View source for Triduum

{{short description|Religious observance lasting three days}}
{{one source|date=September 2017}}
{{liturgical year}}

A '''triduum''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|r|ɪ|d|.|j|u|ə|m|,_|ˈ|t|r|ɪ|dʒ|u|ə|m}}; {{plural form|'''tridua'''}}) is a religious observance that lasts three days.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://newadvent.org/cathen/15041c.htm |first=John|last=Wynne |title=Triduum |encyclopedia=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]] |location=New York |year=1912}}</ref>

== Major tridua==
[[File:Holy week illustrations.png|thumb|alt=refer to caption|Illustrations of various Catholic observances of the Paschal Triduum, including (2) the candles of Tenebrae services; (3) the reading of the Passion narrative; (6) the veneration of the cross; (7) the blessing of fire; (8) the blessing of baptismal water; (9) the Paschal candle; (10) the reading of the Four Lessons; (11) the commemoration of the Resurrection.]]
The best-known and most significant example today is the [[liturgy|liturgical]] [[Paschal Triduum]] (the three days from the evening of [[Maundy Thursday]] to [[Easter|Easter Sunday]]). Other liturgical tridua celebrated in [[Western Christianity]] include the [[Rogation Days]] preceding [[Ascension Thursday]], the feasts of [[Christmas]] and [[Pentecost]] together with the first two days of their [[Octave (liturgy)|octave]], and [[Allhallowtide]] that lasts from [[Halloween]] to [[All Souls Day]].

In [[Eastern Christianity]] (both [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] and [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Catholic]]) the analogues of festive tridua take the form of a major feasts followed by an associated [[Synaxis]]. The most publicly celebrated examples are the feast of [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]] together with its eve and the following day dedicated to Saint [[John the Baptist]], and the [[Christmas|Nativity feast]] with [[Christmas Eve]] and the Synaxis of [[Theotokos]]. 

Ecclesiastical approval has been granted for tridua in honour of the [[Trinity]], the [[Eucharist]] and [[Saint Joseph]]. Tridua are also celebrated on the local level, often preceding the feasts of patron saints of parishes and localities. An example would be the [[Obando Fertility Rites]] in the [[Philippines]], which commemorate [[Saint Paschal Baylon]], [[Saint Clare of Assisi]] (in addition to her actual feast day), and [[Our Lady of Salambao|Our Lady of Salambáo]] for three consecutive days in mid-May.

==Other occasions==
Many other tridua are celebrated on occasions such as when children are preparing for their [[First Communion]]; among pupils as well as seminarians at the beginning of the [[school year]]; and in religious communities for those who are preparing to renew their vows annually or every six months.

== Historical tridua ==

A triduum was held in [[Limerick]] in 1867 in honor of [[Our Lady of Perpetual Succour]], at which the associated icon was first displayed for public veneration in Ireland.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Murphy |first1=T. A. |title=The Arch-Confraternity of the Holy Family of Limerick |journal=The Irish Monthly |date=1923 |volume=51 |issue=599 |pages=209–216 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20517121 |access-date=21 January 2024 |issn=2009-2113}}</ref>

In January of 1915, a number of German cities observed a triduum of meditation on [[World War I]], an event which was influential on a young [[Martin Heidegger]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Heidegger |first1=Martin |title=Messkirch’s Triduum: A Three-Day Meditation on the War |journal=New Yearbook for Phenomenology and Phenomenological Philosophy |date=1 July 2009 |volume=9 |pages=49–54 |url=https://www.pdcnet.org/nyppp/content/nyppp_2009_0009_0049_0054 |access-date=21 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

[[James G. McGarry]], a Catholic priest and professor, organized a 1977 triduum observance at [[Knock Shrine]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Duffy |first1=Daniel |title=Triduum at Knock: 6-8 Sept. 1977: A Response to the Apostolic Exhortation 'Marialis Cultus' |journal=The Furrow |date=1977 |volume=28 |issue=11 |pages=710–714 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27660462 |access-date=21 January 2024 |issn=0016-3120}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Allhallowtide]]
* [[Holy Week]]
* [[Holy Week procession]]
* [[Novena]], [[Octave (liturgy)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Catholic|wstitle=Triduum}}

{{Catholic Prayers|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Catholic devotions]]
[[Category:Catholic liturgy]]
[[Category:Catholic spirituality]]
[[Category:Holy Week]]
[[Category:Latin religious words and phrases]]