Some More Memorable Moments

...from the past three days...

The conclusion of the Holy Thursday Mass, having just celebrated the Eucharist in memory of Christ's Last Supper, watching in silence and stillness as the altar was stripped, the candles extinguished and the Host moved to the Altar of Repose. The priests left the sanctuary in silence, heads bowed. The feeling was reminiscent of a hospital emergency room being cleared after the death of a patient...in this case, a dramatic foreshadowing of Jesus' death.

Attending my first prayer vigil outside the Planned Parenthood in St. Paul, alongside hundreds of people: babies, children, teenagers, young adults, adults, elderly, priests, brothers, and nuns (is that everyone?) I have heard the common perception that pro-lifers are rude, sometimes violent, selfish, hypocritical, loud and otherwise unforgiving. From my experience, nothing could be further from the truth. For two hours on a sunny Good Friday morning I was surrounded by a deep sense of peace, prayer, sadness, forgiveness and hope. I hope the counter-protesters felt it, too.

Witnessing my first live Stations of the Cross on Good Friday with a group of friends from Nativity.

Walking through the streets of Saint Michael, MN, following "Jesus" (from the live Stations, crown of thorns and all) carrying his Cross with the help of "Simon", a couple "Roman centurians" and twenty or so "disciples".

Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet with said crew on the way to McDonalds for fish sandwiches, and getting this indescribably WEIRD feeling that comes when two-thousand years of Catholic history crashes head on with the epitome of 21st century secular America.

Seeing the look of complete joy on the faces of the RCIA candidates and catechumens as they were confirmed and received their first Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil.

The baptisms of three children, an infant and two adults, also at the Vigil. To witness a soul being reborn into Christ must be one of God's greatest priviledges on earth: to witness six is a blessing beyond words.

Being invited to the house of a Nativity family for Easter lunch and feeling for the first time a true connection to the Catholic Church as Family.

God is good! Christ is Risen! Happy Easter, everyone!