Pope Francis at his General Audience explained the significance of the Easter Triduum, beginning with Holy Thursday, the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper.
The pope explained that Good Friday is an opportunity to “bring before the crucified Lord our suffering brothers and sisters, and all victims of war, violence and injustice.
Holy Saturday, he said, is “a day of profound silence” in which Catholics “join Mary in her sorrow at her Son’s death, and her trusting expectation of the fulfillment of God’s promises.”
SUMMARY OF THE POPE’S CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH
Dear brothers and sisters, tomorrow, we begin the Easter Triduum and our celebration of the saving mystery of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. On Maundy Thursday, in the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we commemorate Christ’s washing the disciples’ feet, his new commandment of love, and his institution of the Eucharist as the abiding memorial of the sacrifice of his body and blood for the salvation of all. On Good Friday, we celebrate Jesus’ redemptive sufferings and death through the solemn reading of the Passion, the Universal Prayer offered for the needs of the Church and the world, and the veneration of the wood of the cross. In this way, we bring before the crucified Lord our suffering brothers and sisters, and all victims of war, violence and injustice. On Holy Saturday, a day of profound silence, we join Mary in her sorrow at her Son’s death, and her trusting expectation of the fulfillment of God’s promises. At the Easter Vigil, the light of the paschal candle and solemn chant of the Alleluia joyfully announce Christ’s victory over sin and death. In this time of pandemic, may our celebration of the paschal mystery proclaim the cross of Christ as a light shining in the darkness and an enduring sign of hope in God’s promise of new life.
I cordially greet the English-speaking faithful. May this Holy Week lead us to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus with hearts purified and renewed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. God bless you!
