Easter Triduum

Lent ends before Vespers of Holy Thursday begins. The Easter Triduum begins with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday Night, and closes with Vespers of Easter Sunday.

The Easter fast is sacred on the first two days of the Triduum, in which according to ancient tradition the Church fasts “because the Spouse has been taken away.” Good Friday is a day of fast and abstinence; it is also recommended that Holy Saturday be so observed, so that the Church, with uplifted and welcoming heart, be ready to celebrate the joys of the Sunday of the Resurrection.

Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

With the celebration of Mass on the evening of Holy Thursday “the Church begins the Easter Triduum, and recalls the Last Supper, in which the Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, loving unto the end His own who were in the world, He offered to the Father His Body and Blood under the species of bread and wine and gave them to the Apostles as spiritual nourishment, and He commanded them and their successors in the priesthood to perpetuate this offering.”

The mysteries which are commemorated in the Holy Thursday Mass are the institution of the Eucharist, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the institution of our Catholic Priesthood which has been passed down for over 2000 years through the Laying on of Hands during the Sacrament of Holy Orders when a man is ordained by the Bishop into the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, and Christ’s command of brotherly love.

After the transfer of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose there is no Mass celebrated in any Church throughout the world until the Holy Saturday Easter Vigil is complete. The tabernacle is empty, His Real Presence is removed from the body of our Churches to an Altar of Repose and Adoration.

Transfer of the Holy Eucharist

After the “Prayer after Communion” the blessed Sacrament is carried in procession through the church to the Altar of Reposition in the Portiuncula Chapel of St. Francis and St. Clare. During the procession the hymn “Pange Lingua” is sung.

When the procession reaches the Altar of Reposition the blessed Sacrament is incensed and placed in the tabernacle while the hymn “Tantum ergo Sacramentum” is sung.

After a period of silent adoration, the Priest and ministers genuflect and return to the sacristy of the church.

The people are encouraged to continue adoration before the Blessed Sacrament until midnight. There is no solemn adoration after midnight, for the day of the Lord’s Passion has begun.