Holy Week musings...

"Easter Vigil Mass" by Prayitno licensed under CC by 2.0

Every Holy Week is different, just as every Lent is unique from one to the next. Last year Lent was quite terrible for me, by which I mean it was full of sadness and pain. I suppose that could be looked at as a good Lent. ;-) I have also had Lents that don't feel like Lent at all, that fly by to Easter with only fish fry on Fridays to mark that the season is different in any way. I have had spiritually dry Lents that eek themselves out, I have had confusing Lents, and I have had Lents that bring a lot of spiritual consolation and clarity. This Lent has felt like it has righted my path, like I have found a piece of myself that that I have been looking for since last year. It's a good feeling.

I have to admit, though, that the fire on Monday of this Holy Week at the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris really shook me up. I have no connection to France: I have never been there, nor did I study French in school (I'm a Spanish gal ;-)). I don't anticipate that I'll ever travel there, to be honest. But I feel a connection to all houses of worship that are a part of our global Church. These places house the body of Christ, both literally and figuratively, in the Eucharist and in the community that worships there. This particular cathedral also housed relics that physically connect us to our brothers and sisters in the faith who have gone before us into the great cloud of witnesses, as well as beautiful and historic works of art that raise our hearts and minds to the Almighty. These things cannot be replaced.

And so since Monday afternoon, I have been riveted to the news awaiting new word of what was happening. The timing seemed surreal, that a devastating fire in a church with this magnitude of historical significance would occur during Holy Week. It occurred to me that something good would come out of this, but the initial scene was excruciating to behold. I have been heartened by the news of the stricken crowd praying and singing together, honoring their Lady of France. And although the damage will obviously take many, many years to fully repair, the fact that the structure, and a least a majority of the relics and artwork, survived the blaze is nothing short of remarkable.

I think that God is speaking to us this Holy Week, and that there are people deeply feeling the message this year who may not normally be paying attention to the ebbs and flows of the liturgical calendar. I really feel God's hand over us this year, and that everything will be all right.

I wish you all a very blessed and beautiful Triduum, and Easter morning. May the joy of Easter follow us through the rest of this year and beyond! *heart* I will be attending the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, my parish's Good Friday service at 3 pm on that holy day, and the Easter vigil Mass with both of my kids for the very first time this year. I'm really looking forward to it, and I feel humbled by all of my blessings this year. God bless you all, and talk to you next week!