Archive for the ‘Triduum’ Category

Our Cathedral in San Jose invites a lay person each year to lead a reflection at the noon hour on Good Friday as a prelude to the Liturgy of the Veneration of the Cross led by the Bishop later in the afternoon. This year, I was invited to do this. We adapted the Office of [...]

With Lent come the long narratives of the passion and death of Jesus. The Passion story is meant to be a story of hope and transformation, a story of the restoration of humanity to right relationship with the Loving God who created us all to be in God’s image. The ugly secret is that too [...]

From childhood till now you taught me to praise your wonders. Psalm 71:17 “Yes, but, do we have to go to all three?” my own children asked at dinner last night as we discussed the family schedule for the week. The unequivocal answer is, “Yes.” It is right and good for children to celebrate the [...]

Team member Rita Ferrone recently received a Best of the Christian Press award from the Associated Church Press. The award is for her April 10, 2009 Commonweal article, “Virgil & the Vigil: The Bees Are Back in the Exsultet.” This Award of Merit (second place) in the category seasonal article was judged by Bill Droel. [...]

Here are some wonderful meditations for Holy Week from Rita Ferrone: Spy Wednesday   Holy Thursday   Good Friday   Holy Saturday   The Easter Vigil

The Paschal Triduum is the center of the liturgical year, and the Easter Vigil is its high point. It is the liturgy at which night turns into day, and death into resurrection. Why vigil? St. Augustine had a pithy insight into this question: “We now need not wait for the Lord to arrive…. And yet [...]

One of the fabulous images for Holy Saturday is that of Jesus—after his descent into death—pulling Adam and Eve out of their tomb, their prison, and into the light and air. Their shackles fall away. Their eyes blink at the light. It’s the so-called “harrowing of hell” theme (it’s not really hell of course, but [...]

Today’s Triduum liturgy includes a proclamation of the Passion according to John. Whether sung or spoken, this scripture passage is powerful. The symbolism in John’s account gives us much to meditate on-especially those of us engaged in the ministries of Christian initiation. Here is one example: “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom [...]

The event of central importance on Holy Thursday will be the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper—the liturgy which begins the Triduum. I hope everybody is going to take part in this wonderful celebration! I won’t try to anticipate what takes place. Better to experience it for yourself. Perhaps Holy Thursday is also a good [...]

Rehearse on the Saturday before Palm Sunday (not on Holy Saturday) Catechumens and candidates are not at rehearsal; their sponsors are and godparents are The pastor and the Vigil presider (if it is not the pastor) do not need to lead the rehearsal, but they need to be there Rehearse with the lectors—a lot Create [...]