The Paschal Triduum

It is good and fitting that as the Church universal enters into the celebration of the Paschal Triduum, our cluster parishes again gather as one as we journey together from life through death to resurrection.    After instituting himself as Eucharist for us, Jesus went to the garden where he prayed for just that, that all of us may be one (John 17:21).  Not as three distinct parishes then, but as one community of faith, we gather to immerse ourselves once again in recalling the great love that God has for us made manifest in Eucharist, in suffering, in death and ultimately in resurrection.  

The richness of these days runs so deep that a list of every detail could easily fill volumes.  Instead, I’d like to highlight a few moments and explore what they might teach us this year.

On Holy Thursday, we sing the great hymn of praise, the Gloria for the first time in 6 weeks.  We’ll ring the bells and hear the organ burst out in joy.  After that, however, as we hear the ancient stories of Passover and the Last Supper, we’ll begin to draw the music quieter.  Though we’ll continue to chant the acclamations, tonight we’ll do them without accompaniment, reflecting the increasingly somber tone of this night.  During the presentation of our gifts and the preparation of the altar, we’ll sing “Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.”  This ancient text reminds us that where there is true charity (and love) God is there.  Having just heard and seen our command to serve one another, we reflect on our call to bring that charity, love and service beyond our doors.   

After singing the Pange Lingua, a chant written by St. Thomas Aquinas centuries ago, we’re invited to remain in prayer with our Lord, just as the Apostles.  We’re invited to stay and keep watch and pray until 9 PM.  Since Mass doesn’t end tonight, we disperse in silence so we can gather again in silence on Friday.

Good Friday is the one day of the entire year when Mass is not celebrated.  Things feel stark, undecorated.  The echoes of the Gloria are hard to hear.  Gone is the sweet aroma of the incense.  At times today, the silence may feel uncomfortable.  Maybe it’s supposed to feel that way.  As we hear St. John’s Passion narrative, we come face to face not only with our own sinfulness, but with the price Jesus willingly paid for it.  We’ll come forward and venerate the cross. With a kiss, a genuflection, a bow or in some other way, we’ll recall the prayer, “We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the word.”  After receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, we depart in silence. 

The Easter Vigil during the night begins in silence and darkness.  The final part of our great Triduum liturgy begins with a new fire,  and the proclamation of the Exsultet, the ancient proclamation of resurrection.  We hear the stories of our creation and salvation before again raising our voices in the Gloria.  The Alleluia makes a triumphant return as we prepare to hear the Easter gospel.  This night we also bless new water, a sign of our baptism into the life, death and resurrection of Christ.  This night we leave not in silent prayer, but with a joyful ALLELUIA!  ALLELUIA!   

So come with all your senses to pray, sing, listen and experience the richness of God’s love as the story again unfolds in our midst.  The locations and times can be found in the bulletin.

John Knetzger, IC Music Coodinator

Our Triduum celebrations are as follows:
Holy Thursday at 7:00pm at Immaculate Conception
Good Friday at 1:30pm at St. Mary's
Easter Vigil at 8:00pm at St. Peter of Alcantara