Just as the center of every week is Sunday, the holy day when the holy people gather, so “the summit of the whole liturgical year is in the sacred Easter Triduum of the passion and resurrection of the Lord, which is prepared for by the period of Lent and prolonged for fifty days” (Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts, [CL] Congregation for Divine Worship, 1988).
Each year the pastoral leadership team of every parish and ecclesial community longs to broaden and deepen the faithful’s participation in the Triduum. The Church echoes this desire in its liturgical texts. Opening rubrics for Holy Thursday Mass state: “The Mass of the Lord’s Supper is celebrated…with the full participation of the whole local community and with all the Priests and ministers exercising their office” (Roman Missal, “Thursday of the Lord’s Supper,” n. 1). The pastoral vision for the Triduum is nothing less than this: the full participation of the whole local community with every baptized and ordained minister present.
What might be some foundational and practical keys to encourage such participation?
Preparation for the invitation to participate
One key to fuller participation rests with the pastoral leadership of each community. The Roman Missal itself insists that “pastors should, therefore, not fail to explain to the Christian faithful…the meaning and order of the celebrations and to prepare them for active and fruitful participation” (Roman Missal, “The Sacred Paschal Triduum,” n. 2). Ongoing liturgical catechesis by the pastor and entire leadership team can create an engaging and encouraging atmosphere for the invitations to Triduum participation.
Before Lent begins, the pastoral team takes time to clarify specific vocabulary and theology for the invitation. Aware that the word “Triduum” may be unfamiliar, the team decides the term it will consistently use. Is this “The Easter Triduum,” “The Sacred Paschal Triduum,” or “The Great Three Days”? With one expression chosen, the team discusses the unitive theology of Triduum best expressed in the Holy Thursday entrance antiphon: “We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection, through whom we are saved and delivered” (Roman Missal, “Thursday of the Lord’s Supper,” n. 6). Not multiple themes, but one theme of the Paschal Mystery present here and now is the Triduum focus.
Team members review the particular configuration of Triduum. For example, Lent ends at sunset on Holy Thursday and Triduum begins with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Triduum days are counted in the Jewish manner with each day beginning at sunset of the previous day. Triduum is essentially one liturgy celebrated over these three days.
The team also recalls that the Triduum is not a Passion play, not historical reenactments of Christ’s Passion and death. Rather, as Paul Turner reminds us, the Triduum liturgy is the “means by which the faithful enter these mysteries” (Glory in the Cross, Collegeville: Liturgical Press 2011, p. xv). With a common vocabulary and theology, then, the pastoral team begins to welcome the entire community into the Triduum as the heart of our year, what we prepare for, fast for, pray for, work for, minister for in joyful and awestruck anticipation.
Participation in the Lenten journey
A second key to fuller participation is understanding the double character of Lent. The period of purification and enlightenment engages both the elect and the baptized in more intense spiritual preparation: the elect preparing to die and rise with Christ through immersion in the life-giving waters and the already baptized preparing to die and rise with him through intentional annual renewal of baptismal promises. The Lenten journey of discipleship is for both groups.
Invitations before and during Lent
With these foundational keys clear, specific outreach begins. The best invitations are often those offered face-to-face. So before and during Lent, pastoral team members offer brief, focused catechesis on Triduum for the regular meetings of parish ministries and organizations. For example, the Knights of Columbus, Young Adults, Guadalupe Society, Couples for Christ, the Scouts, Care for Creation, the Grief Group, and many others would appreciate this thoughtful attention specifically directed to their Triduum participation.
The Team would also be sure to meet with ushers, choir members, and catechists.
A comprehensive overview of Triduum and a personal invitation would assure them of how deeply their ministries are appreciated and how much the community needs their engaged participation.
An evening reflection with lectors would help them savor the traditional Triduum readings. A morning of recollection with Communion ministers would bring them with uplifted hearts to the Triduum experiences.
When planning my first Triduum at San Carlos Cathedral Parish in Monterey, California, I suddenly realized I didn’t need to minister alone. So I created three teams of masters-of ceremonies, each composed of veteran liturgical ministers with a young adult or teenager. Their participation in Triduum was service behind-the-scenes to the community.
Additional motivation to participate occurs when parishioners are asked to oversee one particular Triduum element with a skilled mentor. On Holy Thursday, for example, participation might include preparation of candles for procession to the altar of repose; organizing the collection for the poor; preparing the altar of repose; creating and carrying a canopy over the Blessed Sacrament; committing to times of prayer during adoration
Good Friday participation might be assisting with Morning Prayer or taking a turn holding the Holy Cross during its adoration. The Easter Vigil needs parishioners to prepare (and extinguish) the Easter fire, bring bells for the Gloria, set out towels for the baptisms, assist in the rooms where the neophytes change. And of course each day, the ministry of putting everything back in order!
Participation in the Catechumenate Process
Invitations to celebrate Triduum will go to those involved with the Catechumenate: the elects’ prayer partners, catechists, catechumenate team, sponsors, parishioners who hosted dinners or ministry experiences, and to the inquirers and their families.
The community is welcome to the Preparatory Rites for the elect during Holy Saturday Morning Prayer, to the retreat for the elect that day, and of course to the festive reception for them after the Vigil. An invitation to those who were initiated in past years can also be an effective way to increase the intensity of these celebrations.
Invitations during Lent
“The catechesis on the paschal mystery and the sacraments should be given special place in the Sunday homilies” during Lent (CL 12). Throughout Lent, homilists would extend the invitation to Triduum with images crafted from their preaching. Thoughtfully-worded general intercessions would focus attention on sacraments to be celebrated and commitments to be renewed. Announcements, consistently articulating the vision of both Lent and Triduum, can have an impact as well.
To facilitate spiritual participation during Triduum, a small booklet might be prepared with carefully-chosen Triduum prayers and readings for each ministry and organization during Lent. A specific invitation would be included with the dates and times of each Triduum liturgy. If finances allow, perhaps the booklet could be offered to every household.
Consider every communal Lenten event as a time for the Triduum invitation. Friday fish dinners, Stations of the Cross, and communal penance celebrations might each include a moment of catechesis as well as a focused invitation.
In all these ways, it becomes clear that “the whole local community” is committed to experience the Easter Triduum as “the theological and liturgical center of our lives” (Glory in the Cross, 114).
And finally, imagine this scene during the Easter Vigil. We stand together holding candles lit from the fire of the Paschal candle, looking across the blessed waters still stirring from the baptisms just concluded, awaiting the return of the neophytes in their radiant white garments. We stand together with uplifted hearts made ready by our Lenten liturgies to recommit ourselves to the crucified and risen Christ present in our midst through our baptismal promises. What a joy to see all these new and familiar faces participating in the Triduum this year! What the Holy Spirit can create from our humble invitations!
You can find more seasonal resources on our Lent and Easter page, here.
Originally published in Today’s Liturgy © 2018 OCP. All rights reserved.