On Holy Tuesday we read the story of the ten maidens (virgins), five of whom were wise enough to bring extra oil for their lamps while they were waiting for the bridegroom to come and take them to a wedding feast. Five foolish maids did not bring extra oil, and while they went out to buy more, the bridegroom arrived and took the five wise maids into the wedding banquet with him.

In this parable, Jesus describes the Heavenly Kingdom as being like the ten maidens waiting with trimmed lanterns for a bridegroom, five being wise and five being foolish.

This parable conveys the message of the last Judgment and appeals to us that we must always be ready and prepared for the coming of Christ.