Triduum & Easter 2006

Triduum & Easter 2006

Pope Benedict XVI

From Darkness to Light
At the General Audience in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, 12 April 2006, the Holy Father commented on the Sacred Triduum and the role of these holy days in preparing the faithful spiritually for the celebration of Easter.

Holy Chrism Mass: God in Us, We in God
On Holy Thursday morning, 13 April 2006, in St. Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father was the Principal Celebrant at the Chrism Mass, with more than 1,500 priests us concelebrants. In his homily, the Holy Father reflected on the mystery of the priesthood, that a mere human being can "speak with his "I": in persona Christi," so that Christ exercises his priesthood through the priest.

Mass of the Lord's Supper: Washing One Another's Feet
On Holy Thursday evening, 13 April 2006, the Holy Father presided at the Mass of the Lord's Supper in the Basilica of St. John Lateran. The Pope also performed the traditional "Washing of the Feet", a concrete sign by Jesus of the meaning of love. "God descends and becomes a slave, he washes our feet so that we may come to his table. In this, the entire mystery of Jesus Christ is expressed."Via Crucis: Mirror of the Cross
On the evening of Good Friday, 14 April 2006, the Holy Father led the Way of the Cross at the famed Colosseum of Rome. Afterwards, he spoke extemporaneously to the faithful present and all joined via television around the world on the topic of the sufferings of humanity today that can be seen in the "mirror of the Cross".

Easter Vigil: I, But No Longer I!
On Holy Saturday evening, 15 April 2006, in St. Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father celebrated the Mass of the Easter Vigil. Explaining the significance of Christ's Resurrection, the Pope said that "this event is not just some miracle from the past.... It is a qualitative leap in the history of 'evolution' and of life in general towards a new future life, towards a new world which, starting from Christ, already continuously permeates this world of ours, transforms it and draws it to itself".Urbi et Orbi: Easter Sunday 2006
On Easter Sunday morning, 16 April 2006, after celebrating Holy Mass in St. Peter's Square, Pope Benedict XVI imparted to the faithful the traditional Message and Blessing Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world), broadcast live via television and radio to many nations across the globe.