The Triduum, the three days from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, is like one big liturgy, Bishop Michael Izen said. It also marks the Lord’s most significant day.
Bishop Izen spoke with Rachael McCallum, producer of the “Practicing Catholic” show, which is set to air at 9 p.m. April 18 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM, about John’s Gospel, in which Jesus says that he is going to prepare a room for us in his Father’s house.
“We get that so often in funerals: Jesus is going to prepare a place for us,” Bishop Izen said. “But I will sometimes remind the congregation that Jesus is speaking this on Holy Thursday night, and so he knows what’s coming the next day, that he’s going to be crucified. He’s trying to prepare them for that. You don’t so much hear that in the liturgy.”
In the liturgy, Bishop Izen said, there are moments such as the washing of the feet, in which Jesus calls the faithful to do likewise in serving others. Most notably, he explained, is the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. On Holy Thursday, Jesus demonstrates loving service and the Eucharist as a sacrament of love.
On Good Friday, the faithful recount the Lord’s great passion.
“In death it’s love not only for us, but his love for the Father and his obedience to the Father that comes through, and the agony in the garden and in his passion, he’s doing the will of the Father,” Bishop Izen said. “The great love of Jesus and the great obedience come through on Thursday and Friday. … Then Holy Saturday, that’s kind of a quiet day. I think of that as a very somber day. And I think what we see in our Lord there maybe is his patience because he wouldn’t have had to stay in the tomb three days, but he chose to.”
Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross shows his love for us, and Easter Sunday might be thought of as the last chapter of a book, Bishop Izen said.
“If somebody recommended you a book because it was a great book, you wouldn’t just jump to the last chapter,” Bishop Izen said. “That’s kind of what Easter Sunday is. It’s the good news about how it ends. But to really appreciate that, you’ve got to go through the whole story, and certainly the Triduum is a story that begins with his (Jesus’) conversation with his disciples, his meal with the disciples. All that he does on Holy Thursday.”
Holy Thursday, Bishop Izen said, includes the faithful keeping watch and praying with Jesus. Good Friday is standing at the foot of his cross. Bishop Izen recommended making Good Friday different from regularly scheduled days. All should be reverent, Bishop Izen said, and reflect on Jesus’ death at home or at a 3 p.m. Passion service.
To hear more about the Triduum from Bishop Izen, tune into “Practicing Catholic,” which repeats at 1 p.m. April 18 and 2 p.m. April 19.
Also on the program Zach Jansen, the digital content producer for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, shares how the story of Superman compares to the life and mission of Jesus Christ. Also, Lacy Afelbeck, founder of Edge of the Red Sea Ministries in St. Francis, Minnesota, shares how people can unite their suffering with Christ’s and lean on him for strength.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, “Practicing Catholic” can be heard after it has aired at archspm.org/faith-and-discipleship/practicing-catholic or choose a streaming platform at Spotify for Podcasters.
