For many centuries Christians have observed the week leading up to Easter with special devotion. Beginning with the Sunday of the Passion, or Palm Sunday, celebrating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, each day is kept in preparation for celebrating the great mystery of our faith: the death and resurrection of Jesus. Originally this celebration was only one liturgy – beginning Saturday evening and concluding with baptism and the eucharist at dawn.

Over the centuries the various events of this drama were spread out over three days: the Last Supper and arest on Thursday evening, the trial and crucifixion on Friday, and the Vigil and Resurrection on Saturday/Sunday.

Today’s services of the Triduum date back to the fourth and fifth centuries; because of the sacredness of these days, little has changed in the celebration of these soul-touching mysteries.

Although we spread the commemoration over three days, they still have a bisic unity and many Christians make a special effort not to miss any part. It is a time full of symbolic actions: of foot washing, and prayer vigil, of dramatic portrayals of the story, of spiritually and physically coming to the foot of the Cross, of darkness and the light of the Paschal Candle dispelling that darkness, of being wet and savoring the aroma of chrism, of experiencing baptismal regeneration and breaking the bread with renewed joy.

There is nowhere else for Christians to be during these three days, except with the Community as it celebrates the Christian Passover, our coming from death to life in the Spirit of the Risen Christ, and finally joining with the whole Church, in heaven and on earth, in the great

For many centuries Christians have observed the week leading up to Easter with special devotion. Beginning with the Sunday of the Passion, or Palm Sunday, celebrating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, each day is kept in preparation for celebrating the great mystery of our faith: the death and resurrection of Jesus. Originally this celebration was only one liturgy – beginning Saturday evening and concluding with baptism and the eucharist at dawn.

Over the centuries the various events of this drama were spread out over three days: the Last Supper and arest on Thursday evening, the trial and crucifixion on Friday, and the Vigil and Resurrection on Saturday/Sunday.

Today’s services of the Triduum date back to the fourth and fifth centuries; because of the sacredness of these days, little has changed in the celebration of these soul-touching mysteries.

Although we spread the commemoration over three days, they still have a bisic unity and many Christians make a special effort not to miss any part. It is a time full of symbolic actions: of foot washing, and prayer vigil, of dramatic portrayals of the story, of spiritually and physically coming to the foot of the Cross, of darkness and the light of the Paschal Candle dispelling that darkness, of being wet and savoring the aroma of chrism, of experiencing baptismal regeneration and breaking the bread with renewed joy.

There is nowhere else for Christians to be during these three days, except with the Community as it celebrates the Christian Passover, our coming from death to life in the Spirit of the Risen Christ, and finally joining with the whole Church, in heaven and on earth, in the great