Man of Sorrows, Lord of Joy

During the Easter Triduum beginning tomorrow, we will relive the central event of our salvation. This will be a time of intense prayer and meditation during which we will reflect — with the help of the beautiful liturgies of Holy Week — on the passion, death and resurrection of Christ.

We find the meaning and fulfillment of human history in the Paschal mystery. “Therefore,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes, “Easter is not simply one feast among others, but the ‘Feast of feasts,’ the ‘Solemnity of solemnities,’ just as the Eucharist is the ‘Sacrament of sacraments…’ St. Athanasius calls Easter ‘the Great Sunday’ and the Eastern Churches call Holy Week ‘the Great Week.’ The mystery of the Resurrection, in which Christ crushed death, permeates with its powerful energy our old time, until all is subjected to him” (No. 1169).

Food for Our Salvation

Tomorrow, on Holy Thursday, we will contemplate Christ, who, in the Upper Room on the eve of his passion, gave himself to the Church, instituted the ministry of priesthood, and left a new commandment for his disciples—the commandment of love. Through the sacrament of the Eucharist, he desired to remain with us by becoming the food for our salvation. Following the very moving Liturgy of the Lord's Supper, we will keep a vigil of adoration with the Lord, obedient to the wish that he expressed to the apostles in the Garden of Olives: “Remain here and keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:38).

On Good Friday, we will relive the tragic events of the passion of our Redeemer, up to his crucifixion on Golgotha. Adoration of the cross will help us understand more deeply the infinite mercy of God. Consciously exp e r i e n c i n g such immense sorrow, the only-begotten Son of the Father became the definitive proclamation of salvation for humanity. Undoubtedly, the journey of the cross is difficult. Yet, it is only there that we discover the mystery of death that gives life. Then, in the climate of recollection and silence of Holy Saturday, we will have the opportunity to wait in prayer with Mary for the glory of the Resurrection, already experiencing a foretaste of that deep joy.

The Glory of the Resurrection

While singing the “Gloria” during the Easter Vigil, the splendor of our destiny will be revealed: to constitute a new humanity, redeemed by Christ, who died and rose for us. As people from all ends of the earth sing, on Easter Sunday, “Dux vitae mortuus regnat vivus,” “the Lord of life was dead; but now, alive, he triumphs” (Sequence), we will be able to fully understand and love the Cross of Christ: from the cross, Christ vanquished sin and death forever!

During the Easter Triduum we will gaze more intensely on Christ's face. His face full of suffering and agony will help us to understand better the dramatic nature of the events and situations that afflict humanity even today. His face resplendent with light opens up our lives to renewed hope.

In my Apostolic Letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte, I wrote: “Two thousand years after these events, the Church relives them as if they had happened today. Gazing on the face of Christ, the Bride contemplates her treasure and her joy. ‘Dulcis Iesus memoria, dans vera cordis gaudia’: how sweet is the memory of Jesus, the source of the heart's true joy!” (No. 28).

Sharing Others' Burdens

In Gethsemane we will feel singularly in tune with those who are weighed down with anguish and loneliness. Meditating on the Jesus' trial, we will remember all those who are persecuted for their faith and for the sake of justice.

Accompanying Christ to Golgotha, on the Via Dolorosa, we will confidently lift up those who are burdened in body and spirit by evil and sin.

In the supreme hour of the sacrifice of the Son of God, we will confidently place at the foot of the cross the longing we all have in our hearts: our desire for peace!

After having contemplated together with her the suffering face of Christ, Mary Most Holy, who faithfully followed her Son all the way to the cross, will lead us on to enjoy the light and joy that emanate from the splendor of the face of the Risen Christ.

My wish for you is that this Triduum may truly be holy so that you may experience an Easter full of happiness and consolation!

(Register translation)