As we gather together at the beginning of the three holiest days in the Christian year let us be silent and still as the mystery of our salvation unfolds.

The following notes are offered by way of preparation for this evening’s liturgy. The title Easter Triduum on the cover reminds us that over the next three days we are not celebrating three separate liturgies - rather we are brought into the saving events of those three days. The liturgy that we celebrate is far more than a passion play where we are the audience; through these events we are inserted into, and made sharers of, all that Jesus accomplished for our salvation. Through the symbols and gestures, scripture readings and prayers, we here and now participate so that all that he accomplished through his death and
resurrection is made real and present in our liturgy.

Maundy Thursday (from mandatum, ‘commandment’, because of the use of John 13.34 in the Antiphon) contains a rich complex of themes. As God’s Son prepares to die on the cross for the sins of the world, he gives to the Church the means to celebrate the new and eternal sacrifice. He shows us his way of humility and by instituting this most holy of Sacraments, Christ enables us to be nourished and sustained as we journey on with him in faith. In so doing, we participate in his saving death and resurrection as he continues to offer himself and to lead us to the Father.

On this, the night before his death, Jesus meets with his disciples or the Passover meal. At the end of this meal he institutes the Christian meal the Eucharist. Jesus takes bread and wine and commands (‘mandatum’) us to celebrate this every time we gather as a community. We conclude with the transfer of the Eucharist to be distributed tomorrow. The concluding gospel of the passion and stripping of the altar points us into Good Friday. There is no conclusion/dismissal tonight – we go in silence and continue tomorrow.