Comments on
Easter Triduum
VATICAN CITY, MARCH 19, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Easter triduum should remind
the faithful that love has triumphed, and that we can "start again from
Christ" to build a society of peace and love.
The Pope said this today in a commentary on the Easter triduum during the
general audience in Paul VI Hall.
He said the three days prior to Easter allow "us to relive the event
central to our Redemption," and "lead us to the nucleus of Christian
faith: the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ."
The Pontiff said they "could be considered one single day. They make up
the heart and are the key to both the liturgical year and the life of the
Church. At the end of Lent we also enter that climate which Christ hi mself
experienced back then in Jerusalem.
"We want to rekindle in ourselves the living memory of the suffering which
our Lord endured for us and to joyously prepare ourselves for next
Sunday."
The Holy Father then commented on each of the liturgies of the triduum,
beginning with Thursday's chrism Mass, which takes place "in every diocese
during which the bishop and priests of the diocese renew their promises made at
ordination."
Benedict XVI called the Mass "one of the most important moments in the
life of every Christian diocese, which, gathered around it's pastor,
strengthens it's unity and faith in Christ, the supreme and eternal
priest."
On Thursday evening, the Church celebrates the Mass of the Lord's Supper,
"when Christ gave himself to all of us as the food of salvation, as the
drug of immortality and the mystery of the Eucharist -- source and pinnacle of
Christian life."
During th e Mass, the priest washes the feet of twelve people. The Holy Father
said this reminds the faithful "how much Christ did for his
Apostles."
Gesture of love
"Washing their feet was a concrete way of exclaiming the primacy of his
love, a love that serves even to the point of giving oneself, anticipating as
well the supreme sacrifice of giving his life, which he was to do the following
day on Calvary," said the Pope. "According to a beautiful tradition,
the faithful close on Holy Thursday for a vigil of prayer and Eucharistic
adoration enabling them to relive the agonies that Christ suffered at
Gethsemane more vividly."
Even though no Mass is said on Good Friday, the Pontiff said the Church
"gathers to consider the mystery of sin and evil that oppress humanity. They
revisit, in the light of the word of God, the sufferings of Christ that atone
for this evil."
He said that on this day popular devotions, s uch as the Way of the Cross, take
place as a way for the faithful "to consider the passion and death of the
Redeemer, to express their love and to [...] participate in the suffering of
Christ."
Benedict XVI said Holy Saturday "is marked by a deep silence. [...] While
waiting for the Resurrection, the faithful persevere in the wait with Mary by
praying and meditating.
"A day of silence is necessary to ponder the reality of human life, the
forces of evil and the enormous power of good unleashed by the passion and
resurrection of Christ."
Saturday night is the Easter vigil, the Pontiff explained that this is when
"the Church holds vigil next to the newly blessed fire and meditates on
the great promise contained in the Old and New Testaments, of the conclusive
liberation from the ancient slavery to sin and death. In the darkness of the
night, the Easter candle is lit from the new fire as a symbol of Christ who
rises again in glory."
Light of the world
"Christ, the light of humanity, dispels any shadows in the heart and the
spirit and illuminates all men who come into the world," said the Pope. "Together
with the lighting of the Easter candle, the great Easter announcement
reverberates throughout the Church: Christ has truly risen, death no longer has
any power over him. With his death he defeats evil forever and makes man a gift
of God's own life."
The Holy Father summed up the meaning of the triduum, "The rites suggested
for Holy Thursday and Good Friday, the rich silence of prayer of Holy Saturday
and the solemn Easter vigil provide us with the opportunity to deepen the
feelings and the values of our Christian vocation unleashed by the Paschal
mystery, and to strengthen it by faithfully following Christ in all
circumstances, just as he did, even to the point of giving up our own existence
to him."
Benedict XVI also reminded the faithful that Easter isn't only about
remembering the events of Christ's life, but also about remembering "the
terrible facts and situations that afflict our brothers across the world. We
know that hate, division and violence never have the last word in historical
events."
"These holy days reawaken a great hope in us," he added. "Christ
was crucified, yet he rose again and conquered the world.
"Love is stronger than hate, it has triumphed and we should affiliate
ourselves with this victory of love. We should therefore start again from
Christ and work together with him for a world founded on peace, justice and
love."