Triduum is the shortest liturgical season in the Church year. It comprises three days from the evening of Holy Thursday through the evening of Easter Sunday. During this time, we remember and celebrate the very events of our salvation: Christ’s Last Supper and Institution of the Eucharist and the ordained priesthood, and His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. In this lesson, students will learn about Triduum and reflect on the Last Supper with sacred art and Scripture.
Triduum
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Activity
- Have students read the information on Handout A: What Is Triduum?. Then, have your students answer the questions, or discuss them together as a class.
- Have students complete Part 1 from the Handout B: The Last Supper activity. Make markers and/or colored pencils available for students to add their drawing to the painting The Last Supper by Vicente Juan Macip. When they have finished their drawings, show students the original painting, located at the following link: SophiaOnline.org/TheLastSupperMacip.
- Then, have your students complete Part 2 from Handout B by reading the story of the Last Supper from Luke 22:14-20 and answering the questions.
Answer Key
Handout A: What Is Triduum?
- Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, Celebration of the Lord’s Passion and Adoration of the Holy Cross on Good Friday, the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday Masses, and Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday.
- The Eucharist and Holy Orders.
- They will bless all of the chrism oil for the next year.
- Jesus was put on trial, sentenced to death, beaten and flogged, made to carry His own cross, stripped of His clothing, nailed to the cross, and freely gave His life for the salvation of all souls.
- The faithful approach the altar where a cross has been placed (or where an extraordinary minister stands holding a cross), and perform some act of reverence, usually kissing the foot of the Cross.
- Jesus, the Light of the World, returning to life.
- God’s saving actions throughout Salvation History.
- Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist (the Sacraments of Initiation).
- Pentecost, fifty days after Easter.
- Accept reasoned answers.
Handout B: The Last Supper Look and Find
- Accept reasoned answers.
- “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me,” and, “This cup is the
new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” - Jesus said to the Apostles, “do this in memory of me.”
- Accept reasoned answers.
- Accept reasoned answers.
Activity
- Have students read the information on Handout A: What Is Triduum? (or read it aloud as they follow along). Then have your students answer the questions, or discuss them together as a class.
- Have students complete the Handout B: The Last Supper Look and Find activity using the given list and the sacred art image The Last Supper by Vicente Juan Macip. Students will look for certain items in the painting, circle them, and answer some questions. When finished, review the answers with your students.
Answer Key
Handout A: What Is Triduum?
- The three days.
- Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders.
- Jesus was put on trial, carried His own Cross, was crucified, and died on the Cross.
- Jesus the Light of the World, who has risen from the dead.
- Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
- Pentecost.
Handout B: The Last Supper Look and Find
- 12 (11 of the Apostles and Jesus have halos. Judas, in the far right corner, does not have a halo.)
- Jesus is in the center of the painting.
- Jesus is holding up the Eucharist in His right hand.
- It is on the table in front of Jesus.
- There are 5 pieces of bread on the table (6 if you count the Eucharist Jesus is holding).
- A bottle of wine is on the right hand side of the table.
- A jar of water is in front of the table, slightly to the left.
- A bowl is in front of the table, slightly to the right.
- Thaddeus (in front of the table to the left wearing pink and yellow), Andrew (standing to Jesus’ right, behind Peter, and wearing a purple robe), and Thomas (seated on the far right side of the table wearing green).
- Judas is in the far right corner holding a bag of coins in his right hand.
- Accept reasoned answers.