Holy Week is the most important week in Catholicism. This week of great reverence and reflection spans the final eight days of Jesus’ life—from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. It is astounding how much wisdom, insight and inspiration are available to us during this one week. Here is just a sample of what happens during Holy Week:
– Palm Sunday, Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem
– Monday of Holy Week, Jesus clears out the temple with a whip
– Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus is anointed with oil at Bethany and preaches on the Mount of Olives
– Spy Wednesday, Jesus is betrayed by Judas
– Holy Thursday, Jesus celebrates the Last Supper, prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, and is arrested
– Good Friday, Jesus is sentenced to death, scourged, beaten, crucified, and dies on the Cross
– Holy Saturday, Jesus is buried in the tomb and descends into hell
– Easter Sunday, Jesus rises from the dead
THE EASTER TRIDUUM
The term Triduum means “three days.” The three days are counted as the Hebrews counted their days, from dusk to dusk. Therefore, the three days of the Easter Triduum are from dusk on Holy Thursday to dusk on Good Friday (day one), dusk on Good Friday to dusk on Holy Saturday (day two) and dusk on Holy Saturday to dusk on Easter Sunday (day three). Each of those days tells a different part of the story of Jesus’ saving action. On
Holy Thursday we remember the Last Supper. Jesus with the words: “this is my Body”, “this is my Blood” institutes the sacrament of the Eucharist. Then He tells us “Do this in memory of me.” That is why Jesus institutes the sacrament of Priesthood. His love was expressed at the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of the apostles.
On Good Friday we remember the passion and death of Jesus. At the heart of the liturgy of Good Friday is the adoration of the cross. Veneration of the cross is a special profession of our faith. There is no Mass on this day. The tabernacle is open. Christ is not in it.
We remember the resurrection of Christ either at the Easter Vigil on Saturday night, when new members are baptised and welcomed into our Catholic community or on Easter Sunday morning. Many signs lead us to the encounter with the Risen Christ in the Saturday liturgy. Three signs draw our attention. They are light, water and word.
We look at the Easter Triduum as one single celebration that lasts for three days. We cannot separate the death of Jesus from his resurrection. We do not spend all the three days in church, but at various times during those days, we are called to church to gather and remember together. When we are not in church, we are asked to keep the spirit of those days even in our homes, if possible. Those days are not days of “business as usual.”
