Catholic Dads

Has everyone thought about how they are spending Easter Triduum?

Lent officially ends on Thursday night and the Triduum begins.

Your parish should have a Mass of the Lord’s Supper on the night of Holy Thursday, which includes the washing of the feet (which my daughter especially looks forward to).  Mass is followed by the procession to the Altar of Repose where prayer and adoration is usually available until midnight.  This year, my parish is having a reading of the Lord’s Last Supper Discourse from the Gospel of St. John (Chapters 13-17) – a chapter on each half hour from 9:30-midnight.

Friday brings Good Friday.  No Mass but every parish will have the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper around noon and also maybe in the evening.  This is a day of fasting and abstinence-and not just of food.  Try to fast from TV, technology and unnecessary activities.  Try to take some time off from work, especially from noon-3pm.  Pray the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Stations of the Cross.  This year for the first time, I am taking the entire day off.  God is going to have my full attention all day.

As for Holy Saturday, I used to think it was the wasted day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  This year, our pastor is encouraging us to prolong the fast and to spend the day in prayer as a sign of our waiting for Easter Sunday.  I didn’t know this but the Constitution on the Liturgy, a Vatican II document, actually exhorts -

“Let the Paschal Fast be kept sacred.  Let it be celebrated everywhere on Good Friday, and where possible, prolonged through Holy Saturday, so that the joys of the Sunday of the Resurrection may be attained with uplifted and clear mind.”

So, don’t make Holy Saturday just another Saturday.  Make it a day of waiting and anticipation.  Focus on Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Saturday night is the Easter Vigil.  It typically starts after sundown.  It may seem long, but it is worth it, especially witnessing all of the candidates and catechumens coming into the Church.  I went for the first time last year and it strengthened my faith and made me feel part of something mysterious and life-affirming.  And trust me, the traditions of the night will move you.

Of course, Sunday is Easter Sunday.  Focus on the Mass; be patient; welcome those who may have not been to Mass since Christmas; make them want to come back (let Father be the one to let them know that Mass is available more than twice a year).  Keep Easter Sunday holy.  Have fun with the family; enjoy and revel in the day.  Focus on Christ and his love for us.

Make this Easter Triduum sacred and focused, even if you are traveling (find a church).  Let’s get the distractions out of our lives.  And let’s spend it with our families.  Our churches should be full, especially on Thursday night and Friday, and they should be full of families praying and worshiping together.

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