The following excerpt is from the sections entitled "The Easter Triduum in General (#38-43)" and "Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper (#44-57)." These are the follow-on sections to the "Holy Week" section I sent earlier this week. These sections are from a circular letter (Prot. N. 120/88) published by the Congregation for Divine Worship on Saturday, 20 February 1988. I intend to send the Good Friday section tomorrow. Click here for the entire text of the circular letter.

III. THE EASTER TRIDUUM IN GENERAL

38. The greatest mysteries of the Redemption are celebrated yearly by
the Church beginning with the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy
Thursday until Vespers of Easter Sunday. This time is called "the triduum
of the crucified, buried and risen"; (42) it is also called the "Easter
Triduum" because during it is celebrated the Paschal mystery, that is, the
passing of the Lord from this world to his Father. The Church by the
celebration of this mystery, through liturgical signs and sacramentals, is
united to Christ, her Spouse, in intimate communion.

39. The Easter fast is sacred on the first two clays of the Triduum, in
which according to ancient tradition the Church fasts "because the Spouse
has been taken away". (43) Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence;
it is also recommended that holy Saturday be so observed, so that the
Church, with uplifted and welcoming heart, be ready to celebrate the joys
of the Sunday of the Resurrection. (44)

40. It is recommended that there be a communal celebration of the
Office of Readings and Morning Prayer on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. It
is fitting that the bishop should celebrate the Office in the cathedral,
with as far as possible the participation of the clergy and people. (45)

This Office, formerly called "Tenebrae", held a special place in the
devotion of the faithful, as they meditated upon the passion, death and
burial of the Lord, while awaiting the announcement of the Resurrection.

41. For the celebration of the Easter Triduum it is necessary that
there should be a sufficient number of ministers and assistants who should
be prepared so that they know what their role is in the celebration.
Pastors must ensure that the meaning of each part of the celebration be
explained to the faithful so that. they may participate more fully and
fruitfully.

42. The chants of the people and also of the ministers and the
celebrating priest are of special importance in the celebration of Holy
Week and particularly of the Easter Triduum, because they add to the
solemnity of these days, and also because the texts are more effective
when sung.

The episcopal conferences are asked, unless provision has already been
made, to provide music for those parts which should always be sung,
namely:

a) The general intercessions of Good Friday; the deacon's invitation
and the acclamation of the people;

b) chants for the showing and veneration of the cross;

c) the acclamations during the procession with the paschal candle and
the Easter proclamation, the responsorial "Alleluia", the Litany of the
Saints, and the acclamation after the blessing of water.

Since the purpose of sung texts is also to facilitate the participation
of the faithful they should not be lightly omitted; such texts should be
set to music. If the text for use in the liturgy has not yet been set to
music, it is possible as a temporary measure to select other similar texts
which are set to music. It is, however, fitting that there should be a
collection of texts set to music for these celebrations, paying special
attention to:

a) chants for the blessing and procession of palms, and for the
entrance into church;

b) chants to accompany the procession with the gifts on Holy Thursday
in the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, and hymns to accompany the
procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the place of repose;

d) the responsorial psalms at the Easter Vigil, and chants to accompany
the sprinkling with blessed water.

Music should be provided for the Passion narrative, the Easter
proclamation, and the blessing of baptismal water; obviously the melodies
should be of a simple nature in order to facilitate their use.

In larger churches where the resources permit, a more ample use should
be made of the Church's musical heritage, both ancient and modern, always
ensuring that this does not impede the active participation of the
faithful.

43. It is fitting that small religious communities, both clerical and
lay, and other lay groups should participate in the celebration of the
Easter Triduum in neighbouring principal churches. (46)

Similarly where the number of participants and ministers is so small
that the celebrations of the Easter Triduum cannot be carried out with the
requisite solemnity, such groups of the faithful should assemble in a
larger church.

Also where there, are small parishes with only one priest it is
recommended that such parishes should assemble, as far as possible, in a
principal church and there participate in the celebrations.

On account of the needs of the faithful, where a pastor has the
responsibility for two or more parishes, in which the faithful assemble in
large numbers and where the celebrations can be carried out with the
requisite care and solemnity, the celebrations of the Easter Triduum may
be repeated in accord with the given norms. (47)

So that seminary students "might live fully Christ's paschal mystery,
and thus be able to teach those who will be committed to their care", (48)
they should be given a thorough and comprehensive liturgical formation. It
is important that during their formative years in the seminary, they
should experience fruitfully the solemn Easter celebrations, especially
those over which the bishop presides. (49)

IV. HOLY THURSDAY EVENING MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

44. With the celebration of Mass on the evening of Holy Thursday "the
Church begins the Easter Triduum, and recalls the Last Supper, in which
the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, loving unto the end his own
who were in the world, he offered to the Father his Body and Blood under
the species of bread and wine and gave them to the Apostles as spiritual
nourishment, and he commanded them and their successors in the priesthood
to perpetuate this offering". (50)

45. Careful attention should be given to the mysteries which are
commemorated in this Mass: the institution of the Eucharist, the
institution of the priesthood, and Christ's command of brotherly love; the
homily should explain these points.

46. The Mass of the Lord's Supper is celebrated in the evening, at a
time that is more convenient for the full participation of the whole local
community. All priests may concelebrate, even if on this day they have
already concelebrated the Chrism Mass or if, for the good of the faithful,
they must celebrate another Mass. (51)

47. Where pastoral considerations require it, the local ordinary may
permit another Mass to be celebrated in churches and oratories in the
evening, and in the case of true necessity, even in the morning, but only
for those faithful who cannot otherwise participate in the evening Mass.
Care should nevertheless be taken to ensure that celebrations of this kind
do not take place for the benefit of private persons or of small groups,
and that they are not to the detriment of the main Mass.

According to the ancient tradition of the Church all Masses without the
participation of the people are forbidden on this day. (52)

48. The tabernacle should be completely empty before the celebration.
(53) Hosts for the Communion of the faithful should be consecrated during
that celebration. (54) A sufficient amount of bread should be consecrated
to provide also for Communion on the following day.

49. For the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament, a place should be
prepared and adorned in such a way as to be conducive to prayer and
meditation; that sobriety appropriate to the liturgy of these days is
enjoined, to the avoidance or suppression of all abuses. (55)

When the tabernacle is located in a chapel separated from the central
part of the church, it is appropriate to prepare there the place of repose
and adoration.

50. During the singing of the hymn "Gloria in excelsis" In accordance
with local custom, the bells may be rung, and should thereafter remain
silent until the "Gloria in excelsis" of the Easter Vigil, unless the
conference of bishops or the local ordinary, for a suitable reason, has
decided otherwise. (56) During this same period the organ and other
musical instruments may be used only for the purpose of supporting the
singing. (57)

51. The washing of the feet of chosen men which, according to
tradition, is performed on this day, represents the service and charity of
Christ, who came "not to be served, but to serve". (58) This tradition
should be maintained, and its proper significance explained.

52. Gifts for the poor, especially those collected during Lent as the
fruit of penance, may be presented in the offertory procession, while the
people sing "Ubi caritas est vera". (59)

53. It is more appropriate that the Eucharist be borne directly from
the altar by the deacons or acolytes, or extraordinary ministers at the
moment of Communion, for the sick and infirm who must communicate at home,
so that in this way they may be more closely united to the celebrating
Church.

54. After the postcommunion prayer, the procession forms, with the
crossbearer at its head. The Blessed Sacrament, accompanied by lighted
candles and incense, is carried through the church to the place of
reservation, to the singing of the hymn "Pange lingua" or some other
Eucharistic song. (60) This rite of transfer of the Blessed Sacrament may
not be carried out if the liturgy of the Lord's Passion will not be
celebrated in that same church on the following day. (61)

55. The Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a closed tabernacle or
pyx. Under no circumstances may it be exposed in a monstrance.

The place where the tabernacle or pyx is situated must not be made to
resemble a tomb, and the expression "tomb" is to be avoided: for the
chapel of repose is not prepared so as to represent the "Lord's burial"
but for the custody of the Eucharistic Bread that will be distributed in
Communion on Good Friday.

56. The faithful should be encouraged after the Mass of the Lord's
Supper to spend a suitable period of time during the night in the church
in, adoration before the Blessed Sacrament that has been solemnly
reserved. Where appropriate, this prolonged eucharistic adoration may be
accompanied by the reading of some part of the Gospel of Saint John (ch.
13-17).

From midnight onwards, however, the adoration should be made without
external solemnity, for the day of the Lord's Passion has begun. (62)

57. After Mass the altar should be stripped. It is fitting that any
crosses in the church be covered with a red or purple veil, unless they
have already been veiled on the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of Lent.
Lamps should not be lit before the images of saints.