Sacred Triduum

Catholic faith refines the understanding of Holy Week by focusing on the commemoration of the institution of the Eucharist, the sacramental memorial of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection, together with the institution of the new priesthood which offers the new propitiatory sacrifice, on Holy Thursday. On Good Friday the Church commemorates Jesus' passion and Death in a solemn but austere liturgical ceremony that includes the reception of Holy Communion consecrated during the previous day's Mass of the Lord's Supper. At the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday evening the Church solemnly proclaims the world's redemption from the beginning of time until its consummation on the last day through the Risen Christ who goes before us and who is truly the Light of the world who leads us as the Way, the Truth and the Life. It does this in the company those who have been born again in the waters of baptism and sent into the world to bare witness to the New Life in Jesus Christ.