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It’s a simple enough question — and I encourage you to spend some time thinking about your answer this year. Perhaps these past 40 days have been fruitful and you used this time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to grow closer to Christ, or maybe it was not quite as productive as you planned. Either way, these last days of Lent provide numerous opportunities for us to gather in prayer and worship at St. Olaf.

The whole of our Lenten journey, from the reception of ashes on Ash Wednesday, is a preparation for the Easter Triduum. The Triduum is a three-day celebration of our Lord’s death and resurrection and is the culmination of the entire liturgical year. The three days are counted from dusk to dusk, from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Good Friday (day one), Good Friday to Holy Saturday (day two), and Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday (day three). Each of those days is devoted to a different part of the story of Jesus’ saving action.

On Holy Thursday we remember the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist. It also commemorates Christ’s example of service when he washes the feet of the apostles. On Good Friday we recall the Lord’s passion, as he took up His cross and carried it to His death on Calvary. And on Saturday evening and Sunday, we rejoice in celebrating Christ’s resurrection and victory over death. The Church looks at the Easter Triduum as one single celebration that lasts for three days. It is a time of intense prayer as we are drawn into the events of these holy days.

The purple cards found throughout the complex list the times of Masses, as well as confessions, for Holy Week at St. Olaf. I encourage you to join us this year in these beautiful liturgies as we gather in prayer during these holy days.