Holiest Week of the Year
Holy Week is upon us! I hope you are ready for this week so full of grace and mercy. One of the Sisters shared with me a bit of her Easter letter that she is sending to her family...
"We are looking forward to Holy Week... I feel truly blessed to be living here at the Monastery and able to enter more fully into the mystery of this week. On Palm Sunday evening at supper, we set up a place at our table for Our Lord to join us, as we recall Martha, Mary, & Lazarus giving Him a place to rest away from the noise and pressures of the crowds who were divided for and against Him.
Some of the Sisters gather around our Lord's image. (How did the tall ones end up in the front?!) You see we have a young woman here for a 4 day visit. Keep her in your prayers as she discerns Passionist life!
"Wednesday of Holy Week (Spy Wednesday) we remember the day that Judas went to the chief priests to arrange to betray Jesus.
"Then, beginning on Holy Thursday morning, we enter into like a “mini-retreat” (the Sacred Triduum) as we are free to spend the whole day in prayer, with a nice meal at lunch to remember the Last Supper. Most of Good Friday we spend in prayer, although we do have some free time in the afternoon after the Liturgy to work quietly, etc…
"Holy Saturday is busy with an air of expectation in preparation for the great Vigil of Easter (setting up flowers, etc… in Chapel, preparing our meals for Easter, some cleaning etc…). Then on Holy Saturday evening, we begin the great Vigil, oh, what a glorious celebration this is!
"I am looking forward to these days, & I hope you, too, are able to enter into them at your own parishes or elsewhere."