Happy Holy Week and Terrific Triduum!

A.M.D.G.
J.M.J.

Il pace di Cristo é con voi, care fratelli e sorelli! Well, children of God, I went to my first Tridentine Indult Mass this morning at Sacred Heart in Grand Rapids. My summary: ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL! It was, hands down, one of the best Masses I have e'er attended! I didn't have my mantilla (spiritual director's order) but I did borrow my friends 1962 Missale Romaum so I could follow along at which I think I did pretty well after I got the hang of it. I would have used my mother's old Latin Missal but it's back at home with the rest of my antique Latin prayer books. The music was beautiful! I think it was a Low Mass because the priest chanted the prayers and did not sing them ... I was told that there was a difference. And it was a Dialogue Mass because the people had their own responses, which I knew! Yay! But, overall, it was absolutely mind-blowingly beautiful!

Now, onto business ...

Today is Palm Sunday ... the first day of Holy Week. I hope y'all got your palms and you heard the Passion narrative. The readings for me were a bit different from the Novus Ordo readings so I am going to watch Mass tonight on EWTN to catch the readings. I want to learn how to make those cool palm crosses. If anyone knows how to do that, would you be a cool child of God and leave me a comment or email me? Grazie.

I am going home Tuesday afternoon/early evening. As soon as I get home, it's going to be very busy for this child of God. First, I have a pile of laundry that needs the "Sister Allie treatment" (I love doing laundry).

Here is my plan for Easter Break:

Wednesday: Go to Morning Mass at SJA ... be in a state of total bliss. Go home. Prepare for Triduum. Possibly attend a practice session for Triduum, if planned.

Holy Thursday: No morning Mass but I will be attending the school's Passion play. I would really love to go to the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral but I have no means of getting there. Oh well. That night, I get to emcee the Mass of the Lord's Supper and make sure the acolytes behave and do what they are supposed to do when they are supposed do it.

Good Friday: No Masses today. I get to serve the noon Stations of the Cross and the one o'clock "Mass" of the Pre-Sanctified (trad term for Good Friday Service). I always find this day very moving. After Church, my family heads to the local Italian restaurant for some delicious (and meat-free) Italian food! Then, that night, I have a practice session for Easter Vigil.

Holy Saturday: No morning Mass. It's my easiest day. I don't have to be at SJA until about eight o'clock at night. The Vigil doesn't start until nine o'clock and it will probably go on for at least two and a half hours. I think I am serving more in the lines of an emcee at this one. It all depends on who is down to serve that Mass. It is my absolute favorite Mass of the whole Church year. I can't wait until this one!

Easter Sunday: I have my usual Mass at noon at SJA. I get to enjoy the Easter holiday with my family and then get ready for going back home Monday morning.

Easter Monday: Hopefully, I will get to go to morning Mass at SJA. Then, I come back up to school for the last three weeks of classes and the fourth week which will be Finals Week!

After that, I am free for three glorious months! Also, the SJA Spring Festival is coming up in a little over a month. I can't believe how fast this year is going.

As you can see by my schedule, I probably won't be posting until I get back from Easter Break. New things always come up! Let me wish you all a very Blessed Holy Week, a terrific Triduum, and a most holy Easter! Remember, tomorrow is the second anniversary of the passing of our beloved, Servant of God, Pope John Paul II. I can't believe it's been two years. I remember all of the events that occurred before and after he passed. I remember watching the Interregnum on EWTN and hearing the announcement of the election of Pope Benedict XVI on the radio while sitting in my history class.

All right, I meant to finish this English paper yesterday so I could relax and actually fully honor the Sabbath but ... alas, something came up ... so, I must finish this paper of mine. I am almost done with it anyway. Until next time, may God bless you and Mary keep you!