The Triduum Is to the Liturgical Year as Sunday Is to the Week

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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!

About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

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