Easter Triduum: Day 2

After being arrested in the garden, Jesus surrendered himself to the guards where he was then taken to Annas and Caiaphas and then to Pilate where he was sentenced to death under the influence of the people of the town who shouted "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!".
The same people who shouted "Hosanna in the Highest Heavens!" some days prior is now sentencing Jesus to death in place of a prisoner, Barabbas. Simon Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, also denied Jesus. This was the day which Jesus faced the severe challenges of mankind - betrayal, insult, rejection and humiliation to name a few.
Our Liturgy today is not a mass, it is a continuation from last night's celebration, that is why we had no final blessing. The priest and altar servers will approach the altar in silence at the top of this liturgy and prostrate themselves before a stripped altar, recognizing the absence of Jesus in the tabernacle. The liturgy has three sections:

• The Liturgy of the Word
• Veneration of the Cross
• Communion Rite

We venerate a cross which reminds us of the greatest love act ever performed for mankind. There are different ways we can venerate the cross, kiss, bow or kneel before it. This is pay our respect and honour to which hung our Lord.

There is no consecration during this liturgy, since it is not a mass so the host from the Holy Thursday liturgy is brought out and distributed among the faithful. Again, there is no final blessing since the liturgy continues the next night, the Easter Vigil.

In St. Joseph, we will celebrate the Solemn Commemoration of the Lord's Passion at 3PM.