My Triduum update

It's Friday night, a warm early April evening, full moon shining and I am home at 9:30 PM for the first time since 7 AM.  I'm exhausted and it's mostly a holy contentment!  There is so much effort, so much anticipation of Holy Week, the Triduum and Easter for weeks.  Meetings, practices, walk-through's all to insure that our liturgies, rituals and rites give the proper worship to God as the Church rubrics demand.  Every year, as we arrive at these high holy days, we are amazed that they are actually here.

Holy Week for me began with two Masses of Palm Sunday assisting as Deacon.  At both Masses, I proclaimed the opening Gospel and took the part of the narrator as we proclaimed the Passion of the Lord.  Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and the reminder that the Triduum is rapidly approaching.

The work week promised to be exceptionally hectic this week so I knew that work and ministry meant it was time to be efficient and organized.  I managed two very productive days at work on Monday and Tuesday and even managed to get my grass cut in the evenings.  But once back inside, it was time to read my notes on the liturgies coming up, practice proclaiming the Gospel and even organizing two infant Baptisms for the weeks after Easter.  By Wednesday it was full speed as my Triduum begun.  Yes I know the Triduum does not began on Wednesday but for me, it does.  Wednesday night was our visit to Rayburn and the celebration of the Eucharist followed by a full Seder Meal.  All the men took the various parts as the Passover Seder was reenacted with matzah, lamb, bitter herbs, haroset and grape juice(for the wine).  It's a long night.  We were at the prison for an extra hour than normal.  As Thursday dawned I was actually grateful that I was not to preside this year at morning Vespers as I had a killer long day at work.  My goal was to get out of the office in time to be at the church for one last practice for the Holy Thursday liturgy.  Indeed, I made it!  Practice makes perfect as our walk-through helped to make for a beautifully celebrated liturgy.  We begin at 7 in the evening, follow the rubrics, arrive at the washing of the feet, which we do a little differently at MHT.  Everyone gets their feet washed and the elderly, who cannot kneel can have their hands washed at stations set up in the rear of the church.  It's a beautiful thing to witness, but it does take some time.  Holy Thursday liturgy, as we all should know, is the beginning of one long liturgy that does not conclude until the Easter Vigil is complete.  We end the evening with Eucharistic procession, including Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until midnight.  For me, after Mass, I spent a holy hour at MHT then drove to my home parish of St. Jane's and did a holy half-hour there.  I left for work before 7:30 in the morning and got home at 10 PM.  Long day but fulfilling day!  And just like that Holy Thursday is over.  Friday morning brought only a 1/2 day at work, but a long day at the church.  Practice was at 1 pm and the service begins at 3 pm.  We had the traditional Veneration of the Cross which ended at 4:30.  Another beautifully celebrated service as part of the Triduum liturgy.  I returned to the church at 6 to be with our youth group and they watch them present a very moving, very beautiful Living Stations of the Cross!  I can only share with you that the youth did a remarkable job it was spiritually moving and I could not be more proud of the young church at MHT.  Home at 10 PM again; long but fulfilling!  and just like that Good Friday is over.

So that is my Triduum update.  We still have Holy Saturday and the great Easter Vigil.  But guess what?  All after I go to work for four hours.  Big week, busy week, exhausted; holy contentment.