Q. I’m confused about the difference between Lent and the Easter Triduum. Aren’t Holy Thursday and Good Friday part of Lent? A. There’s no easy answer. The “Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar” found in th e Roman Missal d efine Lent and the Easter or Paschal Triduum as follows: “The 40 days of Lent run fromAsh Wednesday up to but excluding the Mass of the Lord’s Supper [on Holy Thursday evening]. … The Paschal Triduum of the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, has its center in the Easter Vigil, and closes with Vespers [Evening Prayer] of the Sunday of the Resurrection.” While Lent is 40 days long, we might think of the Paschal Triduum as a mini-liturgical season that spans key holy days (including the last part of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and most of Easter Sunday) and focuses our attention on the central mystery of our faith in Christ. The difference in tone is evident in the change in liturgical colors. After the violet of Lent, the priests wear white on Holy Thursday, red on Good Friday, then white again for the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. The purpose of the season of Lent is to prepare for the celebration of Easter. It is a penitential season marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The Church also observes the sacred Paschal fast on Good Friday, and we are encouraged to extend it to Holy Saturday until the Easter Vigil if possible. After Lent, we enter into the Paschal Triduum as the high point of the Liturgical Year. Through the Paschal mystery — that is, the Passion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension into glory of Jesus — the Lord accomplished the work of our redemption. In light of this mystery, Easter in Italian is called Pasqua (Passover), reminding us of the connection between Easter and the Old Testament Passover, the feast that celebrates the redemption of the Jewish people. So, too, the word “Paschal” in English can describe Jesus as the Passover or Paschal Lamb who was sacrificed for our sins. Q. Can you give me some advice for celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday in my parish? A. In the Diary of St. Faustina , our Lord revealed, “I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, and espe- cially for poor sinners” (699). The Lord desires that all Catholics and all souls find refuge in His great mercy, especially on Divine Mercy Sunday. Our Lord wants to pour out extraordi- nary graces on this feast (see Diary , 300, 699, and 1109), yet not all Catholics will be able to attend an enhanced celebration in their par- ishes on that day. What is essential or strictly necessary for us to receive the graces of the day, and what more can we do to celebrate the feast more solemnly if it is possible? To receive the extraordinary graces con- nected with the Feast of Mercy, we should receive Holy Communion worthily on Divine Mercy Sunday by going to confession before- hand (preferably during Lent), and then remain in the state of grace on the feast. If we open our hearts with trust when we receive our Lord in Holy Communion on that day, we will be given the promised graces. Divine Mercy Sunday can be observed more profoundly through the priest or deacon pro- claiming God’s mercy in his homily. All of the Scripture readings and the prayers on that day speak of this mystery. The Prayers of the Faithful can also reflect this theme. Additionally, we are encouraged to venerate the Divine Mercy image in parishes on that day by making some ges- ture of devotion toward our Lord in the sacred image. A Three O’clock Prayer Service could be held as well, which could include the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Benediction, and a Eucharistic Procession. Find out more on how your parish can celebrate at our special section, thedivinemercy.org/ celebrate. with Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC Marian Ask a What is the Easter or Paschal Triduum? Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC, welcomes your questions. Send them to: Ask a Marian, Editorial, Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA 01263, or e-mail
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