Easter is the most important holiday in the Catholic church. This Christian holiday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ which occurred on the third day after His crucifixion and death on the cross. The three days preceding Easter are known as the Easter Triduum. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Latin word “triduum” refers to “a period of three consecutive days and has been used to describe many three-day periods that prepare for a day of celebration through liturgy, prayer, and fasting” (Ignatius Insight ). These include Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, also known as the Easter Vigil. The General Norms for the Liturgical Year specify that the Easter Triduum begins with the Evening Mass in Coena Domini on Holy Thursday. its culmination in the Easter Vigil and ends with Vespers on Easter Sunday" (paragraph 19). The traditional English name for this day, "Holy Thursday", comes from the Latin phrase "Mandatum novum". , which means "a new command". The day begins with the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. The Gospel reading that is said during the mass is taken from the Book of John and depicts Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, showing that He is human and divine, but is still merciful towards God. In the mass, the “persona Christi”, which is Latin for “in the person of Christ”, will wash the feet of parishioners and faithful to symbolize Jesus washing the feet of His Apostles. In the early hours of Holy Thursday, and in some cases at the beginning of the week, the bishop celebrates the Chrism Mass, which focuses on the priesthood and the public renewal of promises to faithfully fulfill one's duty as priests. Together with the washing of the Apostles' feet, Jesus offers himself to us during the Last Supper. He breaks the bread and passes the cup around the table so that the Apostles eat and drink "in memory of him". He says to the Apostles: “Take this and eat of it, all of you, for this is my body which will be given as a sacrifice for you.” In memory of Jesus' last supper with his disciples, Holy Thursday reminds the faithful of the gift of the priesthood, the offering that Jesus made to us of his Body and his Blood, and the overwhelming love that the Lord has for the world and all the people in it. The second day of the Triduum is Good Friday. This is the first full day of the Easter Triduum. It commemorates for us the passion and death of Jesus Christ. On Good Friday, Jesus was betrayed by Judas, the night of the Last Supper, commemorated on Maundy Thursday. After his arrest, Jesus was sent to Pontius Pilate, who interrogated him but found no reason to condemn him. Pilate declared Jesus innocent and washed his hands to show that he wanted nothing to do with Jesus, but the crowd was furious. To avoid a revolt, Pilate agreed to execute Jesus and sentenced him to crucifixion. Jesus was convicted of blasphemy and proclaimed himself “the king of the Jews”. Before his execution, Jesus was stripped of his clothes and given a crown of thorns. He was later forced to carry his cross to the site of his death, Golgotha, also known as Calvary. On the way to the place of His execution, Jesus fell three times and was hit by food and objects of hatred. After His arrival on Golgotha, Jesus was nailed to the cross and crucified. During Christ's final hours on the cross, darkness fell across the land. Before his death, Jesus spoke his last words: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22). At the moment of Christ's death, an earthquake rent the earth and lightning crackled in the sky. After his death, Jesus' body was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb,covered by a large boulder to prevent anyone from entering. The events of Good Friday are used in the Stations of the Cross, a fourteen-step devotion performed during the season of Lent. WellFriday is a day of fasting within the Church. Usually the churches are silent and the altars are bare. According to The Paschal Triduum: Entering the Paschal Mystery, “Traditionally there are no masses or celebrations on Good Friday. The liturgy of the Passion of the Lord is made up of three parts: the liturgy of the Word, the veneration of the Cross and the reception of Communion. Although Communion is given and received, this liturgy is not a Mass; this practice dates back to the very early years of the Church and is intended to underline the dark and mournful character of the day". Good Friday is meant to commemorate Jesus Christ dying for our sins and saving us so that we can be restored to eternal life. The third and last day of the Triduum is Holy Saturday. The ancient Church celebrated Holy Saturday with a rigorous fast in preparation for the celebration of Easter. After sunset, Christians held an all-night vigil, ending with baptism and the Eucharist at dawn. The same idea is found today in the Easter Vigil, which is the culmination of the Easter Triduum and is filled with many readings, symbols, many ceremonies and sacraments. The Easter Vigil, states the Church, is considered "the mother of all vigils" (General Norms, 21). Being a vigil, it is a time of waiting, fasting and preparation. Usually, when something is prepared during liturgical times, it happens at night. It begins after sunset and ends just before Easter morning, which means it begins and ends in darkness. This means that once Christ is resurrected, we will no longer be in darkness, but in light. It consists of four general parts: the Service of Light, the Liturgy of the Word, the Christian Initiation and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. of Light begins outdoors and in the dark. A fire is lit and blessed and from the fire the priest lights the Paschal candle, which symbolizes the light of Christ. The symbolism of light that chases away darkness and life that conquers death make up the Easter Vigil. The Paschal candle is placed in the presbytery, usually near the altar, during the Easter season. Subsequently it will be kept at the baptismal font so that, when someone receives the sacrament of baptism, the candles of the baptized can be lit from it. Once inside, the priest or deacon will begin reading. The readings vary, beginning with Creation and concluding with the angel telling Mary Magdalene and others that Jesus has risen from the dead. Some readings focus on baptism, the sacrament that brings man into communion with God. After the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, the catechumens, that is, people who have never been baptized, and the candidates, that is, people who have been baptized but in a denomination different Christians, not Catholics, are initiated into the Church through the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. Followers will then be sprinkled with holy water and renew their baptismal vows. The Easter Vigil ends with the Eucharistic Liturgy and the welcoming of the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This day is all about anticipating and waiting for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Finally, after the conclusion of the Triduum, we encounter the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. As told in the Gospels, Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day, after His crucifixion and death on the cross. His resurrection symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, sin and death. This event is proof that those who trust in God and accept that Jesus Christ is our only Savior will be raised from the dead and brought to/.