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THE DAILY COMMENTARIES FROM THE TRADITIO FATHERS
FOLLOW THESE THREE HOLY WEEK ANNOUNCEMENTS:
"HOLY WEEK & EASTER: A TIME TO HELP"
"SOLEMN RITES OF HOLY WEEK AND EASTER"
"THE SACRED TRIDUUM."
HOLY WEEK & EASTER: A TIME TO HELP
The TRADITIO Network has now been furnishing information about all facets of traditional Roman Catholicism, answering questions both privately and publicly, since 1992, longer than any other traditional site on the Internet. When we started, even the Vatican site didn't exist! We wish that we could show you all of the personal letters we have received from troubled souls who have found here clear, traditional, and honest answers to their questions. Thousands of these have reverted or converted to the traditional Roman Catholic Faith as a result. Our work has always been done free of charge, but at this time of year, we like to remind you, particularly if you have benefited personally from the TRADITIO Network, to remember to make a donation to TRADITIO as part of your almsgiving at this time of year. See the "Make a Donation to the TRADITIO Network's Apostolate" section toward the end of the
TRADITIO Network's home page (www.traditio.com).
SOLEMN RITES OF HOLY WEEK AND EASTER
It is most unfortunate that many traditional Catholics do not have access to the Solemn Rites of Holy Week and Easter in the fully-traditional rites before they were "modernized" away from the traditional Catholic rites in 1956 and 1962. Even some of the so-called "traditional" groups scandalously use the "modernized" version instead of the traditional rites going back to the early Church. Fortunately, the St. John Schola has made available to the traditional Catholic faithful these significant rites on downloadable MP3. For further information, click on the TRADITIO Network's Gregorian Chant department for Volume IX of that Gregorian schola's recordings of Holy Week and Easter. For you traditional Catholics who do not have the opportunity to attend these singular rites in person, at least you can participate in them spiritually through these recordings. Do not lose the opportunity. These rites are an essential part of your traditional Catholic Faith.
THE SACRED TRIDUUM
These three days -- Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday -- are the most sacred in the entire liturgical year. For this 72-hour period, the Church, and we, meditate upon the truths most central to our Roman Catholic Faith: the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord. The drama of these days is transfixing as we hear the various Evangelists' versions of the treachery of the Church establishment (Annas, Caiphas, the Sanhedrin), the abandonment of Christ by the first pope (the three denials of Peter) and the Apostles, the Faith beginning to touch the Gentiles (Pontius Pilate, the centurion Longinus), and the small number who stood by Christ in the end (the Marys and St. John). The liturgy of these days is the most ancient in the Church. Much is preserved from the very time of the Apostles, including the use of Greek in the Good Friday service. Up until a few hundred years ago, these were Holydays of Obligation, and no Catholic would think to miss them. Traditional Catholics should make even heroic efforts to be present at these solemn rites, in their Traditional Catholic Latin form, the ancient form that existed before 1956 and 1962. Those who do not have access to the traditional Latin rites should take ample time during this period to read the solemn rites in their missals, listen to the marvelous chant appointed for these days available on recordings, perform the Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross), read the Passions in Scripture, pray the Seven Penitential Psalms, and engage in other such practices.
April 8, 2026 - Easter Wednesday
Semidouble Feast
The Synodal Newchurch Proposes to Introduce Two New Messes:
A "Messa Mixta" Merged Mess of 1962 and 1969 and a Truncated Novus Ordo Mess
From: The TRADITIO Fathers
Robert Prevost
Who Now Arrogates to Himself
The Title of "Leo XIV"
Presides over a Mess in Sao Paolo, Brazil
Worshipping the Nude Pagan Murderous
Fertility Goddess Pachamama
Numerous Photographs Have Now Come to Light
Of Prevost's Attachment to the Pagan Goddess
Who Is Now Being Worshipped
With Newchurch Approval
In Newchurches throughout Latin America
You Neocon Newchurchers out there, forget all the hullabaloo about the corrupted Half New Order New Latin Mess of 1962, which isn't even the Traditional Latin Mass. Forget about the decree "Traditionis custodes," which essentially suppresses the New Latin Mess. Counterfeit Newpope Prevost-Leo's Synodal Newchurch of the New Age is working on two new apostatical options for you.
Your first option will be the Messa Mixta, the Mixed (up) Mess. This is a merging of the full-blown Protestant-Masonic-Pagan New Order (Novus Ordo) Mess with the Half Novus Ordo New Latin Mess of 1962. This last corruption was introduced on March 25, 2025, by -- shockingly -- the Newbenedictine Abbot of Solesmes, once known for its great scholarly work on Gregorian chant. No longer. No Solesmes simulates the counterfeit (invalid) Novus Ordo Mess, albeit in Latin. The Half Novus Ordo of 1962 and Full Novus Ordo of 1969 Messes would be merged. The calendars would also be merged, so that the Novus Ordo Newsaints, like Communists Oscar Ramirez and Dorothy Day, would be forced on the Neocon Newchurchers.
Your second option will be the Messless Mess, a truncation of the counterfeit (invalid) Novus Ordo Mess after the Gospel. No Offertory, no Consecration, but sometimes with pre-manufactured cookies and Kool-Aid. On April 1, 2026 -- appropriately on April Fools' Day -- NewcardinalRainer Woelki revealed that in Germany, the largest country in Europe, the counterfeit (invalid) Novus Ordo Mess is commonly being replaced since the Vatican II Anti-council with what the Newchurch calls the "Liturgy of the Word," which ends with the Gospel. [Some information for this Commentary was contributed by the National Catholic Register.]
Traditional Catholics, the horror of the Synodal Newchurch of the New Age beyond belief. No true Catholic can have anything to do with its apostasy. No compromise with it is possible, just as no compromise in God is possible.. The Novus Ordo Mess is a counterfeit and an idolatrous, blasphemous, and sacrilegious fraud, contrary to the First Commandment of God. The Half Novus Ordo New Latin Mess of 1962 is a counterfeit and a fraud, admittedly advanced by Newchurch to lead Newchurchers on to the 1969 apostate Mess. No true Catholic can have any part with either.
APRIL 7, 2026 - EASTER TUESDAY
DOUBLE FEAST OF THE FIRST CLASS
The Number of Newchurch Seminarians Has Reached an All-time Low
Newchurch Is Already Being Hit with More Closings and Bankruptcies
From: The TRADITIO Fathers
According to Newvatican's 2026 Report
The Number of Newseminarians Is Crashing
With Almost a 3% Decline in just the Last Year
The Number Has Been Declining
Ever Since the Newchurch of the New Order
Replaced the Catholic Church
As the Institutional Church
At the Vatican II Anti-council in 1964
The number of Newchurch seminarians has been plummeting since the Vatican II Anti-council and the advent of the counterfeit Newchurch of the New Order to replace the Catholic Church as the institutional Church in 1964. And the situation has gotten far worse in the last 13 years, during which the decline of Newseminarians has markedly accelerated, according to the Annuarium Pontificium for 2026, released on March 30.
The 2026 edition indicates a marked acceleration in the continuing decline worldwide of almost 3 per cent in just the last year recorded, 48 per cent worse than the previous year. Newchurch now has barely 100,000 presbyters for the entire world. That is not enough to replace the number of presbyters who are retiring, leaving, and dying. [Some information for this Commentary was contributed by Catholic World News.]
Traditional Catholics, Newchurch is suffering even more church closings and bankruptcies to compound the ones already in place. Young men are choosing not to waste their lives in the counterfeit Synodal Newchurch of the New Age, by playing chief waiter at the Novus Ordo dinner table as Protestantized presbyter-ministers instead of offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Traditional Catholic altar as priests. In any case, the counterfeit Newchurch has not ordained any priests since 1968 when it adopted an invalid Protestantized New Ordinal, only counterfeit presbyters-ministers, who are no better than Protestant ministers.
APRIL 6, 2026 - EASTER MONDAY
DOUBLE FEAST OF THE FIRST CLASS
Newcardinal and Newchurchers Blocked by Israeli Government
From Conducting Novus Ordo Palm Sunday Services
From: The TRADITIO Fathers
Israeli Police Manhandled Newchurchers
Who Tried to Access the Holy Sepulchre
For Novus Ordo Palm Sunday Services
The Newcardinal of Jerusalem and Custos
Were also Blocked from Entering
The Isareli Government Has a Reputation
For Persecuting Christians in the Holy Land
On Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, Israeli police blocked Newchurch's Newcardinal Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and presbyter Francesco Patton, the Custos (Guardian) of the Holy Land from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to conduct Novus Ordo Palm Sunday services. The ban was described as "unprecedented" in centuries. The Newchurch personnel claimed that they had complied with all imposed restrictions. The Israeli government was denounced for denying freedom of worship. So far Israeli authorities, who reject Christianity, have remained mute about the incident.
Israeli authorities have consistently refused to protect the historic rights of Christians in the Holy Land. Recently, there were numerous incidents of Israelis spitting on Christians on the sidewalk. Normally, misguided Protestant Evangelicals and Pentecostalists support the anti-Christian Israeli government, but this was too much.
After numerous please to the government, leading Protestant Evangelicals, like Franklin Graham, told the government that if the spitting didn't stop, Israel could kiss goodbye the lavish amounts of money that Evangelicals pour into Israel. The Netanyahu government immediately reneged and stopped the spitting. The Israeli government has canceled 2026 Newchurch Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday services as well. Some information for this Commentary was contributed by the National Catholic Register.]
Traditional Catholics, even U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, an outspoken Evangelical supporter of the Israeli government, called out Israeli authorities for their actions in this incident. Reportedly, even Counterfeit Newpope Prevost-Leo was piqued at the Israelis, to whom he usually panders scandalously.
APRIL 5, 2026 - EASTER SUNDAY
DOUBLE FEAST OF THE FIRST CLASS
MEDITATION ON EASTER SUNDAY:
The days of violet are gone. The voices of the Old Testament prophets Isaias and Jeremias are stilled. The Alleluias and Glorias that have been missing since Septuagesima return once more, in profusion. "Hence it is that at the Gloria today the bells are rung, the organ peals forth, the statues and pictures are uncovered, and a few moments afterward the glad Alleluias, silenced for nine weeks past, are heard again in jubilant tones, soaring in their triple repetition higher and higher until they seem to mingle with the songs of the angels in heaven." As the great drama of our redemption draws to an end, let us join in the joy of Holy Mother Church today as she specially sets before us after Communion the great psalm of praise to our risen Lord: "Praise the Lord, all ye nations; praise him, all ye people. For his mercy is confirmed upon us; and the truth of the Lord remaineth forever" (Psalms 116:1-2/DRV). Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
RECOMMENDED SACRED MUSIC:
Gregorian Chant of Easter Sunday
Johann Sebastian Bach's Easter Oratorio [BWV 249]
For further information, see FAQ07: What Sacred Music Recordings Do You Recommend in the TRADITIO Library of Files (FAQs and Catholic Apologetics).
Omnibus Lectoribus Internexus TRADITIONIS
Ex: Reverendis Patribus Internexus TRADITIONIS
S. Maria Mary Magdalene Ovum Habet, Resurrectionem Repraesentans
"Venit Maria Magdalene ... Videre Sepulchrum"
Ex Antiphona Cantici "Magnificat"
Pro-Vesperis Primae Missae Resurrectionis Cantandis
Traditonaliter Meridie Sancti Sabbati
BEATAM PASCHAM!
APRIL 4, 2026 - HOLY SATURDAY
DOUBLE FEAST OF THE FIRST CLASS
Holy Saturday: The Mother of All Vigils
The Light of Christ Is Kindled, We Hear the Ancient Prophecies, and the Mass of the Easter Vigil Is Celebrated at Noon
From: The TRADITIO Fathers
What Transpired when Christ Descended into Limbo
On Holy Saturday
WARNING AGAINST THE FALSE "NEW RITES" OF HOLY WEEK (1956-1962)." The heresy-tinged Modernist changes of 1956-1962 gutted the Traditional Latin Rites of this most holy week of the entire year. They were engineered by the Freemason presbyter Hannibal Bugnini, the Chief Architect of the Novus Ordo (New Order) of 1969, and were never approved by Pope Pius XII in forma specifica. They were introduced by Bugnini as a transition to the fabricated, invalid Novus Ordo of 1969.
Among the Modernisms introduced for Holy Saturday, making the false "Extraordinary" rites of 1956-1962 like the invalid Novus Ordo service, are: (1) eliminating two of the three ancient prayers blessing the new fire; (2) replacing the traditional ceremony for inscribing and blessing the Paschal candle with a new one, completely fabricated by the Modernists; (3) completely changing the ancient procession of the triple candle into the church while Lumen Christi was thrice invoked as each candle of the reed was individually lighted; (4) modifying the ancient Paschal Proclamation, the Exsultet; (5) eliminating eight of the twelve Old Testament prophecies foretelling the coming of Christ; (6) directing that the Collects be chanted at the sedilia rather than the altar, in the manner of the Novus Ordo "presider"; (7) dividing and partially eliminating the traditional Litany of the Saints; (8) introducing a spurious "Renewal of Baptismal Vows" in the vernacular, the first time that the vernacular is explicitly permitted as an integral part of a liturgical rite; (9) eliminating in their entirety from the Mass the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar and the Last Gospel, as does the Novus Ordo service; (10) moving the entire service to nighttime instead of before noon with the First Mass of Easter immediately following at noon, in contravention of the traditional principle that during Lent, in both Western and Eastern rites, there is a symbolic inversion of time as a consequence of the Fall, with the restoration of normality coming only with the victory of the Lord on Easter morning.
MEDITATION ON HOLY SATURDAY:
Through these rites of Holy Saturday, historically and devotionally so gripping, from ancient ages the most solemn of all Vigils of the year, we see Our Lord revealed to us in specific ways, and we in turn are called upon to reflect Him in those ways in our own lives. Together, on this, the "Mother of All Holy Vigils," as St. Augustine calls it, we hear the Lessons that teach us the history of our Faith, the Old Law before the fulfillment of our redemption under the New. We come through the darkness of Our Lord's Passion and Death into the light, as together we now celebrate His glorious Resurrection.
RECOMMENDED SACRED MUSIC:
Gregorian Chant of Holy Saturday
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina's Music for Holy Saturday
Carlo Gesualdo's Responsoria for Holy Saturday Tenebrae
William Byrd: Music for Holy Saturday
For further information, see FAQ07: What Sacred Music Recordings Do You Recommend in the TRADITIO Library of Files (FAQs and Catholic Apologetics).
APRIL 3, 2026 - GOOD FRIDAY
DOUBLE FEAST OF THE FIRST CLASS
Good Friday: The Only Day from the Early Church on Which We Are Without Holy Mass, without Holy Communion
Just the Moving Rites of This Saddest Day in the Church's Liturgical Calendar
From: The TRADITIO Fathers
What Transpired after the Erection of the Cross
Before Christ Gave up His Spirit
On Good Friday
WARNING AGAINST THE FALSE "NEW RITES" OF HOLY WEEK (1956-1962)." The heresy-tinged Modernist changes of 1956-1962 gutted the Traditional Latin Rites of this most holy week of the entire year. They were engineered by the Freemason presbyter Hannibal Bugnini, the Chief Architect of the Novus Ordo (New Order) of 1969, and were never approved by Pope Pius XII in forma specifica. They were introduced by Bugnini as a transition to the fabricated, invalid Novus Ordo of 1969.
Among the Modernisms introduced for Good Friday, making the false "Extraordinary" rites of 1956-1962 like the invalid Novus Ordo service, are: (1) changing the one aliturgical day, on which no Mass was celebrated because "the Apostles hid themselves for fear of the Jews," into a full-scale communion service; (2) directing that the "presider" conduct the first part of the service from the sedilia rather than from the altar in Novus Ordo style; (3) directing that the Litanical Prayers be chanted from a book at the center of the altar in contravention of the Roman rite; (4) changing the litanical Prayer for Heretics and Schismatics into a "Prayer for the Unity of Christians"; (5) commanding that a genuflection be made in the litanical Prayer for the Jews, which was anciently omitted because the Jews genuflected to mock Christ during His Agony; (6) allowing the crucifix to be held up for a brief adoration, as in the Novus Ordo, rather than having the people approach the Communion rail to kiss it; (7) suppressing the Solemn Procession from the Repository with the Blessed Sacrament and the singing of the ancient hymn Vexilla Regis; (8) eliminating the offertory, incensation, and elevation of the Blessed Sacrament; (9) directing that the congregation recite the Pater Noster with the priest in Novus Ordo style; (10) allowing Communion to be received this day, which was anciently prohibited on Good Friday; (11) adding a responsorial psalm to the communion service in Novus Ordo fashion.
After the celebration of Good Friday at the University of Durham, England, one year, Rev. Dr. T.C.G. Glover, JCD, a former priest of the Roman Oratory, who continued to celebrate the Sacred Triduum in the Traditional Latin Roman form, was asked why he didn't celebrate the false Modernist rites of 1956-1962, introduced into Newchurch by the Freemason presbyter Hannibal Bugnini. His answer was pure Dr. Glover at his very best: "I would rather get drunk in a brothel than celebrate that crap."
MEDITATION ON GOOD FRIDAY:
There are few scenes liturgically more impressive than the appearance of the church at the beginning of the rites of Good Friday. The bare floor, the dismantled altar, the veiled crucifix, the unlighted candles. Then, when the procession of the celebrant in black vestments with servers has silently made its way to the sanctuary, the sudden prostration before the altar, where the celebrant annihilates himself in abject penitence -- all these are things that can hardly fail to produce an effect upon each one of us. Then follow the sorrowful lessons and tracts and the reading of the Passion of Our Lord, producing a sense of desolation that no other service in the liturgical year approaches. On this day the Church gives her churches an appearance of desolation and clothes her clergy in mourning. Today the Church, and we who enter the church, are in mourning because Our Lord has died to redeem us.
RECOMMENDED SACRED MUSIC:
Gregorian Chant of Good Friday
Carlo Gesualdo's Responsoria for Good Friday Tenebrae
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina's Music for Good Friday
Tommaso Luigi da Vittoria's Popule Meus
William Byrd: Music for Good Friday
Johann Sebastian Bach's Johannes Passion [BWV 245]
For further information, see FAQ07: What Sacred Music Recordings Do You Recommend in the TRADITIO Library of Files (FAQs and Catholic Apologetics).
APRIL 2, 2026 - MAUNDY THURSDAY
DOUBLE FEAST OF THE FIRST CLASS
Maundy Thursday: The Sacred Triduum Begins
The Three Most Sacred Days of the Year for Traditional Catholics
From: The TRADITIO Fathers
The Institution of the Blessed Sacrament
And of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
On Maundy Thursday
WARNING AGAINST THE FALSE "NEW RITES" OF HOLY WEEK (1956-1962)." The heresy-tinged Modernist changes of 1956-1962 gutted the Traditional Latin Rites of this most holy week of the entire year. They were engineered by the Freemason presbyter Hannibal Bugnini, the Chief Architect of the Novus Ordo (New Order) of 1969, and were never approved by Pope Pius XII in forma specifica. They were introduced by Bugnini as a transition to the fabricated, invalid Novus Ordo of 1969.
Among the Modernisms introduced for Maundy Thursday, making the false "Extraordinary" rites of 1956-1962 like the invalid Novus Ordo service, are: (1) cutting out the Credo and the Last Gospel; (2) adding a responsorial psalm to the communion service in Novus Ordo fashion; (3) importing the Maundy (washing of feet) into the Mass, as in the Novus Ordo; (4) directing that the Collect following the Maundy be chanted "facing the people," as in the Novus Ordo; (5) eliminating the adornment and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Repository; (6) the fabrication of a new "Chrism Mass," which separates the function of the blessing and consecration of the Sacred Oils for the Sacraments from the one Mass of Maundy Thursday.
MEDITATION ON MAUNDY THURSDAY:
We have today to consider a great and awful mystery of betrayal. This betrayal is commemorated in the special Canon used only at this Mass of Maundy Thursday. Judas, one of the twelve chosen disciples of Our Lord, taught by Him for three years, confirmed in the faith by so many miracles, loaded with graces, becomes the tool of those who plot the death of Our Lord. He traitorously sells His Lord to the high priest for the ancient price of a slave, thirty Roman denarii. But Judas here is not only an historical figure of some 2000 years ago. He is spiritually each one of us, sinners, for whom Christ so grievously began His suffering and death this night. Let us consider the betrayal of Judas and what it forces us to confront in our own spiritual lives.
RECOMMENDED SACRED MUSIC:
Gregorian Chant of Maundy Thursday
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina's Music for Maundy Thursday
Carlo Gesualdo's Responsoria for Maundy Thursday Tenebrae
For further information, see FAQ07: What Sacred Music Recordings Do You Recommend? in the TRADITIO Library of Files (FAQs and Catholic Apologetics).
April 1, 2026 - Wednesday in Holy Week - Holy Wednesday - "Spy" Wednesday
Privileged Ferial Day
Wednesday in Holy Week
Holy Wednesday - "Spy Wednesday"
From: The TRADITIO Fathers
MEDITATION ON "SPY" WEDNESDAY:
Today is known as "Spy Wednesday," in remembrance of the traitorous deed of Judas Iscariot. The Introit gives us a foretaste of what is to come after the Passion and Death of our Lord: "In nomine Domini omne genu flectatur, caelestium, terrestrium, et infernorum" (Philippians 2:10/V). But immediately juxtaposed to this acknowledgment of divine glory is the other side of the equation. This is the refrain that will be repeated at every Hour of the Divine Office beginning tomorrow: "Quia Dominus factus obediens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis" (Philippians 2:8/V).
RECOMMENDED SACRED MUSIC:
Gregorian Chant of Wednesday of Holy Week
Johann Sebastian Bach's Passio secundum Lucam [BWV 246]
For further information, see FAQ07: What Sacred Music Recordings Do You Recommend? in the TRADITIO Library of Files (FAQs and Catholic Apologetics).
For information about the
protocols for sending questions to the TRADITIO Fathers, click on Ask the Fathers.
If you wish to support the TRADITIO Network's Apostolate, click on the TRADITIO Network's home page and see the
options provided in the "Make a Donation to the TRADITIO Network's
Apostolate" section toward the bottom of the home page.
For Gregorian chant recordings of the fully-traditional
Traditional Latin Roman rites corresponding
to the season, click on Gregorian
Chant.
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