No doubt about it: the liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil are the greatest celebrations on the church calendar! But they are not holy days of obligation... Easter is a day of obligation because of what it celebrates - and because it always falls on a Sunday which, on its own every week - is a day of obligation.
The liturgies of Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Holy Week are known as the Triduum which means three days (the first three panels in the illustration above). The Triduum is really one celebration which stretches over three days. The celebration we begin with the entrance song on Holy Thursday night only comes to its end with the closing song of the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night.
• What if your family responsibilities or work schedule claim your time when those celebrations are scheduled?
• What if illness or your advanced age keep you from getting to church?
• What if personal problems, difficulties or concerns make it difficult to attend?
• What if the length of these longer-than-usual celebrations is more than you can handle at this time in your life?
Not to worry!
In these days, you can find the Triduum liturgies livestreamed from Saint Peter's in Rome - and from your local parish! Of course, this is not the same as participating in person but it is a way to pray with the Church through these holy days.
AND... Mass on Easter Sunday (the fourth panel in the illustration above) is also a prayerful, beautiful, glorious celebration of the Lord's Resurrection - and I hope you'll be able to join your parish on Sunday morning.
But if any of the reasons that keep you from the Triduum also apply on Easter Sunday morning, set apart some time on Easter to read the scriptures for the day (see the link at the top of my sidebar here).
In short: come if you can - and if you can't, join us in spirit and prayer!
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