The Sacred Paschal Triduum: Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday is the anniversary of the Last Supper, where Christ instituted the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist and Sacrament of Holy Orders. It is with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper that the liturgical season of Lent officially concludes, and the brief liturgical season officially known as the Sacred Paschal Triduum of the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord begins.

The brief liturgical season of the Sacred Paschal Triduum (Sacrum Triduum Paschale), also called the Easter Triduum, serves as a bridge or transition between the liturgical season of Lent and the liturgical season of Easter. Triduum is Latin for “three days”. The first day of the Sacred Paschal Triduum begins on Holy Thursday with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Missa in Cena Domini) and concludes with the beginning of the second day when the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord (Celebratio Passionis Domini) is celebrated on Good Friday. The third and final day of the triduum begins on Holy Saturday with the celebration of the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night (Vigilia Paschalis in Nocte Sancta) and concludes with the celebration of the evening prayer of Vespers on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection (Dominica Paschæ in Resurrectione Domini).

The Sacred Paschal Triduum “celebrates the Paschal Mystery and so is the culmination of the entire Liturgical Year” (Rev. Jovian P. Lang, OFM, Dictionary of the Liturgy (1989), p. 566). However, even though the liturgical season of Lent has technically concluded, the fortieth and last day of Lent is Holy Saturday, and so Lenten practices are continued until the celebration of Easter.

In the evening Mass of Holy Thursday, we celebrate the three gifts Jesus Christ imparted to His beloved Bride the Church: the Priesthood, the Eucharist, and a Love that is stronger than death. In her liturgical rites, holy Church enters the upper room for the “Cena Domini”. He, the Lord and Master of all, kneels humbly to wash the feet of the men He has called to serve. At table with His closest disciples, the Lord brings together all the sacrifices of the Old Law as He takes bread and wine and makes Himself the one Sacrifice of a new dispensation, the Sacrifice of His Church. Then together they go forth into the night, to the Mount of Olives, to the Garden of Gethsemane, and the drama of His Passion begins” (Bishop Peter J. Elliott, Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year (2002), n. 184 / p. 96).

Just prior to the celebration of the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Blessed Sacrament is privately removed from the tabernacle and taken to a “place of reservation” in the sacristy. The Hosts reserved there will be an extra supply for Holy Communion on Good Friday, a day on which the celebration of Mass is forbidden. All holy water fonts are also completely emptied before the start of the Sacred Paschal Triduum.

In some places, the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper begins with a brief rite of Reception of the Holy Oils, namely the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Sacred Chrism that were blessed at the Mass of Chrism by the diocesan bishop. The Mass of Chrism, traditionally celebrated on Holy Thursday morning but usually earlier in Holy Week, “emphasizes the institution of the priesthood” and includes “a general renewal of commitment to priestly service by both the bishop and the priests” (Rev. Jovian P. Lang, OFM, Dictionary of the Liturgy (1989), p. 253). During the singing of the Gloria, the church bells ring for the last time until Easter is officially ushered in during the Easter Vigil.

The optional rite of the Washing of the Feet takes place following the Liturgy of the Word. This rite is also known by the Latin word mandatum from the phrase novum mandatum or new commandment to love one another as Christ has loved us (cf. John 13:4-17).

The evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper ends not with the usual final blessing and dismissal, but with the solemn Transfer of the Holy Eucharist to the “Place of Reposition” or “Altar of Repose”. All are invited to “remain here” and “watch and pray” (Matthew 26:38, 41) with the Eucharistic Christ. During adoration on this night, the Church recommends silently reading and meditating on chapters 13-17 of the Gospel of Saint John. Ideally, solemn adoration at the Place of Reposition continues until midnight. The candles are then extinguished, and all flowers removed. Only one lamp remains burning.

Sometime following the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper and the Transfer of the Eucharist, the Striping of the Altars takes place, during which Night Prayer of Compline is traditionally sung. All linens, candles, and portable crosses are removed from all altars and side chapels. Unmovable crosses are veiled in red or violet, unless they have already been covered on the Saturday before the Fifth Sunday in Lent. No votive candles or lamps burn again until the singing of the Gloria at the Easter Vigil. This somewhat severe symbolism is meant to call attention to the great importance of these most solemn and holy days.

"Reminíscere miseratiónum tuárum, Dómine, et fámulos tuos ætérna protectióne sanctífica, pro quibus Christus, Fílius tuus, per suum cruórem instítuit paschále mystérium. Qui vivit et regnat in s?cula sæculórum. Amen [Remember your mercies, O Lord, and with Your eternal protection sanctify Your servants, for whom Christ Your Son, by the shedding of His Blood, established the Paschal Mystery. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen]" (The Roman Missal, Third Edition (2010), Celebration of the Passion of the Lord, Collect).