How long is the Easter Triduum?

[japhy]

I hear and read many people talking about the Paschal (or Easter) Triduum as “Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday/the Easter Vigil.” Little do they realize that, unlike the “three days and three nights” which the Lord prophesied He would be buried, the Paschal Triduum is actually 72 hours: three days and three nights… or rather, three nights and three days.

But, as Levar Burton would say on Reading Rainbow, you don’t have to take my word for it: ask the Church!
The Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, is continued through Good Friday with the celebration of the passion of the Lord and Holy Saturday, to reach its summit in the Easter Vigil, and concludes with Vespers of Easter Sunday. (Paschales Solemnitatis 27)
Just thought I’d clear that up for all of you.

 

[cctabb]

Just thought I’d clear that up for all of you.

Thank you for that.

 

[PAboy57]

thank you.

 

[johnbres2]

I have always been perplexed by the fact that according to traditional accounts, Jesus was only in the tomb for approximately 36 hours, from Friday night to Sunday morning. How is this consistent with his statements that he, like Jonah, would be in the earth for “three days?” I have recently read an argument that in fact Jesus had to be dead for 72 hours, since he said he would be dead for “three days,” and that in fact he was crucified on a Wednesday and rose on Saturday night, but was not seen by anyone until early Sunday morning. How do Catholics reconcile these apparent inconsistencies? I have looked but have been unable to find anything which addresses this point.

 

[SMHW]

I have always been perplexed by the fact that according to traditional accounts, Jesus was only in the tomb for approximately 36 hours, from Friday night to Sunday morning. How is this consistent with his statements that he, like Jonah, would be in the earth for “three days?” I have recently read an argument that in fact Jesus had to be dead for 72 hours, since he said he would be dead for “three days,” and that in fact he was crucified on a Wednesday and rose on Saturday night, but was not seen by anyone until early Sunday morning. How do Catholics reconcile these apparent inconsistencies? I have looked but have been unable to find anything which addresses this point.

I have heard it explained that saying, “three days and three nights,” was an idiomatic expression rather than a literal expression. It simply meant that Jesus was in the tomb for part of three 24 hour periods. …which means that he could have been in the tomb for barely more than 24 hours if that time period just happened to include one full day and parts of the preceding day and following day.