One of the early inspirations in my ministerial career was Gabe Huck, a wonderful liturgist and warrior for social justice. At a workshop he gave years ago about the Triduum, he said, “The Triduum is to the liturgical year as Sunday is to the week.” Of course, Sunday, in Christian tradition, is a day “set apart” from the rest of the week, dedicated to worship, rest, and works of mercy. What Gabe Huck is suggesting, then, is that the Triduum—the “three days” beginning Holy Thursday evening through Easter Sunday evening—is to be a time that is “set apart” from the rest of the year so that we might fully enter into the Paschal Mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Setting apart three days is not easy in our secular culture that requires most of us to work a regular schedule on Thursday and Friday and take care of errands on Saturday! However, we can still set apart these three days by entering into them with a different focus and attitude than we do on any other given day throughout the year. We can turn off TVs and set aside social media. We can commit to being less talkative ourselves (without acting morose). We can fast from our regular diet and meals (and drinks). We can make time to get to church for as many of the Triduum services as possible. We can pay closer attention to the needs of others.
I encourage you to check the website of your local parish to find the schedule for Triduum services and then do all you can to set apart these three days—the climax of our liturgical year and the reason we are Christian!
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