Make Easter Triduum Obligatory

It’s Holy Week. Of course, the question will rise again about whether to attend the Triduum services or not, yet they are not Holy Days of Obligation though Holy Saturday or Easter Sunday count. The short answer is yes. It may not be how one would think.

Holy Thursday and Good Friday are the highest points of Holy Week. They’re not obligatory days on the liturgical calendar. However, they play important roles in our faith.

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday commemorates the night Jesus instituted two important sacraments in the Catholic Church, the Eucharist and Holy Orders.

Jesus, knowing that the time of his passion was to come, gathered with his apostles in the upper room to have the Last Supper. During the feast Jesus gave us the eucharist, his body and blood to be nourished in memory of him.

Today, it becomes the high point of the Mass every time the priest recites those same words taking the place of Christ. In the state of grace (free from mortal sin that is), we receive Christ and are asked to share him to every person we encounter on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, Jesus made those men the first priests of the church. They were tasked to preach about loving one another, laying down their lives for the gospel, and share in this common priesthood. Those men would eventually become the first bishops of the Catholic Church. The tradition would be carried on well into the new millennium.

Churches commemorate this by having the washing of the feet and a mini procession to the repository signifying the time Jesus went from the upper room to the garden to pray. Many people take part in the seven-church pilgrimage that carries special graces.

Good Friday

The highest point of Holy Week comes on this solemn day. Fulton Sheen reminds us, “Without a Good Friday, there can be no Easter.” He’s right. Jesus fulfilled what the prophets foretold about the Messiah. The messiah came to liberate everyone from not just sin but Satan’s grip.

This was all done when Jesus took every beaten, mockery, buffets, and betrayal to show how much he loved us. He fell but never gave up. He carried a heavy cross despite being severely injured. He did it for us. While on the cross taking in his final breaths, he forgave all who sinned against. He thirsts for our souls. He accomplished the will of his father. He did all of this to save us.

Yes, these two days are not obligatory Masses. However, both play a significant role in why we observe Lent.

These two days are crucial to our Lenten journey.

Get to Mass. Plant the seeds to your children. It will help them prepare to live out their faith and to understand why the Eucharist is important in Catholicism.

See you in the Eucharist.