Holy Week

Time has a way of picking you up and carrying you away without you even knowing it. What a busy, wonderful week it has been. Holy Week was filled with a Chrism Mass, followed by the Mass of the Lords Supper (where I got my feet washed by Father Bob and Father Kris), and then Good Friday Mass, all ending with the Easter Vigil Mass!
Tuesday, the Chrism Mass encompassed so many beautiful spiritual elements! The Corpus Christi Cathedral is breath-taking and leaves you awestruck at the ornate design and the picturesque expanse of ceilings. My husband, stepson and I watched as over a hundred priests processed into the cathedral followed by the bishops all to the choir of angel's singing in the loft. The most amazing moment that night was when all the priests and bishops in one voice consecrated the host! It was the first time it physically hurt to watch everyone take the Body and Blood of Christ and I could only get a blessing. So close yet so far away, only four more days and I'll be able to join in with my brothers and sisters to celebrate completely in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Thursday, the Mass of the Lords Supper. I was not, originally, one of the elect to have their feet washed. A good friend and ours, Luis, decided to help the Knights of Columbus pass out roses later that evening so he asked if I could take his place in the washing of the feet. God is so great, He really knows the intentions of your heart, because He paved the way for me to act as one of the disciples that had their feet washed by Jesus. I can't describe in words how it felt to be served by the priest impersona of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It truly felt as though our Lord was washing my foot and I was there with Jesus when he said, "'Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.' Simon Peter said to him, 'Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.' Jesus said to him, 'Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over, so you are clean, but not all.'"

Later in the Mass, after those who had their feet washed passed out loaves of bread, we processed, singing, around the outside of church with Jesus in a monstrance. When we entered the church again we were each given a rose and placed it in a vase at the alter for Jesus. The lights were dimmed and all were welcomed to stay and pray until midnight when Father Bob would remove Jesus from the church and the statues of our Blessed Mother and the Saints were covered in black to symbolize the passing of Jesus. We stayed until after ten when my husband and stepson could no longer keep their eyes open.

Good Friday, the day Jesus died for our sins... and my first confession. When we walked into the main church all I could do was feel agony at the sight. All of the statues had black cloth draped over them and the crucifix was draped in red. The tabernacle was empty and the alter was clear of any adornment. There were no lights; the only sign of life were the sinners standing in line to confess their sins. In the background the sounds of monks chanting. I had come to the funeral of our Lord Jesus. I stood in line for an hour and forty-five minutes to give my first confession. There was fear and dread when I went into the confessional, but stepping out of it I had a freedom I can't describe in words. It is the first time in my life that I felt completely free and clean and God's perfect love filled me to completion. When my husband joined me after his confession I told him I didn't want to leave the church just to get dirty by the world again. He laughed and said we must go out into the world and proclaim the joy Jesus' sacrifice gave to us.

Saturday, Easter Vigil Mass. Saturday morning started out with our RCIA retreat - they made us sing and chant all before 9 o'clock! We actually sounded pretty good for people who were tired. After the retreat, which was filled with talks about Jesus and our faith we were allowed to go home for a couple of hours to get ready for the Vigil Mass.

The Mass started out with all of the Elect and Candidates standing around a pit of fire with the priests and choir. When Fr. Bob placed the five nails into the Easter candle to signify the wounds that Jesus took for us on the cross that is when the tears began for me (and they didn't end until the party later that night). We then processed, singing, into the darkened church. Fr. Bob lifted the Easter candle three times to signify the number of times Jesus fell for us while carrying the cross. At each stop he lit one of the parishoners candle and by the time he got to the alter most of the church, once dark, was alight with candlelight. Amazing how the start of one little flame can create light for the whole church.

From there we heard readings from the Bible (my stepson did an amazing job reading the part of Isaac) and then watched the Elect get baptised. It was an amazing sight to see the Elect change their dirty brown robes into clean white robes to represent the cleansing that Jesus had given them. From there we (all Elect - now called Neophytes and the Candidates) walked up to the alter to be confirmed by Fr. Bob - who sealed us with the Holy Spirit. At that moment I received a new name (Teresa for St. Teresa of Avilla) and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And then, what I have been waiting for since I stepped into the Catholic Church - I got to participate in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist! And let me tell you, my life will never be the same! I have a new-found peace that only our blessed Jesus could give me! He is my best friend and I'm so in love with him! Praise you, Jesus, for saving me by giving up your life and for writing my name in the Book of Life.

Now what? You ask. It's back to my normal routine, only, now I have the gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord. Combined with the fruits of the Holy Spirit: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control, and Chastity - I'm on my way to becoming a saint. Well, I have a long while until that happens - but I'm making a good start. And now, I get to fully serve at church and around the city. I am a part of a gigantic family and they love me and I love them. I've been wanting that for a very long time.

Praise you, oh most sacred heart of Jesus, lift me up to you and fill me with your peace and joy - so much that I shall want nothing more.