Enter the Triduum

Sisters and brothers, time has flown. There are only two days left in the Lenten season. As we find ourselves in the middle of Holy Week—having celebrated Passion Sunday—we now look forward to the great Triduum celebration of the Church. There are no better words I can offer you today than to invite you to come and celebrate the fullness of the Triduum.

Take the time for the three celebrations that make up the one liturgy of the greatest weekend of the year: Holy Thursday with our 6:00 celebration of the Mass of the Lord's Supper, Good Friday at 3:00 for the celebration of the Lord's Passion, and then—late as it is but important as it is—the greatest feast celebration in all of Christendom, the Easter Vigil.

And so I invite you to celebrate the three days.

I know it's Tuesday. And by the time Thursday evening comes, there are all kinds of distractions and pulls—I don't know where the children's shoes are, and dinner is running late. Skip those.

Come. Come and celebrate the Lord's renewal of our lives. We've worked hard this Lenten season to renew ourselves with prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. Now's the time to begin the celebration, as we mark the end of Lent and the beginning of the holiest season of the year. I look forward to seeing you at the Triduum.