Paschal Triduum and Easter Season
Paschal Triduum and Easter Season is the summit of the Roman liturgical year: the Lord's supper, passion, burial, resurrection, and the fifty days culminating in Pentecost.[1]
One Paschal celebration
The Paschal Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, continues through Friday of the Passion of the Lord and Holy Saturday, reaches its center in the Easter Vigil, and closes with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday. These are not three unrelated commemorations but one unfolding celebration of Christ's Paschal mystery.[2]
On Good Friday the Roman Church celebrates the liturgy of the Passion rather than Mass. Holy Saturday is marked by the Church's waiting at the Lord's tomb; the Easter Vigil must begin after nightfall and includes light, an extended Liturgy of the Word, baptismal liturgy, and Eucharist.
The fifty days
Easter Time lasts fifty days from Easter Sunday through Pentecost and is celebrated as one great feast. The Ascension is observed on the fortieth day or transferred according to local law; Pentecost celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and completes the season.
Easter is the feast of feasts because the resurrection is the center of Christian faith and worship. Eastern Catholic Pascha shares this center while following its own vigils, calendar, hymnography, fasting transition, and festal leave-taking.
References
- Back to citation Catechism: The Liturgical Year — Paragraphs 1168–1171 on Easter and the annual cycle.
- Back to citation Homiletic Directory — Official treatment of the Triduum, Easter Vigil, and Easter season.