Today, Holy Thursday, begins what the Catholic church calls the Triduum, the three holiest days of the Church year. This evening, we gather to remember how Jesus left us a way that He could always be with us even though He would return to His father after the resurrection. The Jewish people celebrated the Feast of Passover or sometimes called the Feast of Unleavened Bread every year because their escaping the life of slavery & going into a life of freedom as the People of God was so important to them. They went from death to life. In the midst of that celebration for Jesus & His friends (who were Jews) Jesus changed the bread into His body & a cup of wine into His blood. They were still under the appearances of bread and wine, but in their substance (or essence) they were really His body & blood. This is what Catholics believe as the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. We can go from the slavery (death) of sin into the life of Christ every time we receive the Eucharist. Jesus asked the apostles to “Do this in memory of me” Every Eucharistic celebration is more than just a remembrance of what Jesus did that night.
I hope you can attend either the Good Friday service at 1PM or come to a prayer service in the evening at 7 PM when candles are extinguished one by one until it is as dark as the tomb in which Jesus was placed after he died. These are sad & somber services, as if someone had died. Indeed, Someone has – for us, so we can be freed from the fear of death. It is not the end though.
The Easter Vigil begins at 8PM again in the dark, since we are still reflecting on Jesus’ death and burial. We start with the new fire outside. This tradition was begun by St. Patrick to counter the influence of spring bonfires among the Celtic Druids (pagans) & was eventually incorporated into the Easter Vigil ceremonies. The lighting of a new Easter fire also had a practical purpose. The lamps in church used to be extinguished Holy Thursday night. Consequently, a new fire had to be lit for the celebrant and readers to see by. The Easter candle represents Christ the light of the world coming into the darkness of sin & overcoming it. Do come for this special night. Even though it is long, almost 2-2 ½ hrs, there is something going on all the time. It is very interactive. Bring your bells for the Gloria.
“Let us rejoice and be glad for truly this is the day the Lord has made”
HAPPY EASTER! From S. Carol Ann Jaeger, SSSF
