Entering the Triduum

The Triddum is here - tonight at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, everything felt surreal. Is it really real - I am inside a church, and there are four priests concelebrating? Are all these people really here; am I remembering who I am? Last year there was nothing.

We processed across the parking lot and into the parish hall, which I have also not been in in over a year. It was emptied of all but spaced chairs, dimly lit, and a beautiful, flower-framed altar where the closed tabernacle and host stood. It is unseasonably cold out and the walk across was silent. It was one of the most real things I have done in the past 12 months.

On the topic of this day, you may want to read the excellent Jimmy Aiken’s piece in National Catholic Register, 10 Things You Need to Know About Holy Thursday. FORMED is also granting access to their movie, “Triduum: A Spiritual Pilgrimage.'“ But there are many things to watch.

Good Friday begins in just a few hours. What will you do to observe it, and make it real? Isn’t that the case with these days - that they must be acknowledged as the most important in all of human history, and the most alive? Like looking at fire through a magnifying glass.

Holy Week

Friends, we are fully in Holy Week. Oh boy!

First, I’d like to catch you up on a few things, particularly recent radio interview. Three to catch up on:

Monday, March 8: It' ain’t too late to Lent. Listen here.

Thursday, March 18: How to prepare for Easter and not get all whiplashed by going from fast to feast. Listen here. (starts at ~20:58)

Monday, March 29: Reflecting on spiritual lessons of the past year, and how this Easter is different than last. Listen here. (starts at about 24:00 minutes)

The other thing is, I cannot help but be a tiny bit sad that March is coming to an end and therefore so is the time of extra special devotion to St. Joseph. Now, obviously, one can honor him any ol’ time. But March is his month, and so I will just say, I am glad for his presence and patronage.

And now, we enter Holy Week. As I said in the interview this morning, a church I sometimes attend in DC would have had all kinds of fancy stuff going on this week. Masses and lectures and confessions and things involving bells and incense. But I don’t mind. I will stick with my humble and beloved home parish, and do the Triduum, and be really dang grateful for the fact my church is even open. Last year it wasn’t. Yikes.

Further, I realize I no longer have the need to reflect on the way things were, or to even miss them. They just aren’t like that anymore; what’s the point of living in the past? All things are in God’s hands, everything eventually renews itself, the seasons pass, the leaves change, the flowers come up, our lives go on. This, too, shall pass, as they say.

May you have a blessed, peaceful, fruitful Holy Week.

Audio of a conversation about how you're entering Lent

And I mean entering in a rather literal way! The topic of my discussion with John and Glen on Morning Air yesterday was about your disposition going into Lent. As I wrote in my last post, it is as if you are entering a room, and must be properly attired, and carrying the right things.

Here’s the audio, and my part start around 24:36. Note the moment at the end when I introduce our hosts to the term “accountabilibuddy” - an accountability buddy. Chuckles ensue.

I received ashes last night. I know many places were just sprinkling on the head, but we did the full on cross. It was nice, and normal. Amazing to think we are creeping up on the one year anniversary of all this, and to recall how last year’s Lent was spent alone, at home. Ah, the things I now know better than to take for granted.

Lastly, Pray More Novenas is starting their novena to St. Michael the Archangel tomorrow, and you can sign up here. I wonder if with his sword he can end this pandemic, and its restrictions on life.