| About thirty percent of the Gospels are dedicated to recounting the passion and death of Jesus (42% of John’s Gospel), but only one week of the church’s liturgical year is given to the same focus. Much happens between the upper room of Holy Thursday as the sun sets and the empty tomb of Easter Sunday as the Son rises. |
| Similarly, only a small percentage of Catholics participate in the Triduum services of Holy Week, yet they at the center of our religious tradition. “Triduum” is a Latin term that means three days. It is used specifically by Catholics to mark the three-day period of prayer that begins on Thursday of Holy Week and concludes on Easter Day. Because it is one continuous prayer, it might more accurately be considered as one day that contains three cycles around the sun. Both the sun and moon play important roles in this commemorative festival. |
| The date for Easter is chosen each year based on the vernal equinox, that is, when the sun rises and sets in line with the equator, when there is equal time between daylight and nighttime darkness, when the earth is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun. The date is also chosen according to the moon. Holy Week always takes place during the first full moon of the springtime equinox; the moon shining down upon the Garden of Gethsemane signifies the Triduum and the agony of Christ. While the three synoptic Gospels tell that His torture began after the Passover repast, only John’s Gospel contends that the Last Supper was not a Passover meal but rather a discourse on love in which Jesus takes the form of a slave and washes the feet of the disciples. According to John, Jesus was crucified the day before Passover, the day in which lambs were slaughtered in the temple; Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, was slaughtered on the temple of the cross. In his account, Jesus’ message to “Do this in memory of me” was more about serving others than about eating bread or drinking wine. |
| There is much to unpack in the three days as we gather to wash one another’s feet that night, reassemble the next night to reverence the cross, and the third night to retell the stories of salvation history that lead up to the mystery of an empty tomb and celebrate sacraments of initiation that welcome new members into our Catholic faith. If you are motivated to join in the Holy Week rituals this year, I invite you to join us in the urban core parishes where, in the heart of the city, we get to the heart of our faith, putting the social Gospel into action by serving poor and marginalized members of society, those who Jesus accompanied and healed. |
| The events of His pascal mystery began in an upper room or guest chamber. Luke’s Gospel uses the Greek term “katalyma” which is used only one other time in the Gospels—at the time of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem where His parents were told that there is no room for them in the guest chamber, the inn, or katalyma. At the beginning of life and end of life, Jesus is informed that there is not room for Him. This world cannot contain Him. He is rejected and sent away as both the sun rises and sun sets on His earthly existence. Please use these days to experience a deeper understanding of what it all means to us collectively and to you personally. |
| On Thursday evening we will gather at Saint Therese Little Flower, 58th and Euclid, at 7:00. On Friday we will meet at Saint James, 39th and Harrison, at 7:00. On Saturday we will assemble at Saint Francis Xavier, 52nd and Troost, at 8:00. I wish you a blessed Triduum. |
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