Although we speak of the customs of Passiontide separately from those of Lent, they are not something apart from the general customs of the season; but they are extra practices which occur during the last two weeks of Lent.
Already from the beginning of the season - that is, from first Vespers of Septuagesima - practice has underlined the solemnity of the season. At this time, the Alleluia is bidden farewell until the Vigil of Easter. The Gloria in excelsis is omitted, except on feasts; and the Benedictus replaces the Te Deum at Sunday Matins.
With the coming of Ash Wednesday, flowers are not placed on or about the altar, and the organ is used only to support the singing of the congregation and choir.
Beginning with Passion Sunday (Judica) - or already on Ash Wednesday - tryptychs are closed, crucifixes, crosses, stations, and pictures (if they are not removable) are covered with veils of unbleached linen or violet cloth. Wooden crucifixes, crosses, candlesticks, and missal stands replace those of metal. Metal processional crosses are replaced with ones of wood, or else veiled. The Gloria Patri is not said in any Service, except the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday, until the Easter Vigil.
With the coming of Holy Week, however, the customs of Passiontide increase almost geometrically.
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of a closer observance of the season.
On Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday,the Office is said in a manner unique to these three days. Matins and Lauds are not anticipated, but are said at their proper time (2:00 am). These offices of Tenebrae or darkness are symbolic of the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ.
The chief customs of Holy Week do not fall in the areas of the Divine Office, but in the area of the Eucharist.
First of all, on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, it is customary to read the accounts of the Passion of our Lord. On Sunday, St, Matthew 26 & 27; Tuesday, St. Mark 14 & 15; Wednesday, St. Luke 22 - 24; and Friday, St. John 18 & 19. These texts are read by three ministers, one taking the part of the narrator; another, the parts of individual speakers; and the third, the parts spoken by Christ.
On Palm Sunday itself, it is the custom to bless and distribute palm (or olive, hyssop, willow, or yew) branches, and carry these in procession. This procession is symbolic of the entry into Jerusalem. The processional hymn is Gloria, laus et honor.
Maundy Thursday incorporates several customs which are, more or less, unique to this day. On the morning of this day, the bishop celebrates Mass with priests from his entire jurisdiction. During this Mass oils are consecrated for use during the coming year. In the evening, another Mass is celebrated in commemoration of the institution of the Lord's Supper. Also during this Mass, following the example of Christ, the bishop may wash the feet of twelve people.
During the singing of the Gloria in excelsis in the evening Mass, the bells are rung for the last time. They then remain silent until they ring out during the Gloria in Excelsis during the Mass of the Easter Vigil.
Following the evening Eucharist is the ceremony of Stripping of the Altar. During the reading of Psalm 22, Deus meus, quare me dereliquisti, all ornaments, vessels and vestments are removed from the altar.
After all the ornaments and vestments have been removed from the altar, it is ceremonially washed. The five crosses that are engraved on the mansa are washed with a mixture of wine and oil. This is a symbolic anointing of the five wounds which Our Lord suffered on the cross.
The Maundy Thursday service does not end with a blessing, nor do any of the services of the Sacred Triduum. In this way Holy Church demonstrates that the Triduum is one continuous service of watching and praying until Easter.
The liturgy on Good Friday is in four parts. The first is the service of lessons. Various Old Testament prophecies are read, and the Passion according to St. John is read solemnly.
The second part of the liturgy is the solemn prayers of the faithful. This is also known as the bidding prayer. Here prayers are offered for the Church, for the clergy, for all the faithful, for civil authorities, for catechumens, for any need, for Christian unity, for the Jews, and for all who as yet do not know Christ.
The third part of the liturgy is the veneration of the Holy Cross. A cross is unveiled in three stages, and the Reproaches are sung. The Reproaches are a series of readings which recount the history of the people of God, wherein God asks "What have I done to you, and in what have I offended you?"
The fourth part of the liturgy is Holy Communion. Traditionally the Church does not celebrate the full Eucharistic liturgy today. This part of the liturgy consists only of the Our Father, the Verba Domini, and the distribution.
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