catholic and Anglican Churches, while red or black vestments are worn in the pre-1970 form of the Roman Missal.
The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper, during which all church bells may be rung and the organ played. Afterwards, bells and organ music are silenced until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil. The Mass concludes with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose, followed by the stripping of the altars. Eucharistic adoration is encouraged after this but, if continued after midnight, should be done without outward solemnity.
On Good Friday, Christians recall the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus. In the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglo-Catholic rites, a cross or crucifix is ceremonially unveiled. The liturgy of Good Friday, an integral part of the Triduum, is linked to the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper and the Easter Vigil.
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The Triduum includes the Mass of the Lord's Supper and ends with evening prayers
The Triduum is a period of three days in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on the evening of Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) and ends on the evening of Easter Sunday. It is considered the most solemn part of the liturgical year, commemorating the Passion, Crucifixion, Death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus, as depicted in the canonical Gospels.
In the Catholic Church, the Triduum includes the Mass of the Lord's Supper, which takes place on Holy Thursday evening. This Mass celebrates the last meal that Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles and disciples before his death. During the Mass, all church bells may be rung and the organ played. After the homily or sermon, a ritual washing of the feet may follow, symbolising Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. The Mass concludes with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose, followed by the stripping of the altars. Eucharistic adoration is encouraged after this until midnight, reminiscent of waiting with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Good Friday is a day when Christians recall the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus. Mass is not celebrated, but Holy Communion is distributed during the Celebration of the Lord's Passion, traditionally at 3 pm. In the Catholic rite, the priest and his assistants prostrate themselves before the altar during the mass, recalling the moment of Jesus' death.
Holy Saturday, also known as Black Saturday, is a vigil service held after nightfall on Holy Saturday or before dawn on Easter Sunday, commemorating Jesus' death, Sabbath rest, and Harrowing of Hell. The Easter Vigil is considered the high point of the Triduum, where the paschal candle is lit, symbolising the Resurrection of Christ. The Exsultet is intoned, and then seven readings from the Old Testament, seven psalms, and canticles are recited.
The Triduum concludes with evening prayers at sunset on Easter Sunday, marking the end of the Lenten season and the beginning of the Easter celebrations.
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The Triduum is a separate liturgical period since the 1955 reform
The Triduum, also known as the Easter Triduum, Paschal Triduum, Sacred Triduum, or the Three Days, is a Christian period of three days that begins on the evening of Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday and ends on the evening of Easter Sunday. It is considered the most solemn part of the liturgical year.
In 1955, Pope Pius XII's reform more clearly distinguished the Easter Triduum as a separate liturgical period in the Roman Catholic tradition. Before this reform, the Triduum was already distinguished from the rest of Holy Week through an observance of silence, also known as "the still days." During Mass, music was not played, and church bells were silenced. People were encouraged to observe silence in their homes as well.
The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper, during which all church bells may be rung and the organ played. After the homily or sermon of the Mass, there may be a ritual washing of the feet, followed by a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose. The Mass concludes with the stripping of the altars, and Eucharistic adoration is encouraged. On Good Friday, Christians recall the passion and crucifixion of Jesus, and a cross or crucifix is ceremonially unveiled. In the Catholic rite, the priest and their assistants prostrate in front of the altar. On Holy Saturday or before dawn on Easter Sunday, a vigil service is held in commemoration of Jesus' death, Sabbath rest, and the harrowing of Hell.
The Triduum is a separate liturgical period that marks the end of the Lenten season and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil. It is considered the summit of the Liturgical Year, with Easter being called the "Feast of Feasts" and the "Solemnity of Solemnities."
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Frequently asked questions
The Easter Triduum is a term used by the Roman Catholic Church to denote the three days from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. It is considered the most solemn part of the liturgical year.
The Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper and ends after evening prayers at sunset on Easter Day. During the Mass, all church bells may be rung and the organ played. After the homily or sermon of the Mass, there is a ritual washing of the feet. The Mass concludes with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose.
The liturgical colour varies depending on the denomination. In the Catholic and Anglican Churches, it is white. In the Lutheran Church, it is scarlet or white, and in the Reformed tradition, white or gold may be used. In the United Methodist Church, black is used.
In 2022, two locations in Rome provided the Triduum according to the 1962 Missale Romanum.
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