The unique character of these days leads the Church to mark them in very unusual ways. Holy Thursday stresses the gift of the Eucharist and throughout this day only one Mass - the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper - may be celebrated. We will celebrate this Mass at 7:00 PM on April 9 via live-stream. Also throughout the Triduum, the tabernacle and holy water fonts are empty. Due to it’s location, St. Paul’s tabernacle will be covered with a white cloth as a reminder of the Eucharist not being present. This calls us to remember that the Eucharist and Baptism are gifts which we need to appreciate. The Mass of the Lord’s Supper has a couple of unusual aspects. The washing of the feet during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is optional (and will not be done this year). Typically we would receive the oils which were blessed by the Bishop on Tuesday of Holy Week during the offertory. This year, while the Bishop performed the blessing, we will receive our oils at another time from our Dean. In a certain sense, this Mass does not end as there is no dismissal.. Instead, the Eucharist is traditionally carried in procession to a special place of reservation where adoration takes place. Due to the current pandemic, this will not occur.

Good Friday is the only day of the year when the Catholic Church does not celebrate Mass. At 3:00 PM on April 10 there will be a live-stream of the Service of the Lord’s Passion. This will include scriptures, veneration of the Cross and communion. The hosts received at this service will have been consecrated at the Mass on Holy Thursday or the previous Sunday.
On Holy Saturday, April 11, we will celebrate the Easter Vigil via live-stream starting at 8:30 PM. This is the most important event of the Church Year. The Vigil is a long and very beautiful celebration of the resurrection. Many of us have probably experienced vigils, for example, watching at the bedside of someone who is dying. The Easter Vigil is similar except that instead of watching for someone to die we are watching for someone to rise from the dead. The extensive series of readings which form part of the Easter Vigil are part of this “watching”. This is also a time when the Elect receive the Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, Confirmation and/or Holy Communion; however, this has been omitted this year and will take place at a later time, yet to be determined.

The holy water fonts are typically refilled with the water blessed during the Easter Vigil. Also, the bells will not ring from the Gloria during Holy Thursday Mass until the Gloria at the Easter Vigil. The bells are silent as we remember Jesus Christ in the silence of the tomb.

As noted above, these are the most sacred days of the Church Year. May our celebration of these days help us to die with Christ and rise to renewed life with Him.