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Christopher: The Good Friday conflict is my mistake, I fear. I answered your post at breakneck speed, and unfortunately, the gap between my brain and my fingers proved more unbridgeable than usual. When I was doing this stuff professionally, the Triduum of course began with the celebration of the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Maundy [< `Mandatum'] Thursday, and concluded with and at the celebration of the vigil of the Lord's resurrection, begun during the hours of darkness of Holy Saturday/Easter Sunday (the timing of the Easter Vigil varied, even in the modern period). This was both the conclusion of the Triduum, and the beginning of the Octave of Easter. It is an octave because it is believed that here time touches eternity, and foreshadows the feast of the Kingdom. Mea culpa, &c., and regards, Paul -----Original Message----- From: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Christopher M. Mislow Sent: 09 February 2001 02:42 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: "Triduum" [was "Tridentine" & "Triduum"] Thank-you all who came to my rescue. Alas, however, at the risk of seeming ungrateful, I now have three (an appropriate number) conflicting definitions, viz., [1] Maundy Thursday through Easter Sunday (which encompasses 4 rather than 3 days), [2] Good Friday through Easter Sunday, and [3] Maundy Thursday through Holy Saturday. Since the last of these definitions has the imprimatur of the _Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church_, I suppose that credential would give it the upper hand. Nevertheless, I am confused. Help! --Christopher == original message from <[log in to unmask]> == >> I have seen references in a number of messages in this list ... >> to the "Triduum" (the latter in the context of the liturgical calendar, >> esp. Passover, Easter and the Annunciation). These are both terms beyond >> my ken, and none of my sources, alas, explain their meaning. Would some >> kind soul(s) enlighten me? == Reply from Dennis Martin <[log in to unmask]> == >> Triduum means "three days" and refers to the holiest time of the >> Christian year, from Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday. == Reply from M. Paul Bryant-Quinn <[log in to unmask]> == >> `Triduum' refers to the three days of a particular feast celebrated, usually >> with reference to the period from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. == Reply from John Hall <[log in to unmask]> == >> The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (usually a good starting >> point) entry reads: >> Triduum Sacrum (Lat., 'the sacred three days'). The three concluding days >> of Holy Week commemorating the Last Supper, Passion, and Death of Christ, >> i.e. Maundy Thursday (evening only, acc. to modern RC reckoning), Good >> Friday, and Holy Saturday.