Newsletter - 13 April 2025
The Great Three Days
Thursday, we begin the Easter Triduum (pronounced Tri-du-um), the great Three Days (three days because of the Jewish tradition of the day beginning with sunset -Thursday evening to Sunday evening).
We have to see the Triduum as one great liturgical act. We enter the liturgy on Thursday evening and do not leave till Easter. There is no dismissal that night. The priests leave in silence. On Friday they enter in silence and there is no entrance rite and again, no dismissal. It is a kind of choreography, a three-day journey, full of dignity and grandeur, ending with the Easter Vigil, when it’s the new Paschal candle that leads the entrance.
The Holy Thursday liturgy is often not well attended, but it is a vital part of this one liturgical act. At the Last Supper Jesus and his disciples are celebrating the Passover meal as they did every year. But now Jesus gives it new meaning. He takes the unleavened bread and says, “This is my body. . .” He takes the wine representing the lambs slain to protect the Israelites in Egypt and says, “This is my blood. . . “
In this way, he prepares his closest friends for what is to come. Think of what Calvary would be without the Last Supper – a brutal act of violence. Holy Thursday changes its character completely. It becomes a tremendous act of self-giving love. He says, “I will die tomorrow, but I will die for you.” The meaning is given before the event. First, he said, then he did. He gave himself freely out of love. They did not take his life. All evil and hatred were taken up in his great act of self-giving love.
Reliving Jesus’ Last Supper helps us enter the rest of the Triduum. After the Holy Thursday liturgy, before going home, we pray in silence before the Blessed Sacrament, recalling his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. The next day is quieter, fasting and avoiding premature Easter celebrations as we accompany Jesus to the cross. Saturday we can finish our Easter preparations, eat simple meals, and continue to wait quietly for
The culmination of the Triduum - the triumph and victory of Resurrection.
Lent is over and the celebration can begin!
Nancy Wood, ccn
Focus of the week
PECORELLE PASQUALI
On Palm Sunday there is an opportunity for parishioners to buy a lovely “Pecorelle Pasquali”.
These are traditional confectionery in the form of a Lamb made from marzipan (almond paste) a symbol of Easter in Sicily.
They will be on sale after the masses this weekend. This will contribute to our fundraising activities.
LENTEN JOURNEYS
During Lent this year we will be offering video testimonies of journeys taken by people in our parish. This week’s interview features Georges and Olga from Ukraine, who landed at our parish and found a home.
Video available from the Parish Website www.christthekingcockfosters.co.uk. If you have missed any videos from the last few weeks, they are all available watch on the Parish YouTube page.
SPRING CLEANING OF THE CHURCH
After the 11:00am Mass on Monday 14 April. Everyone welcome to join us!
Tea and coffee to follow.