Easter Triduum, or Holy Triduum, is the period of three days from Holy Thursday (seen as beginning with the service of the preceding evening) to Easter Day.
Since the 1955 reform by Pope Pius XII, the Easter Triduum has been more clearly distinguished as a separate liturgical period.
After the Gloria in Excelsis Deo at the Mass of the Lord's Supper all church bells are silenced and the organ is not used until Easter Sunday when once again they are put into service.
For a list of the days and customs in the Triduum, see :
http://www.catholicadventure.com/2010/03/very-intersting-facts-about-catholic.html
Holy Week Contemplation by saint Josemaria Escriva
The tragedy of the passion brings to fulfilment our own life and the whole of human history. We can't let Holy Week be just a kind of commemoration. It means contemplating the mystery of Jesus Christ as something which continues to work in our souls. The Christian is obliged to be alter Christus, ipse Christus: another Christ, Christ himself. Through baptism all of us have been made priests of our lives, "to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Everything we do can be an expression of our obedience to God's will and so perpetuate the mission of the Godman.
Once we realize this, we are immediately reminded of our wretchedness and our personal failings. But they should not dishearten us; we should not become pessimistic and put our ideals aside. Our Lord is calling us, in our present state, to share his life and make an effort to be holy. I know holiness can sound like an empty word. Too many people think it is unattainable, something to do with ascetical theology — but not a real goal for them, a living reality. The first Christians didn't think that way. They often used the word "saints" to describe each other in a very natural manner: "greetings to all the saints"; "my greetings to every one of the saints in Jesus Christ."
Take a look now at Calvary. Jesus has died and there is as yet no sign of his glorious triumph. It is a good time to examine how much we really want to live as Christians, to be holy. Here is our chance to react against our weaknesses with an act of faith. We can trust in God and resolve to put love into the things we do each day. The experience of sin should lead us to sorrow. We should make a more mature and deeper decision to be faithful and truly identify ourselves with Christ, persevering, no matter what it costs, in the priestly mission that he has given every single one of his disciples. That mission should spur us on to be the salt and light of the world.
Saint Josemaria Escriva, Christ is Passing By, 96
Once we realize this, we are immediately reminded of our wretchedness and our personal failings. But they should not dishearten us; we should not become pessimistic and put our ideals aside. Our Lord is calling us, in our present state, to share his life and make an effort to be holy. I know holiness can sound like an empty word. Too many people think it is unattainable, something to do with ascetical theology — but not a real goal for them, a living reality. The first Christians didn't think that way. They often used the word "saints" to describe each other in a very natural manner: "greetings to all the saints"; "my greetings to every one of the saints in Jesus Christ."
Take a look now at Calvary. Jesus has died and there is as yet no sign of his glorious triumph. It is a good time to examine how much we really want to live as Christians, to be holy. Here is our chance to react against our weaknesses with an act of faith. We can trust in God and resolve to put love into the things we do each day. The experience of sin should lead us to sorrow. We should make a more mature and deeper decision to be faithful and truly identify ourselves with Christ, persevering, no matter what it costs, in the priestly mission that he has given every single one of his disciples. That mission should spur us on to be the salt and light of the world.
Saint Josemaria Escriva, Christ is Passing By, 96
Fast Facts about Holy Week
Holy Week in the Catholic Church is the last week of Lent (the week before Easter). It includes Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday)and Good Friday. The week lasts from Palm Sunday and ends at the beginning of Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday then begins a new season which lasts fifty days. Holy week commemorates the last week of the earthly life of Jesus Christ including his crucifixion. Each day is lived-out by Catholics as if each day was happening again during Holy Week. Come back again soon, when I will have further explanation of the individual days of the coming week.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day
Between wearing green so not to get pinched and putting food dye in beer, the actual feast day has gotten lost in an ever growing list of secular traditions. Today, the real St. Patrick has taken a back seat to leprechauns. If you are curious about the Saint behind the day, here are some well known quotes from St. Patrick so you may get to know him a little better:"Before I was humiliated I was like a stone that lies in deep mud, and he who is mighty came and in his compassion raised me up and exalted me very high and placed me on the top of the wall."
"Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me."
"I am Patrick, a sinner, most uncultivated and least of all the faithful and despised in the eyes of many."
"If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples; even though some of them still look down on me."
"No one should ever say that it was my ignorance if I did or showed forth anything however small according to God's good pleasure; but let this be your conclusion and let it so be thought, that - as is the perfect truth - it was the gift of God."
"That which I have set out in Latin is not my words but the words of God and of apostles and prophets, who of course have never lied. He who believes shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be damned. God has spoken."
"The Lord opened the understanding of my unbelieving heart, so that I should recall my sins."
If you would like to learn more about Saint Patrick's life, go to: http://www.catholicadventure.com/2010/03/facts-about-st-patricks-day-and-real-st.html
David Boreanaz of Bones and Buffy Fame In a New Movie
I have had many inquiries about Boreanaz David and the new movie that he appears in called The Mighty Macs. Yes, the movie does take place at a Catholic College and it does portray nuns in a positive way. But I would not call it a strictly Catholic movie. Many non-catholics would enjoy it purely as an underdog sports movie. There is also a little twist about one of the main characters that our Christian brethren will enjoy.
For a full review of the movie, go to: http://www.catholicadventure.com/2010/03/movie-review-of-might-macs-great-sports.html
For a full review of the movie, go to: http://www.catholicadventure.com/2010/03/movie-review-of-might-macs-great-sports.html
Movie Review of The Might Macs – A Great Sports and Catholic Movie
I just attended the 15th Annual International Family Film Festival at the Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. Last night, the festival premiered The Mighty Macs, which is the real life story of an all girls, college basketball team set in 1971. The story is an inspiring telling of a basketball coach who takes her team from “the team without a prayer” to a mighty force on the court. The movie was shot on location at the Immaculata College campus in Pennsylvania. This beautiful backdrop is where the actual events took place. In fact, many of the people who are portrayed in the movie have cameo appearances. The story itself is well done, and its portrayal of the nuns is very realistic and respectful. I have become so use to the religious of a story either being a villain or a punch line; I was pleasantly shocked when all were portrayed as real people. No convenient punching bags here to satisfy the Hollywood elite. Bravo! The credit has to go to the Director/Writer/Producer Tim Chambers. With his Catholic school education, he has a very apparent knowledge and respect for the religion and culture. Because of this, the movie transcends the typical sports movie superficiality and allows you to visit a time and place where important changes were occurring in our culture.The movie is nicely acted by Carla Cugino, David Boreanaz and Academy Award Winner Ellen Burstyn.
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