Cardinal Tobin: The Paschal Triduum brings us closer to the Lord

The Paschal Triduum is meant to be a liturgical experience that runs the gamut from profound sorrow to intense joy, writes Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, in the latest edition of his Rejoice in the Lord newsletter.

“Pope Francis says we do these things in order to break through our indifference to our neighbor and to God,” the Cardinal continues. “We observe the discipline of Lent and we celebrate the great mysteries of the Paschal Triduum in order to ‘trouble our conscience.’ We need this time of interior renewal and reawakening, the Holy Father says, “lest we become indifferent and withdraw into ourselves.”

He goes on to say: “All baptized Christians find ourselves on a journey. We walk together in the footsteps of the risen Christ as we travel toward our heavenly home. This sacred pilgrimage is not meant to be a time of drudgery and sorrow. Although it’s true that we are called to follow Jesus on the Way of the Cross, we should always remember our Lord’s promise to his disciples, ‘You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy (Jn 16:20).”

“As we enter into the Paschal Triduum this year, let’s open our hearts to the presence of God as it manifests itself in many different ways—in the Eucharist, in the veneration of the Holy Cross, and in the singing of the Exultet and the Gloria at the Easter Vigil,” the Cardinal writes. “The Church has given us a great gift these days. We can walk with Jesus, growing closer to him and to each other as we observe this great festival of our faith. May our celebration of the Paschal Triduum help us break through our indifference and become united to Christ and to one another.”

Read Rejoice in the Lord in English.

Read Rejoice in the Lord in Spanish.