Paschal Mystery T he Church at Prayer

1. Paschal MysteryThe Church at Prayer The Triduum Mr. Salter

2. Praying the Triduum • Liturgy, the official, public, communal prayer of the Church • The 3-day celebration of the Triduum starts on Holy Thursday evening (after sunset) • Technically it is Friday (because of an evening service) • Sunday is the fundamental and foundational holy day; • every Sunday is a “Day of Resurrection”

3. Liturgical Year • The liturgical seasons celebrate God’s plan of salvation revealed through His son Jesus • Liturgical Seasons • Advent – 4 weeks of preparation for Jesus birth • Key liturgical symbol, the Advent wreath • Christmas – birth of Jesus • Lent – 40 days of penance, fasting and almsgiving to prepare for the passion and Paschal Mystery • Holy Week (Triduum) and Easter • Starts on Palm Sunday (key symbol palm branch procession) • Holy Thursday – Chrism Mass, Last Supper mass, Washing of feet, Stripping of alter • Triduum – Holy Thursday evening, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil • Easter Time – celebrate as if the Kingdom has come; Jesus ‘appearing’ to us • 50 days concluding with Pentecost • Ordinary Time • Liturgical Cycles • Sundays A, B, C • Weekdays I, II

4. Liturgy and Paschal Mystery • Liturgy of Hours – also known as the Divine Office; is the daily prayer of the Church • Ordained priest and bishops have to say this daily • Consists of Songs, prayers, Psalms, Scripture readings • Morning, Noon (Angelus), Afternoon (Vespers), Evening (Compline) • Group prayer is NOT an official prayer of the Church • Though Jesus promises to be present when they gather in His name

6. Liturgy and Paschal Mystery • Vocabulary • Liturgical – anything related to the liturgy • Liturgical celebration – another name for Mass, a sacramental liturgy, or liturgy of the Church • Liturgist – a person who studies, researches ond teaches in the field of liturgy; or coordinate the planning of liturgies (i.e. weddings, funerals…) • Sacraments • All seven sacraments can take place in liturgies • The Church is a sacrament (a visible sign instituted by Christ to give sanctifying grace)

7. Holy Thursday • Palm Sunday starts Holy Week • Another name for Holy Thursday is Maundy Thursday • Maundy comes from Latin meaning “command” • Chrism Mass • Celebrated by Bishop for priests to recommit to promises • Sacred oils are blessed for use by diocese • Oil of Catechumens – olive oil blessed for Baptisms • Oil of Sick – olive oil blessed for anointing of sick • Sacred Chrism - olive oil blessed for sacramental anointing

8. Holy Thursday Liturgy • Chrism Mass • Oils brought in procession from Bishop • Washing of Feet • Symbolic “Call to Service” for parishioners • Dismissal of Elect • Those preparing for Baptism are asked to leave liturgy after homily • Collection for the Poor • Rice bowls, or Lenten banks special focus to help poor • Transfer of Eucharist • “Reservation altar”, or Altar of Repose will house the Eucharist between Good Friday and Easter Vigil • Many parishes celebrate “40-hour” adoration or devotions • Stripping of altar • Paschal Fast • Time of fast and abstinence culminates on Good Friday

9. Good Friday • A day focused on the Crucifix (Cross) • Latin translation of “Cross” • A day of mourning • Key visible symbols • Stark silence • Altar is bare • Decorations removed • Statues covered • No holy water in fonts

10. Good Friday Liturgy • There is no mass • No organ and musical accompanied • Order of Liturgy • Liturgy of the Word - suffering servant (OT), Jesus suffering and death (Hebrews), Passion • Formal Intercessions – Church, Pope, clergy and laity, catechumens, Jewish people, those who do not believe on Jesus/God, leaders of the world, special needs • Veneration of the Cross • Veneration of the cross as the instrument of our salvation • Communion Service • Eucharist processed from side altar for congregation to receive • Stations of the Cross • A Catholic devotion that commemorates in prayer the 14 stations of Jesus’ passion

11. Easter Vigil • The most important liturgy of the Church calendar • Each of the Easter masses has a special focus (vigil, morning, day) • Vigil – means “to be awake, to be watchful” • Easter candle – Paschal Candle • Celebrates the Light of Christ through the Easter Season with special markings each year • Liturgy of the Word • 3 – 7 readings form OT and NT recalling key events of Salvation History • Celebration of Baptism and Confirmed • Litany of Saints – pray for intercession of the saints and entire “Body of Christ” for those about to be Baptized • Those in the RCIA program are Baptized and welcomed into the parish community • Liturgy of Eucharist • Glorious music, bells, singing celebrate the resurrection of the Lord and our Redemption

12. Easter Time • Easter Time • Begins with Easter Vigil • Ends after evening Prayer on Pentecost • Easter Season lasts 50 days • Celebrating the Kingdom has come • “Alleluia” is the theme of this season • We read many of the stories of Jesus’ appearances

13. Ordinary Time • Seasons • Ordinary Time (following Christmas) • Begins with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord • Ends the day before Ash Wednesday • Ordinary Time (following Pentecost) • Begins after Evening Prayer on Pentecost • Ends on the day before the 1st Sunday of Advent • Ordinary comes from the Latin word for “counted” • Each week is numbered, (e.g. 3rd Sunday of Ordinary time) • The season is full of many solemnities, feasts and memorials of the Lord and saints • We also focus on the Church’s role in the world to announce, proclaim and live “the Way” of the Lord