The Easter Triduum

During the Sacred Triduum (from the Latin ‘three days’), we come together to celebrate the heart of our faith - the Death, Burial and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have spent the past six weeks preparing to celebrate this great feast of feasts. We have reflected on our personal failures to follow Christ in our thoughts, our words and our deeds. We have tried to make amends for the harm we have done by our actions and by our inaction. Try to make time, if you have not done so already, to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and so truly enter into the spirit of new life, when we once again renew our Baptismal vows at the Easter Vigil.

Lord Jesus Christ
you are the Lamb of God:
you take away the sins of the world.
Through the grace of the Holy Spirit
restore me to friendship with your Father,
cleanse me from every stain of sin
in the blood you shed for me
and raise me to new life
for the glory of your name. Amen

Holy Thursday
We are gathered here to share in the supper your only Son left to his Church to reveal his love.
Opening Prayer
This morning in Cathedrals around the world, priests and people gather with their Bishops for the Mass of the Oils. The Oils which will be used in our parishes and in our communities throughout the year are prepared and blessed before they are first used in our Easter Vigil. The Oil of Baptism and the Oil of the Sick are solemnly blessed and the Oil of Chrism is blessed and consecrated.

This evening, we come together as a community of believers to celebrate the feast day of the Eucharist. On this night we call to mind what Jesus said and did at the Last Supper. We are reminded in our Liturgy that he washed the feet of his disciples and so gave us a clear example of the way in which we are to follow him; in loving service to others. Jesus then gave himself to his disciples in his gift of the Eucharist, calling them to share in his mission; to do what he had done.

Good Friday
And yet ours were the suffering he bore, our the sorrows he carried.
Isaiah 52

The word ’Good’ originates from the traditional ‘goode’ meaning ’holy’. Today we commemorate the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. Our Liturgy will take us through the three stages as we unite ourselves with him in his suffering and sacrifice for all men and women.

We listen to the word of God. In Isaiah, in St Paul’s letter and in St John’s account of our Lord’s Passion, we discover the depth of love shown in Christ’s suffering. We respond to his love by praying for the welfare of the whole world - that Christ’s love may be received into the hearts of all people.

The Cross on which Christ died is the sign of God’s love that won life for the world and so each one of us in invited to personally venerate it.

Finally, we receive Holy Communion. Jesus Christ died to make us one in love and truth. He called us to be reconciled with him and with one another. In Holy Communion we are made one. As we leave the Church in silence, we contemplate the gift of Christ’s love.

The Easter Vigil
All day the church is silent. Tonight, we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord at the Easter Vigil. Tonight we share in a special way in the glory of the Risen Christ.

The first part of the Vigil is the Service of Light - new fire is kindled and blessed. From that fire comes the light for our Easter Candle, symbolising Christ who dispels the darkness. The candle is placed in the sanctuary and the joyful song of the Easter Proclamation (Exsultet) is sung as we rejoice in all that this light symbolises for us and for our world.

Then we have the Liturgy of the Word. We re-live the story of our salvation as we listen to the Old Testament narrative and our trust in the promise of redemption and hope for men and women is rekindled.

The Liturgy of Baptism then follows. Through our Baptism we share in the risen life of Christ and are called to share in his work of redeeming the world. We renew our personal baptismal promises and reflect on their significance for us.

Then follows the Liturgy of the Eucharist in which we are fully united with Christ and nurtured for our journey until we are one with him in our own resurrection. This is the night of all nights to give thanks and praise to our heavenly Father.