Behold the Triduum

“Behold!” It's a word that we hear at each Mass, but it takes on an even deeper meaning during the Sacred Triduum, as there is indeed a great amount to behold during its most holy liturgies.

Maundy Thursday, which receives its name from "maundy" being a shortened form of mandatum (Latin), which means “command”, in reference to Christ’s mandate given to His disciples as He washed their feet just prior to the Last Supper: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). On the evening of Maundy Thursday, the Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, at OLMC at 6:30pm. The priests, imitating Our Lord on the night before his crucifixion, wash the feet of 12 representatives of our parish community.

The Holy Oils blessed during the Chrism Mass of Holy Week by the Bishop that will be used throughout the year at baptisms, confirmations, and sick calls for anointing are solemnly processed to the altar and presented to the priest. At the climax of the liturgy, we arrive at the priest saying “Behold, the Lamb of God!” during the Eucharistic Prayer, one that is unique amongst all the others used throughout the year, as on that night we celebrate the first time Our Lord said a Eucharistic Prayer to give to His disciples His very Body and Blood to eat and drink. On that night almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus instituted the Eucharist for His Church. Finally, we end the night with a procession to the Altar of Repose, where we spend time with Jesus in the Eucharist until late at night, keeping watch with Him as He asked His disciples to do in the Garden of Gethsemane after having partaken in the Last Supper.

The next day is Good Friday, when the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, at OLMC at 6:30pm, features the priest calling to us three times to “Behold, the wood of the Cross!” He then invites us to come forward to venerate not merely the instrument of Christ’s death, but the Tree of Life upon which our Salvation and the Glory of God opened for us sinners the gate to Eternal Life. On Good Friday, we behold the Passion of our Lord, through acts of humility, prayer, and sorrow, but we conclude with the Reception of Holy Communion, so that even in death and pain, Jesus is with us, and we can be in communion with Him.

I invite you to please set aside the time to spend with Our Lord to celebrate and behold the Triduum, the 3 most important days of His ministry: The Last Supper (Thursday 6:30pm), the Crucifixion (Friday 6:30pm), and His Resurrection (Saturday 8:00pm).