GENERAL AUDIENCE: THE EASTER TRIDUUM

VATICAN CITY, APR 19, 2000 (VIS) - In today's general audience, held in St. Peter's Square, the Pope said "the Easter journey, that begins on Ash Wednesday, reaches its climax in this week, appropriately called 'Holy Week'."

The Pope said: "The Church, in particular during this Holy Year, wishes to remind everyone that Christ died for all men and all women, because the gift of salvation is universal. ... It is not possible to remain indifferent in the face of Christ's sacrifice! Sentiments of profound gratitude spontaneously arise in the souls of those who pause to contemplate the passion of the Lord. By spiritually climbing Calvary with Him, we are able to experience, in some way, the light and joy that issues from His Resurrection."

John Paul II recalled that "the prelude to the Easter Triduum will be the celebration of the Chrism Mass, tomorrow morning, Holy Thursday," during which the holy oils will be blessed. In the afternoon "we will relive the memory of the institution of the Eucharist."

"On Good Friday, the story of the Passion will ring out and we will be invited to venerate the Cross, extraordinary symbol of divine mercy. In the words of Christ on the Cross: 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' so many situations of suffering in our own lives are reflected. Yet the Father does not abandon us. Rather He transforms all human pain into victory over evil and death if we unite ourselves to the Passion of the Redeemer, accepting the will of God and the generous commitment of His Son to save all men and women."

The Holy Father indicated that "On Holy Saturday, a day of great liturgical silence, we will pause to reflect on the meaning of these events. The Church will keep vigil with Mary, mother of sorrows, and with her, will await the dawn of the Resurrection."

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