Into the Triduum

Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. These "high holy days" make up what Catholics have traditionally called the "Holy Triduum." What would seem as a few days to slow one's pace of life in order to enter into the deepest mysteries of our faith, the life of the seminarian (as well as priests) does quite the opposite -- it only gets busier for us in these upcoming days. The seminarians have a unique opportunity to participate in these liturgies by serving as acolytes or for the 4th year men, as deacons in the liturgy. These liturgies are ritually "thicker" than the Sunday mass, so this means that we will have had to attend a liturgy rehearsal in order to coordinate all the actions that take place. For those of us who will attend some or all of the Triduum liturgies at the cathedral, it will be a great blessing to gather along with our local shepherd, Archbishop Harry Flynn.

In these upcoming days, some of the most significant aspects of Catholicism are established: the institution of the Eucharist, the establishment of the ministerial priesthood, the Passion and Death of Jesus, and his Resurrection. "For this," Jesus says, "I came into the world" (cf Jn 18: 37).

As the liturgies commemorate for us God's loving plan of redemption, let us make the words of the Psalmist our own: "Open to me the gates of holiness, I will enter and give thanks!"