Who's the best catholic over Easter?

I'll attend Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter vigil services, but I'm unlikely to attend church Easter Sunday morning. I have never seen the Veneration of the Cross combined with the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, although you could make the stations individually.

I used to attend the whole Triduum, but now that my biggest vocation is a Mom, it's much, much too difficult. Mass feels like wrangling wild monkeys sometimes, and adding church events for three days in a row, especially ones they are not used to, would be more of a challenge than it would be a positive experience for any of us, or anyone around us.

Some day, I'm sure I'll do it again, and it'll be much easier, but I'm definitely not in that season of life right now. It just isn't practical.

The collection is not necessarily taken at every Mass and this is a diocesan decision.

My parish, there is no collection taken at Masses other than the Sunday and Christmas Masses.

Holy Thursday and Good Friday services, there is no collection.

The Easter Vigil there is, but this is for Easter Sunday collection.

Embarrassing enough, one year, the men passing the basket went to the Catechumans who were being received into the Church. They were in the front pew wearing their white robes when the basket was presented. They had to lift their robes and dig for their wallets. The pastor's face turned red seeing it, but he had good humor about it when I told him afterwards, the new members were fully brought into the Catholic Church with the sacraments and their wallets.

Jim

Just got back from Holy Thursday. It went really well. The last two years took some serious adjusting to get used to our visiting priest so I was happy that this mass was so reverent. We also skipped the youth 'Spirit Choir' for the first time which was welcomed by me.

Tomorrow night I serve with our parish priest. He's been very ill lately and very weak this week. We'll see how we get through this one. At any rate, I smell like incense, and I'm happy.

tadoflamb said:

Just got back from Holy Thursday. It went really well. The last two years took some serious adjusting to get used to our visiting priest so I was happy that this mass was so reverent. We also skipped the youth 'Spirit Choir' for the first time which was welcomed by me.

Tomorrow night I serve with our parish priest. He's been very ill lately and very weak this week. We'll see how we get through this one. At any rate, I smell like incense, and I'm happy.

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Prayers for you and your priest during this time Tad!

Michie said:

Prayers for you and your priest during this time Tad!

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Thanks Michie. I'm pretty sure I've told you that Holy Week used to have a real sweetness to it when I worked so close with my pastor. In years past, I'd still be at church, all alone with the Blessed Sacrament until about 9 o'clock when father would come over from the rectory and I'd carry the tabernacle of repose into the sacristy for him.

I miss those days.

Of course, the only glitch tonight was when I had to walk with the incense in front of the sacrament backwards during the transfer of the Holy Eucharist to the Altar of Repose and I backed into an very elderly lady in a wheelchair.

tadoflamb said:

Thanks Michie. I'm pretty sure I've told you that Holy Week used to have a real sweetness to it when I worked so close with my pastor. In years past, I'd still be at church, all alone with the Blessed Sacrament until about 9 o'clock when father would come over from the rectory and I'd carry the tabernacle of repose into the sacristy for him.

I miss those days.

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Yes I remember that. More of your honeymoon days with the Church.

tadoflamb said:

Of course, the only glitch tonight was when I had to walk with the incense in front of the sacrament backwards during the transfer of the Holy Eucharist to the Altar of Repose and I backed into an very elderly lady in a wheelchair.

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Lol! Jarring I know but those things happen.

Went to Mass tonight.

#Mindblown.

bettercallpaul said:

It's Good Friday here in Australia. Attended Holy Thursday mass last night where 90% of parishioners wore something white (as instructed a week earlier by priests).

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It's good to learn of the diverse customs within the Church .

As Catholics we can easily think that the way we do things is how all Catholics do things .

What hxappens if you are poor and cannot afford to buy clothes in those colours?

Yes but not all could afford it in some parishes, so i could not be enforced really.

bettercallpaul said:

It's Good Friday here in Australia. Attended Holy Thursday mass last night where 90% of parishioners wore something white (as instructed a week earlier by priests). Have to say, we looked like some weird Moonie cult but otherwise no dramas. One haunting hymn at the end of Mass performed by obvious professional soprano. Sounded to be in Latin but really powerful stuff.

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Pange Lingua Gloriosi (Sing My Tongue the Savior's Glory)


It reminds me of my children's choir days--I can still smell incense every time I hear it--I smelled incense listening to this you tube video.

bettercallpaul said:

Why don't the Jews believe in a personal saviour?
Sorry my faith is weak sometimes. I just have to ask myself "do I really believe this whole story about original sin and an only child of God being sent somehow to compensate for that original sin." I think 'why am I right and those other people wrong? who knows we might be all delusional?"

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I was meditating this morning, and then watched the Passion of the Christ.
What I always conclude is - He wants us, doesnt need us.

But today I was contemplating how humbling it is to KNOW [and watch and see] the torture He under went for our sake.
Then i recount my sins that He was beaten for.
And i ponder how egotistical we are.
How much we ignore Him. His sacrifice.
He wants us humble... and wanting to get away from sin - which was the very reason He was struck.
And above all - we should want to be humbled - because our God - His love - humbled Himself for us first.

If you look at todays world vs the ancient world...one thing is perfectly clear, all people believed in a 'god'. All innately knew we had a Creator. Its part of our soul that knows.
Yet - no other gods showed themselves. No other 'gods' laid down their life for all.
No other gods provided miracles.

So when you question these things, remember to pray to the Holy Spirit to fill you.
Relax, trust and feel the peace.