Triduum Sacrum: The Three Holy Days You Can't Miss

Today is Maundy Thursday: The Triduum Sacrum begins.

Welcome, brothers and sisters to the Triduum Sacrum, the sacred three days of our Lord's Most holy Passion and Resurrection, which serve to commemorate and re-actualise our salvation, that is, welcome to the one liturgy, cloaked in three, that serves to re-focus our lives to the only thing that really matters - the story of God's love and enduring grace and power in the face of all life's travails.

Away with fear, doubt and all busyness. Stop, stop where you are! Come now and experience redemption once more. Come now this Holy Thursday to the Altar and receive the Bread of Life and taste once again the Blood of our reconciling.

Come to Good Friday and bring your guilt, your shame and even your shouts to 'crucify Him, crucify Him', for you shall behold the Cross of your own redeeming, the Cross that sets us free!

But above all, come to Easter morn, where death is vanquished and Satan is destroyed. Come and behold the empty tomb. And stay not there in disbelief, but be propelled forward with the joy of your salvation!

Christians, to the Paschal victim
offer your thankful praises!

A lamb the sheep redeemeth:
Christ, who only is sinless,
reconcileth sinners to the Father.

Death and life have contended
in that combat stupendous:
the Prince of life, who died,
reigns immortal.

Speak, Mary, declaring
what thou sawest, wayfaring:

"The tomb of Christ, who is living,
the glory of Jesus' resurrection;

"Bright angels attesting,
the shroud and napkin resting.

"Yea, Christ my hope is arisen;
to Galilee he will go before you."

Christ indeed from death is risen,
our new life obtaining;
have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen.

Victimae de Pascali
- Translation The English Hymnal, 1906

But before we reach the empty tomb, we must, as it is written, suffer and taste of death before we can know the reality of new life. And part of that means living the liturgy of the Triduum Sacrum.

Tonight, however, soup is in order:

Maundy Thursday Potato Soup

Ingredients

• 1 pound bacon, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 2 onions, finely chopped (try obtaining a Peruvian Sweet)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 4 cups chicken stock or broth, or enough to cover potatoes
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup half and half
• 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
• 3 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
• 3 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until done. Remove bacon from pan, and set aside. Drain off all but 1/4 cup of the bacon grease.

2. In the bacon grease remaining in the pan, sauté the celery and onion until onion begins to turn clear. Add the garlic, and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the cubed potatoes, and toss to coat. Sauté for 4-6 minutes. Return the bacon to the pan, and add enough chicken stock to just cover the potatoes. Cover, and simmer until potatoes are tender.

3. In a separate pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Cook stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in the half and half, tarragon, chives and parsley. Bring the cream mixture to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir the cream mixture into the potato mixture. Puree about 1/2 the soup, and return to the pan. Adjust seasonings to taste.