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| This is an original work of art I created during Lent in anticipation of Easter and Spring. |
Many people don't realize that Holy Thursday evening, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday through Easter
Sunday are the three holiest days of the Christian calendar and are celebrated
as one unbroken service known as the Holy Triduum. This extended service held each year gives us a wonderful
opportunity to pray and reflect on Christ's Passion, Crucifixion, death, and
Resurrection. It's also a neat opportunity to welcome new members into the faith through the sacraments of Initiation.
This is a
powerful time to come together with family, friends, and your church community
to refocus on what is most important in life.
In order to be able to concentrated and observe the Triduum in all its
fullness, I found subs to take my shifts on Friday, so from this evening
through Easter, I am able to devote my time and attention to my primary
vocations of serving the Lord, my husband, our family, friends, and community.
Lent hasn’t been
the same this year for us. We usually
have made it to daily Mass and/or Stations of the Cross more often during this
period of preparation and penance. I’ve
only prayed the Stations of the Cross once this Lent, and it was by myself
before the Blessed Sacrament. Though of
less importance, we didn’t make it to even one fish fry or soup supper,
either.
Since Kevin has
been so sick this week and is scheduled to work his usual shift over the next
few days, I doubt he’ll be up to joining me for much, if any, of the
Triduum. I’m really bummed about this,
especially since exhaustion and illness have often kept Kevin from being up for
Mass come Sunday evening over the past few months.
I’m trying to
remain hopeful in thinking about what this holiest of weeks has brought about
in terms of major changes in our hearts and relationship with the Lord and each other. One of the biggest NEVERs in my
life was that Kevin would NEVER return to the Catholic faith in which he was
raised. This is just one of many
examples of how God can turn our NEVERs in to Betters.
Questions to consider and take to prayer: How has God been
working in and through you in ways that you never thought possible? What transformations have occurred in your
life and in the lives of those around you that could only have happened through
the grace of God? What are the “Prints
of Grace” God has left on your own heart and soul? Now is a great time to think and pray about
all that the Lord has done out of love and mercy for us. That’s what this week and this life are
really all about: recognizing, accepting, and spreading God’s unconditional
love for each and every one of us.
