Holy Thursday ~ Jueves Santo

I absolutely love the Easter Triduum. I feel they're the most beautiful liturgies of the year, and I took pictures tonight to share with y'all ^_^

During Lent, all the statues are veiled in our church.





You can also see the empty Tabernacle in this pic.

The lector reading Exodus 12:1-8,11-14 


Fr Wayne proclaiming the Gospel (Jn 13:1-15)


In his Homily, Fr Wayne talked about how the story of the Washing of the Feet is not only about humbling ourselves to serve others (which is HUGE in itself), but also Jesus' institution of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (we have been bathed by Baptism, but we are still sinners, so we're "clean, but not all") and Pope Benedict's recently published reflections on the subject. So, in the Catholic Church, Holy Thursday celebrates both the institution of the Eucharist and the institution of Reconciliation by Jesus; I did not know that. I <3 a homily where I learn something new! :D


Following the Homily, we had the Washing of the Feet, during which we sang "The Servant Song" and ""Pequé, Pequé." It's such a beautiful tradition!


At the end of Mass, we chanted the Tantum Ergo as the Eucharist was processed out to the altar of repose for Adoration. My camera battery died, so I didn't get any pictures of the procession or the altar. *sigh* It was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes.

Walking to Mass

I'm blessed in that I live within a mile of my home parish, though I have to admit that quite often laziness wins out and I drive anyway. I almost did that yesterday, but I awoke to find that my relatives had borrowed our car! So I had to hoof it to Mass. While I was very tempted to be a grumble gus about it, the thought that this is the only way the vast majority of Catholics throughout the world can get to Mass -- and they often walk farther than I would ever dream -- quelched that temptation real quick.

The fact that it turned out to be a glorious spring day also played a big part in reversing my mood. Indeed, Lord, "be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of your hands [...] and be glad that You have made blue for the sky and the color green that fills these fields with praise!"

As I strolled along, I started thinking why walking is so much better than driving. Hint: It's not just because it's better for our physical health and Creation, though those are very good reasons. It connects us with our community. When I'm driving, the streets that I travel may as well just be lines on a map for all I really notice them. When I'm walking, I see every little flower and songbird, every bit of grit and trash. I sense that this neighborhood is where human lives are played out, where souls are lost and won in the mundane day-to-day business of life.

I see the humanity of the folks in my neighborhood. Those belligerant kids who refuse to stop their basketball game so I can drive by? They're out there mowing the grass and pulling weeds for their old Granny. I can get a glimpse of them as complete human beings, members of families, with good and bad sides, just like anyone else. That random guy I see driving the rusty blue pick-up to work every morning? I pass his house, and he says "hi" and asks how my day is going, we talk about how beautiful the weather is, and wish each other well. I hear women shouting to each other across the street as they tend their respective gardens. There's a real sense of community that you just don't get when you're zipping through in an automobile. And that's a darn shame, because how can you love your neighbors -- even if it's just through a simple "Hey!" and a smile -- or see Christ in them, if you never even see them?

Danos un corazón grande para amar; danos un corazón fuerte para luchar

I went to the Spanish Mass today, and it made me miss Honduras so much! *sigh* How I long to go back! Care to take a stroll down memory lane with me? Here's pics from my last trip there with the Missioners of Christ, which was in 2006:

Los montañas entre Tegucigalpa y Comayagua


Las cabras circa de la Casa Guadeloupe.


Vista de Casa Guadeloupe al Convento de San Sarafin


Lavando la ropa en la pila



Una iglesia pequeña en el campo


¡El mulo!


Noemi, una niña muy bonita

On Timidity

I am a painfully shy person. I have to muster all my courage to go to Confession, and I shake like a terrified little puppy the whole time. Same for many other routine situations in my life, like babysitting my cousins, giving talks at youth group, and training new employees.

I recently found out that Fr is saying daily Mass at my church on Thursdays, which I have off work. So this morning I set off on foot, enjoying the beautiful spring weather and looking forward to receiving the Eucharist.

Then a terrifying thought struck me - what if no one else showed up? After all, attendance at daily Masses can be quite sparse. What if it were just Fr and me there?? I got so scared I almost turned around right before the church and walked back home! But instead I prayed that I wouldn't be the only one, took a breath, and went in.

I was not disappointed. Not only was I not the only lay person there, but a good-sized group was standing in the lobby talking with Fr. I slinked up and was warmly welcomed by a nice old lady :) As we talked even more folks trickled in!

I realized long ago that fighting my timidity is a vain endevor. My personality is not going to change. But more and more I'm realizing that with God's grace I can just do what needs done regardless of my fear, and He will bless my meager efforts.

Thanks be to God!

Pics of Brian's Ordination

Totally random, but while I was scouring my diocese's website for youth ministry dates, I stumbled across pics from my friend Brian's Ordination to the transitional diaconate! :D

 








These were on the same page, and I think they're from the first time he Baptized someone.

Beautiful Bride -- Flyleaf

Oh, discernment

Still praying about my vocation in life, and still confused.



But I do know one thing I am not called to be -- a pediatric nurse. My little cousin, Kerrian, fell off his sister's bed and sliced his foot open, right between his toes. Ended up needing 6 stitches. I had to help my aunt and the nurses hold him down for the suturing, and he was screaming in my face for them to stop hurting him (which they weren't, except for the lidocain injection), I now know with all certainty that pediatric nursing is NOT my calling. My hands were shaking uncontrollably. Seriously freaked me out, especially when he turned bright red and started running a fever from screaming and struggling so much. Definitely going to stick to los animales!