In the early Church the Paschal mystery, or Pascha, was celebrated as a single mystery. The events were not broken down into separate days of remembrance for the separate mysteries Pascha celebrates. Pascha was celebrated at the Easter Vigil, in the same way that the great Jewish Passover is celebrated on one evening. And as our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrate God’s saving them from slavery in the Exodus event, we celebrate the Paschal mystery of Christian faith in gratitude for Christ’s passing from death to new life as the risen Lord.



Holy Week concludes with the three days of the Triduum. During those three days we recall, one by one, the mysteries of our faith that make up the Paschal mystery: Jesus gave himself to us as the Bread of Life, his suffering and death bought our salvation from sin and eternal death, and his rising from the dead leads us to everlasting life.

The Triduum begins on Holy Thursday evening, when the Church recalls and celebrates the gift of Eucharist and the example of service shown us by Jesus. On Good Friday we recall Jesus’ suffering and death at the Good Friday service. On Holy Saturday evening we celebrate the Easter Vigil, the Church’s most important ritual celebration. The Triduum, which continues until evening prayer on Easter Sunday, can be called the three holiest days of the church year, marking the events of salvation won for us by Jesus Christ.

Family Activity

	Discuss the importance of water as an Easter symbol, especially how new water is blessed at the Easter Vigil. Water has long been a sign of health, good fortune, and a long life.

	•		Discuss how at the Easter Vigil, the priest blesses the new water and sprinkles us with it as a sign of our baptism.
	•		Share a prayer service together. Provide a bowl of holy water. Each family member is to sprinkle another gently with the holy water, using his or her fingers, and saying, "May you be blessed with the new life of Christ!"

See the Liturgical Calendar on this site for additional information.
See also Catechist—Lent or Teacher—Lent for Liturgy.