Sacred Paschal Triduum

“Paschal Mysteries”, these words often appear in many liturgical texts and in countless articles on the liturgy. Their popular Cebuano translation would be, “mga misteryo sa pag-antus, kamatayon ug pagkabanhaw sa Ginoo”.

To emphasize the importance of the Resurrection Mystery or Easter Mystery the Roman Missal uses as title of rites and rubric of these days the words, Paschal Triduum. These words actually refer to Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil on Saturday and Easter Sunday. The word, Triduum, is the Latin for “three days”.

The emphasis here is the word Paschal from the Hebrew word Pasch or Passover which means Transition or Transfer. We use the Pasko as Cebuano translation, Pascual in translated Spanish.

It is helpful for our growth in spirituality to always remember the word Paschal or transfer or transit or Passover. For, essentially Christian life is a constant process of transition from slavery of sin and vice to the freedom of a virtuous life in union with God and others. Or, from debilitating weakness in our will power to renewed strength in self-control acquired through fasting and abstinence from greed and selfishness. This can rightly be called a Paschal Spirituality.

So every time we celebrate the Paschal Triduum during the Holy Week, we should always make an effort to make an inner change through the various ways of character transition.