Egg Hunts, bunnies, and coloring eggs come to mind when celebrating Easter. In Christianity, particularly Catholicism, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated on Easter Sunday, with the option of additional fun Easter egg hunts and so on.
Leading up to Easter, Catholics celebrate the Easter Triduum every year, starting on Holy Thursday and ending Easter Sunday. During this time, the Catholic churches have a few services that lead up to the Resurrection of the risen Lord on Sunday.
Despite people staying in their homes because of the COVID-19 virus, the liturgical services still took place in many churches through a Livestream for their parishioners.
Additional link: Catholic tradition following Holy Thursday service
Holy Thursday
Holy Thursday starts with the Chrism Mass. Father Ryan Richardson, associate Chaplain of Benedictine College, said the special part of the mass is the blessing of the Holy Oils.
“The Holy Oils are used in the sacraments each year and the bishop blesses those oils that are given to the priests to take back to their parishes,” Fr. Ryan said.
In the evening, Holy Thursday concludes with the congregation of each parish celebrating the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Oils for the parish are presented during the celebration along with the washing of the feet, following the Gospel in John 13.
Even though every mass service commemorates the Last Supper, Holy Thursday gives special attention to this event because of the Institution of the Eucharist, along with the Institution of the Priesthood, according to the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.
“The Mass of the Lord’s Supper is also the memorial of the institution of the priesthood, by which Christ’s mission and sacrifice are perpetuated in the world,” the USCCB said.
In some traditions, Catholics would also visit seven other churches for prayer following the Holy Thursday service, dated back to when people would visit the Seven Station churches in Rome on Holy Thursday.
Additional link: Regarding institution of priesthood and USCCB
Good Friday
Good Friday involves the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, remembering the crucifixion of Christ and death on the cross, typically celebrated at 3 pm, which is the hour that Christ had died.
It is tradition each year that the Veneration of the Cross takes place, with the congregation adoring Christ by kissing the cross as a gesture of reverence and worship for the Lord.
Following the Good Friday service, there are no liturgies or masses anytime until the Saturday Easter Vigil in the evening. In remembrance of Christ’s death, Holy Saturday can be a day of silence and mourning.
Leading up to Easter Sunday
“[It is] a day of silence because the Eucharist is out of the Tabernacle and there’s no Eucharist in the churches,” Fr. Ryan said. “We’re still kind of mourning the Lord and he’s in the tomb.”
Taking the Eucharist out of the church, along with taking everything off the altar is a way of showing Christ’s death. Father Ryan said that Holy Saturday is usually also reserved for reflection on the Blessed Virgin Mary and how she lived during this time.
Easter Vigil
At the Easter Vigil, the service always starts with the blessing of the Paschal Candle to start the new liturgical year, followed by a candlelit procession into the church. The candle stays lit through the Easter Season.
“It’s one of the most solemn moments in the whole liturgical year when that’s lite and at a blessing of the candle,” Fr. Ryan said. “It’s the light of Christ coming into the world and the risen Christ and light, and dispelling darkness.”
The vigil is also special because some people become new members of the Catholic Church by way of receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation.
On Easter Sunday, Christ is risen, and the Easter season has begun. The altar is decorated beautifully with the addition of Easter Lilies, which symbolizes the Blessed Virgin’s innocence and purity because of the white color.
Fr. Ryan also mentioned that the priests also wear white for the whole Easter Season symbolizing purity and innocence, but also because of Christ’s victory and triumph over death.
The Easter Season, in the Catholic tradition, also lasts for 50 days from the Sunday of the Resurrection to Pentecost Sunday and is a time to be joyful and celebrated as one “great Sunday” as the USCCB calls it.
Additional link: Regarding 50 Days of Easter Season
Additional link: Easter Lilies meaning
