It is Accomplished

“The glory of God is that man lives. Behold, man lives in Christ. Here is the moment in which what he, Christ, said is accomplished: ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live” — St. John Paul II, 1990

Wednesday of Holy Week was the last morning mass before the Easter Triduum. At the end of mass at that early hour, the priest wished everyone a blessed Triduum. He reminded us of the intensity of these days. A shiver came down my spine. On Good Friday, the movement that I follow, Communion and Liberation, offered a Via Crucis meditation according to the founder, Father Luigi Giussani. We were fortunate to have the archbishop accompany us in our mediation. At 3 pm local time, the Good Friday service at my parish also struck me. At the end, we were reminded to leave in silence which was very appropriate. Our priest reminded us of the importance of fasting today and that despite the intensity of the day, God does not sleep tonight. He reminded us that there is an intensity as the Church also fasts and that Christ saved souls through what occurred on Good Friday. Every sin, every struggle that we have is to be offered up before Easter and it is a time to reflect and pray. Again, I was struck.

“Easter is for everyone a mystery of death and life: For this reason, according to the express precept of the Church, which we paternally remind you, every faithful is invited at this time to purify their conscience with the sacrament of penance, immersing it in the Blood of Jesus; and he is called to approach the Eucharistic Banquet with greater faith, to feed on the life-giving flesh of the immaculate Lamb. The mystery of Easter is therefore of death and resurrection for each believer.” — St. John XXIII, 1959

During Holy Week this year, despite its significance, in other years we are reminded of memorials of several saints. Two seemed noteworthy. St. John Baptiste de la Salle sacrificed much of his life to others and to God. He was driven by a love for God. He reminded everyone that we do not live for ourselves but for Him. Christ showed us this on the Cross. On April 6th is celebrated Blessed Pierina Morosini’s life, one of great significance. She was a consecrated woman to chastity. A pious yet simple woman, she lived a simple life as a seamstress. Walking home one evening, she was found with her head bashed in as she defended her chastity. She had attended the canonization of St. Maria in Rome, and then said, “How I would love the death of St. Maria Goretti to touch me.”  Her prayers were answered. Attachment to Christ touches everyone despite the challenges.

“Why should we today sing Alleluia, Praise the Lord? Because this day we are fed, freed, assured of the truth, and given promises of being endowed, in our resurrection, with the gifts of clarity, agility, brightness and impassibility, which Christ showed in his resurrection.” — St. Vincent Ferrer

It has been an intense week. A non-Catholic friend called me this week and asked freely of the significance of this week for me. I hope I responded correctly. Holy Week happens every year, but its significance needs mediation daily or even at every moment. There is something for us to meditate on every year. I want to live this week with an affection. There is a beauty in this sadness. I saw that during the service on Good Friday as we venerated the Cross. Let us to continue to understand more deeply the reality of His passion and Resurrection.

“He will provide the way and the means, such as you could never have imagined. Leave it all to Him, let go of yourself. Lose yourself on the Cross, and you will find yourself entirely.” – St. Catherine of Siena

“While the world changes, the Cross stands firm.” – St. Bruno