Thursday, April 28, 2011

Vigil

It was dark when he awoke.  This is not where I went to sleep.  I don’t think,  the little boy thought, looking around.  He was laying on something hard, and there was a coat under his head, and another over his legs.  A spicy smell filled his nose.  He knew what it was, but he didn’t know why.  Where was he? Strange singing filled his ears.  People were standing over him, but they weren’t looking at him.  They were looking at something he couldn’t see.  He sat up, and looked to see what they were seeing.  Through the darkness, there was a light.  It was a cauldron, with flames leaping towards the ceiling, casting strange shadows on the wall.  Standing over the cauldron was a big man in strange clothes.  He was waving something over flames, chanting.  Other, smaller figures surrounded him.  Huh, the little boy thought.  He watched for a moment, leaning against the wood back of the bed he had somehow found himself in.  He blinked a few times, yawned, and lay back down on his makeshift pillow.  Must be dreaming, he said to himself, falling back asleep. He rolled over, not noticing a quick movement beside him, keeping him from slipping off the pew.
                The young mother looks down at her three-year-old.  How would this first Easter Vigil be remembered?  She smiles, wondering what thoughts were drifting through his little mind, and wondering what dreams the strangeness of those few minutes would bring.  Standing to hold the boy on the pew, she turns her mind back to the priest, and the beautiful, ancient ceremonies she was blessed to witness.  
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
   This is one of the stories from my creative writing class.  The assignment was to write a story that could be read in three minutes or less.  The inspiration for this short tale is, of course, the Easter Vigil.  I remember one year, probably four or five years ago, when we attended the Easter Vigil in the Extraordinary form and, for once,  I was not singing.  My little brother was only three or four, and this is pretty much what happened.  It's funny when you think of how the ceremony could be remembered, or misunderstood.  
   This year was the first in three or four years that I was able to attend the vigil AND I wasn't in the choir.  It was great!  I could see what was going on, and follow along without having to worry about the next song or response.  It also helped that my missal had both the Latin and the English for all of the readings, but I digress.   
   I love each of the services of the Triduum, and I love the way each builds on the last.  Holy Thursday begins everything now, as it did then.  It is a service both joyous and serious.  In the beginning, we have the bells and the organ and the Gloria.  In the end, the alters are stripped and Christ is in the garden, preparing for the sacrifice of the next day.  Did you know that the Mass on Holy Thursday does not officially end?  There is no dismissal.  Good Friday, there is no Consecration, as it is the continuation of Mass on Holy Thursday, just as Christ's offering of His Body and Blood in the form of the bread and wine of the Passover on Holy Thursday was the same as His sacrifice on the cross on Good Friday. 
  The service on Good Friday is not technically a Mass, as there is no consecration.  That said, I've always loved the solemness of the Mass of the Presanctified, as it is called (for the record, the "presanctified" refers to the reserved Hosts, not to the state of the people's souls.) The Tabernacle is empty, and the whole church feels empty.  It is a reminder to us of the emptiness of the world after Christ's death.  The organ and bells are silent, the alter is still stripped, and the choir is somber.  Even the candles and holy water are gone.  
  Holy Saturday, there is no Mass until the vigil.  The church stands empty.  Then, after sundown, is the vigil.  It begins with the blessing of the Easter fire.  I love the way the light spreads through the church as the candles are lit from person to person, the flame growing and spreading without diminishing, like our faith.  I admit, it makes me nervous watching the little kids with candles!  Especially remembering how I nearly set myself on fire a few years ago!  But that's another story....
  After the blessing of the fire, there is the blessing of the holy water. Here again, we see the rich significance of everything, from creation to now, and how it ties together.  The prayers talk about how in the time of Noah, the water purified the earth, and it talks about the water from Christ's side purifying our souls.  There are so many things we take for granted, yet they have so much meaning! 
  Gradually, what was missing for the days and weeks leading up to Easter is brought back again.  I realized this year how usually when we go to Mass, Christ is sacramentally there when we get to Church- in the Tabernacle.  But at Easter, the Tabernacle is empty, even through all of the prayers and blessings.  It is not until the consecration of the Mass that He is there again, fully present with us...as in the Resurrection.     
Happy Easter! 

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter!!!



Happy Easter!  Ok, I know I didn't get my Triduum thoughts posted.  I was too busy cooking and cleaning and trying really hard to not forget about school (or maybe TO forget about school.)  I did get some photos of the Easter Vigil, though!  But I can't get them on the computer tonight.  So this is a quick, dull post.  I have two weeks left of school.  After that, I hope and pray I will do better!

Here are a few topics I hope to cover SOON:
The Easter Triduum (I have pictures, and I want to have notes for next year!)
Easter Eggs
My baked ham recipe ('cause it was really yummy and I promises MaryFrances)
Vanilla Custard Ice Cream (made in our new Cuisinart ice cream freezer)
Our new camera (which I really, really love)
Our Lamb Cake (so sweet!)
Graduation (Almost there!!!!)

And probably a few other random topics.  If anyone wants me to ramble about something, feel free to comment!  I make no guarantees, of course, but I'll try to write something worth reading.
Have a great Easter Week!!!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Holy Week and Easter Triduum

It's finally here!  Holy Week!  In four more days I can have a piece of chocolate!  Ok, so that isn't what Easter is about, or what Lent is about...but I admit it crosses my mind now and then.
I love Lent, because it is challenging.  It makes me do those things I should do, yet don't want to do.  Or it makes me not do the things I want to.  Self-denial, that's what it's all about.  By self-denial, we better learn to die to ourselves in favor of living for God.  I don't know if I have done well this year or not.  My sacrifices have not been my typical ones, and I admit I have failed often in them, especially in these last few weeks.  It seems there are always excuses.  The old things like giving up candy and tv are easy.  Inconvenient, and uncomfortable, but easy.  It's the other things that are more difficult.  Yet it is the difficulties that make Easter even more joyful.  As our souls rejoice at the Resurrection of Christ, our bodies rejoice at the Resurrection of Chocolate.   
My family is blessed to be a part of a parish that has the Easter Triduum celebrated in the Extraordinary Form.  Each of the three services, Holy Thursday Mass, Good Friday's Mass of the Presanctified, and Holy Saturday's Easter Vigil, are so rich in meaning and in ceremony.  Each seems to contribute so much to the sense of Christ's suffering, the emptiness of a world without Christ, and, of course, the triumph of Easter.  I can't wait!  This will actually be my first year in a number of years when I have not been part of the choir for these services.  I was initially disappointed, because I love to sing, but now I am looking forward to it because I will have more time to pray and to focus on what is going on.
I hope to be able for the next three days with more details of each, but please realize that it is Holy Week, so I also have lots of cooking and cleaning to help with as well.  I also have just THREE more weeks of school (Wahooooo!!!) so I can't start slacking on that, either.  In any and all cases, have a Blessed Holy Week!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Favorite Easter Books

Hi All!
It's hard to believe Lent is almost over!  With less than two and a half weeks left, I've started thinking of some of my favorite stories for Passiontide and Easter.  
Benjamin's Box is a sweet story about a young boy witnessing the events leading up to the Resurrection.  We follow Benjamin as he sees Jesus come into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, as he helps prepare the upper room for the Passover, as he sees Christ carry his cross, and finally as he sees the stone that was rolled from the tomb, as well as many steps along the way.  As the story progresses, he collects things from each event and puts him in the box his grandfather gave him.  This is a great story to read to children during Holy Week, because they see the events from the perspective of a child like themselves.  You can buy the Resurrection Eggs to go with this book and there are Easter eggs with each of the items Benjamin collected.  Or, you can turn it into a scavenger hunt and create your own treasure box with items collected around the house.
The one issue I have with this book is that during the Last Supper, it says Jesus said that the bread was LIKE His Body, and the wine LIKE His Blood.  This is easily fixed with a sharpie, though.

The Country Bunny, I admit, does not say anything about the true meaning of Easter.  It is about the Easter Bunny, or rather many Easter Bunnies.  Still, it is one of my favorite stories from my childhood.  It is also an excellent reminder that you can't judge a book by it's cover.  The cover of this sweet tale suggests that it is a "modern feminist tale."  I disagree.  I think it is a very traditional look at motherhood.  The country bunny always dreamed of being one of the official Easter Bunnies, running around the world delivering baskets of eggs to children.  However, she found herself mother of no less than twenty-one children.  When they were very young, she undoubtably spent much time running after them, but as they got older, she trained her children well, until they were able to keep house as well as she could.  So now she has time to go be an Easter bunny once a year.  What's more, her children have kept her young and strong trying to keep up with the all, so she is able to compete with the much bigger bunnies for the job of Easter bunny.  I thing this story highlights the importance of diligence, kindness, perseverance, industry, and knowing that there is a time for everything. And the illustrations are adorable!

Before you say that Easter has nothing to do with Easter Bunnies, I present my defense.  The First Easter Bunny was written by a Catholic Priest, and tells the story of a little bunny who was the first to witness the Resurrection.  I admit, I don't know for sure if I have read this book, but I do recall the story, and I think that by explaining the Easter Bunny to children this way, they are able to make the connection between the colored eggs, the baskets of candy, and the bunny and the Easter Story.  For those who find the Easter bunny a fondly remembered part of childhood, or who have family who insist on sharing the story with your children, this is a great story.

Another story that I remember from my childhood is The Proud Tree. It's the story
 of the tree that became the cross.  Poor Rex, the proudest tree in the forest, is thrilled when two soldiers come to find a cross for a king.  He pictures himself moved to a palace garden, but is cruelly disappointed when he is chopped down instead.  I'm sure you can guess the rest of the story.  Another, similar story is The Tale of the Three Trees.





Finally, a book for adults.  The Spear, by Louis De Wohl, tells the story of the centurian who pierced Christ's side.  This book does an excellent job of weaving together the Easter story, the characters witnessing it, and, perhaps most of all, the historical background, all while building a believable character and a great plot.  I must warn you that there is an act of adultery between the main character and a young woman, but it is essential to the plot.  This book, like all of De Whol's stories, is hard to put down and really brings the events to life.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

A Blog Hop!

Something kind of fun. I had never heard of this before, but a friend did it on her blog, and I thought it was really cool.  Enjoy!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Thursday's Post

Because I said I would.  Well, I told myself I would.  Anywho, I'm busy working on my poetry portfolio, so I have no time for an in-depth post (like that ever happens, right?)  So I will instead share a link.  Enjoy!
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/s/slaughter.asp
Warning.  If you are a member of PETA, you will not enjoy this link.  Unless, of course, PETA stands for People Eating Tasty Animals.  Yes, I stole that from you, Charissa.  It's too good to keep to myself :D

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

themessmakerbaker: Tuesday Giveaway!

I love this blog :) Check it out! And no, it isn't just because I want to win something! I'm actually thinking about doing a giveaway of my own. Any suggestions?
themessmakerbaker: Tuesday Giveaway!: "Good Tuesday afternoon! I received a stack of cookbooks in the mail yesterday. You see, I have a serious addiction to cookbooks..."

Cheeky Pink Girl: Holding Your Child In the Palm of Your Hand

WARNING. This is a tearjerker, but still a small miracle to be shared.
Cheeky Pink Girl: Holding Your Child In the Palm of Your Hand