Holy Week

If what the Anchoress has shone light on is any indication, I am looking soooo forward to tomorrow night and the beginning of the Easter Triduum. Take a gander.

Sigh. I love Holy Week. The long Thursday mass, with the washing of the feet, the readings from Exodus which remind us that we are still in exile, longing for our heavenly home. The hour of Adoration - the meditation of Christ's last words. It is accomplished.

Then Good Friday - the Veneration of the Cross - to see young and old, healthy and infirm sing the songs - "Behold, behold, the cross..." then leaning down to kiss the Cross, or to touch it, to venerate it. It is Buster's favorite part of the Triduum, I think because there is something so bare about it. No one is in church who doesn't want to be, and it is to place oneself at the foot of the cross, and keep watch.

Holy Saturday - what some call "the longest day of the year..." Tabernacles are empty, no masses, we are the women gathering together, going to the spot where He is buried and wondering, who will roll away the stone... until the triumph and tenderness of the Easter Vigil, which is so primitive - so primal and tribal, with the blessing of the fire and water, the marking of the new Paschal candle - and yet so easily comprehended.

The congregation, all in darkness watches and prays - new candles in hand, as the fire is lighted, and from that the Paschal candle each congregant's candle is lit as the priest or deacon processes in, stopping three times to raise the Paschal candle high - the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it - "Christ Our Light," (Lumen Christi) sings the priest. "Thanks be to God" (Deo Gratias) we respond. Finally, the church is awash in the flickering, soft light of a thousand candles and the priest of deacon begins the Easter Proclamation, Exsultet, the greatest chant ever written, a chant I can't find an mp3 for, but you must hear. When it's done by a priest or deacon who can actually sing it, it is... spine-tingling.

Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our King is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes forever!

And then the 7 readings and corresponding psalms... finally, for the first time in 40 days, we sing the Gloria - the bells peal and the words pour forth: Glory to God in the Highest, and Peace to His people on earth! (Et in terra pax hominibus!) And as the Gloria is sung, the shrouds of mourning are cast aside. Every light is turned on, every candle lit, the bare altar is again dressed. Then the NT Epistle and finally the Gospel is read. A homily and then the Liturgy of Baptism - we all renew the baptismal promises: I reject Satan and all his works, and all his empty promises...

We baptise those who need it, welcome in those already baptised but seeking full communion and as they come, one by one, for sprinkling or immersion, we chant the Litany of Saints - it's not just for popes, but for every one of us, a calling down of the Cloud of Witnesses, a request to all who have gone before: Pray for Us! And then the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and communion - a final blessing and we're off, tired and yet exhilirated from a 2-3 hour liturgy that has been full of emotion and beauty and prayer.

In our house, we go home and have coffee and sweetrolls and chocolate. We have sweets to celebrate the sweetness of life, and because He is Risen and it is no time for mourning.

Wow.