Record number enters local Catholic churches as Triduum begins in Houston
March 24, 2015
HOUSTON — During the Easter Triduum next week, parishes across the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston celebrate the Easter Vigil during which they will welcome more than 2,350 people into the Catholic Church.
People entering the Church is always cause for celebration and thanksgiving, however, this year is especially unique — the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will be receiving more people through the Rite of Catholic Initiation (RCIA) than any other diocese in the country.
“In keeping with a noticeable trend we have experienced these past few years, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is once again preparing to bring an impressive number of persons into the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation this Easter,” said Daniel Cardinal DiNardo. “These individuals, and in some cases entire families, all come with unique stories and backgrounds and yet have one thing in common — they’ve been called by the Lord Jesus to a deeper, more intense relationship with Him through the Church.”
The Triduum is liturgical season that follows Lent and precedes the Easter season. During this time, the Church celebrates the Paschal Mystery — the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday and ends with evening prayer on Easter Sunday.
Holy Thursday
On Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is held in the evening. This Mass commemorates the institution of the Eucharist, the institution of the priesthood and Christ’s command to love one another.
Traditionally, the Chrism Mass is also held on Holy Thursday. However, the local bishop may move the date of the Chrism Mass to accommodate parishes and schedules. This year, the Chrism Mass will be celebrated March 31.
During the Holy Thursday Mass, the priest performs the washing of feet. The washing of the feet represents the service and charity of Christ, who came “not to be served, but to serve.” The rite is optional, and is not performed in every parish.
At the end of Mass, the Blessed Sacrament, accompanied by lighted candles and incense, is carried through the church to the place of reservation, to the singing of the hymn “Pange lingua” or some other eucharistic song. The faithful are encouraged to spend time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.
After Mass, the altar is stripped of all linens and candles. Many churches will also cover any crosses in the church with a red or purple veil.
Good Friday
Good Friday is the most solemn day of the Christian year. It is the day on which we remember the passion and death of Jesus on the cross.
As such, Good Friday is a day of penance to be observed through fasting and abstaining from meat.
On Good Friday, the Church does not celebrate Mass. The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, which includes a Liturgy of the Word, veneration of the cross and a Communion service using hosts already consecrated.
Veneration of the cross can take many forms, often based around the size of the cross used and number of people present. It often involves genuflecting, kissing the cross, or some other customary sign of veneration.
Holy Saturday
On Holy Saturday, the Church is at the Lord’s tomb, meditating on his passion and death, and on His descent into hell and awaiting His resurrection. Fasting is encouraged on Holy Saturday, though it is not required.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Jesus “descended into hell” following His death on the cross “to free the just who had gone before Him… This is the last phase of Jesus’ messianic mission, a phase which is condensed in time but vast in its real significance: the spread of Christ’s redemptive work to all men of all times and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in the redemption.”
There is no Mass celebrated on Holy Saturday during the day.
Easter Vigil
The Easter Vigil takes place after nightfall on Saturday evening. The vigil recognizes our waiting for the coming of the Lord on Easter Sunday.
The Easter Vigil consists of the four parts. The service begins outside the church with the service of light, in which the paschal candle is prepared and blessed.
The procession into the darkened church is led by the paschal candle and the light is passed to candles that are held by the people.
By this candlelight, the deacon or priest makes the Easter Proclamation which tells, by means of a great poetic text, the whole Easter mystery placed in the context of the economy of salvation.
The readings from Sacred Scripture constitute the second part of the Vigil.
They give an account of the outstanding deeds of the history of salvation, which the faithful are helped to meditate calmly upon by the singing of the responsorial psalm, by a silent pause and by the celebrant’s prayer.
The Liturgy provides several readings chosen from the Old Testament. After these readings, the “Gloria” is sung, bells are rung and the lights inside the church are turned on. After this, two readings from the New Testament, namely an epistle and the Gospel, are proclaimed.
Thus the Church, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets” explains Christ’s Paschal Mystery.
The third part of the Vigil is the baptismal Liturgy. The Litany of Saints is sung and the baptismal water is blessed. The faithful present will renew the baptismal vows.
At this point, candidates and catechumens who have been prepared through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) will receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation.
The fourth part of the celebration is the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In receiving the body and blood of Christ, the fullness of the Easter Sacrifice is realized with the commemoration of the Sacrifice of the Cross and the presence of the risen Christ, the completion of Christian initiation of the candidates and catechumens, and the foretaste of the eternal feast.
Easter Sunday
Mass on Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and his victory over death. The Mass includes a sprinkling with the water blessed at the Easter Vigil.
The paschal candle will also be lit and visible at the front of the church, signifying Christ as the light of the world.