A Powerful Holy Week indeed

After participating in all 3 Masses last Sunday for the Palm Sunday liturgy, including reading the part of the narrator for the proclamation of the Passion, I went home exhausted but fulfilled and prepared for a busy Holy Week.  Indeed, it has been a busy four days, all filled with many spiritual events, some unexpected for sure.


Tuesday evening was reconciliation day in these parts.  Both my home parish of St. Jane and my assigned parish of Most Holy Trinity were offering confessions this evening.  I thought it may be easier for me personally to go by St. Jane's on the way home from work.  To my surprise and my delight, as I entered the beautiful church in Abita Springs, I was greeted by quite a long line of folks with the same idea as my own.  I realized that only one Priest was hearing confessions this night so I just spent a quiet hour in the pews preparing for a good confession and the Holy Week activity to come.  Leaving St. Jane's I arrived at Most Holy Trinity to watch in amazement as dozens upon dozens of people arrived for reconciliation.  A total of five Priests were on hand to hear confessions.  I was able to make a good confession and was so moved by the turnout I remained in the church for another hour just soaking up the beauty of watching so many folks availing themselves of this Sacrament that all too often is under utilized.  It was an incredibly beautiful evening!


Wednesday night I met the volunteers from Mary Queen of Peace Parish at Rayburn Prison.  Every year, during Holy Week, the volunteers conduct a Seder Meal for the inmates with all the usual Seder foods and traditions.  The inmates themselves take the roles in reading the parts of the Passover.  When the Seder is concluded, the men receive Jesus in Holy Communion and I was able to wish each of them both a good Holy Week and an anticipated Easter blessing.  Again, this Wednesday night proved to be so spiritually moving and incredibly fulfilling.  As I drove home in the Wednesday night darkness on the mainly rural roads from the prison back to my home, I had a beautiful hour alone to reflect on the wonderful evening spent with the inmates and the significance of this Holy Week.


We arrive at the Triduum; the day we call Holy Thursday.  On this day the church has no mass during the day and at evening time celebrates the Mass of the Lord's Supper.  I, along with my two brother deacons from the parish, assisted at the Mass.  I was able to proclaim the beautiful Gospel of the model Jesus gave us all to follow, we must wash one another's feet.  At Most Holy Trinity Parish we have a tradition of doing just that.  After the Pastor and the other Priest washes the feet of a few parishioners, each parishioner, in turn, washes the feet of another.  I have never seen the washing of the feet done this way before but it is incredibly moving.  It is hard to put into words the feelings as I watch young and old stoop to wash the feet of another.  It is particularly moving to see a child wash the feet of their parents, or parents their children's feet.  It too is very moving to see the elderly who often times need help getting back up after washing feet, but do so without a complaint.  After the washing of the feet and distribution of Holy Communion, the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the tabernacle and processed to an altar of repose. The procession is very moving as all kneel while Jesus moves throughout the church.  The Church remains open until midnight for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, now relocated to the altar of repose.  Incredibly, many of the congregation remain, some for an hour, others all the way to midnight.  At midnight, the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the Church and all leave quietly, Good Friday begins.


Good Friday brings many unique traditions in the New Orleans area.  Many businesses close because of the long time influence of Catholicism here.  Others, who have lost the true meaning of the day hosts lavish seafood parties and crawfish boils.  Yet the Church beckons us to Stations of the Cross and at 3 PM, the hour of the death of Christ, we gather to remember his Passion and Crucifixion.  This service is not a Mass, for Good Friday is the only day on the church calendar without a Mass.  We read the Passion from the Gospel of John, we venerate the Cross, we receive Communion from the many hosts consecrated the night before and we all leave in silence.  The Church is quiet, the Blessed Sacrament remains away from the tabernacle.  At Most Holy Trinity our evening Stations of the Cross are presented as Living Stations by our youth group.  Masterfully done, the event proves to be spiritually moving and often times evokes cries from those of us watching.  Both the scene of Jesus' death, the 12th station and the burial of Jesus, the 14th station are particularly haunting.  In the presentation, the young man who portrays Jesus is literally carried from the church on the arms and backs of 4 adults and is very moving.  Good Friday concludes.


And now, as I write this, it is early on the morning of Holy Saturday.  Yes, we are about to transition to Easter, yet we must remain with the empty tomb.  We must continue to prepare for Easter with contemplation on the Crucifixion.  We must continue to reflect interiorly on the sacrifice of Jesus, His public ministry, his passion, death and resurrection! 


For me, this has been a most powerful Holy Week indeed!  The events of this week are preparing me for a most generous response to tonight's Resurrection joy and Easter alleluias!