Traveling Mercies

I was waiting for DH and the older two to return from Holy Thursday Mass and, when the 2 hour mark hit, I was ready to call it a day. The evil one was planted on my shoulder, whispering just loudly enough, "It's dark, it's raining and the kids will whine the entire time...why would you want to just jump in a car and visit random churches? How is that going to help?"

I am blessed that DH, when fresh from services and full of grace, has the power to move me beyond my slothfulness. I'm so glad he did. The kids were amazing. The trip was blessed.

We were a band of gypsies but, as usual, the Holy Spirit had it well in hand. We decided to pray one bit of the Divine Mercy Chaplet as we drove between each of the churches and we finished when we were headed home! At each church, we looked at two Stations, like 14 Stations spread across 7 churches. The difference between church Stations is fascinating...more for another time. Here's the church-visit-rundown.

Church #1: Resurrection

Come to think of it, it's kind of funny to start with this but, that's the ultimate point, yes? I was just led there because I passed near it on my jog this morning and figured it was as good as any. It wasn't until we were walking in that I remembered it was the parish of our dear friends who moved to WI. We prayed extra prayers for them in this incredibly beautiful parish.

Church #2: St. Margaret of Scotland

  These lines are the flash hitting the rain as it fell. I'm thinking Bernadette was winking at us ;0)

It was actually supposed to be the church down the street but there were no lights on there so we pressed on. I put "Catholic Church" into the GPS and it would eventually take us to the seminary (again, no go) but we passed here on the way, so we stopped. They had a GREETER! and COFFEE! now...that is a parish who knows how to host a 7-church visit! They also had the tiniest Stations I have ever seen.

Church #3 Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton 

 More smiles from heaven ;0)

#1 attends Little Flowers here and it is the parish of a family we know well so it was a very safe and comfortable stop (which was good because it was POURING at this point). They have, in my opinion, the most beautiful Stations I've ever seen. Just gorgeous.

Church # 4 Our Lady of Grace

 DH rarely has an opinion on styles of church but this was one he thoroughly disliked.

Other than the odd Stations (the weeping women had no faces) and nearly getting plowed into by a rouge bus driver, I thought it was nice to see such a prominent area to feature Our Lady.

Church #5 Sts. Simon and Jude

So by this time, it's getting late. People, especially people who just finished Mass or who refused to take their mother's advice about getting a nap earlier, were dragging. I love that the Holy Spirit swoops in at that moment. What chance is there, do you think, that in all the churches across the diocese, we would walk in at the exact moment that our very dear friends would be walking out? Can you say instant energy boost? What a blessing to share the end of this journey with them. 

Church #6 St. Anne

This is a local church and I was dragging myself so I didn't take a picture. Our friends were such good sports to journey with us to our last two stops (so, I'm sure they ended up with 8 or 10 churches...overachievers. LOL) It was a much needed blessing to me to spend even a short time with these people who are like us in so many ways. It is a balm to me to see the kids jumping around together. We are so blessed.

Church #7 St. Bernard

No picture again...just think "scaffold" and you have it pretty much. Yes, it's still under construction. Yes, the last two Stations were missing because they are in the "construction zone". Yes, #1 said, "you don't need to look at a picture to do the Stations...just imagine it in your head."

So, we prayed our last two Stations, spent some time with Jesus in the relocated tabernacle, gave final "goodbyes" to our friends and headed off for home. "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

I'm exhausted...no doubt about it. There is also no doubt that it is a very "good" exhaustion. One that comes from following the whispering of the Holy Spirit. The road is not always easy but it is always full of unexpected grace.

We are blessed. Happy Good Friday!  

Happy Triduum

well, the first day, anyway.

So, as of yesterday, my Lent just sort of fell apart (maybe not in deed but my heart doesn't feel as "in it" as before). I blame DH who said, "you know, Lent is over so you can go back to doing what you did before". I'm lying, that's totally not a direct quote but it is what I heard him say. It's not like I stopped doing everything, but I do feel like I'm slacking. So, as often as possible, I have been trying to "insert" something religious/Catholic/faithful to keep the kids on the right path. I think it's working. Somewhat (as I listen to the two boys act out fantasy baseball games in the next room).

Yesterday afternoon we had to walk (well we didn't have to walk, I wanted to...it was beautiful) to church so that #1 could rehearse with the other servers for tonight's Holy Thursday Mass. It's a wonderful thing to watch...her with all of those massive high-schoolers. It's so hard for me to imagine that she will be a candle person one day. For now, she is the incense boat person..."Skiff" for you "Altar Gang" fans.

If you haven't yet, check them out...so funny! You also learn a bunch of good stuff.

Anyway, since we were en masse I had to come up with some things to do while we waited the hour for practice to end. We said a rosary by the Blessed Mother statue and walked around the church (it takes a while with an almost-three-year-old in tow! Thirty minutes down, we headed inside.

It was fun to watch since we won't be there...just #1 &#2...we go slowly around here. I don't think it's good to force the Triduum when you walk away with angry parents and screaming kids. They did well enough in practice. I'm always grateful when we are in church and it's practically empty. More space to yell.

 working on our patience

Today is Holy Thursday (or any of the number of other names which you can read about HERE ) I certainly could have gone to Chrism Mass with #1 but it's becoming sort of a tradition that she goes with one of our dear friends so off she went. My helper was here and, well, the day was amazing so I went out to enjoy it and have a little run (I say that knowing it was closer to a long walk...Brookline is FULL of hills). When I was running, one of my favorite Laurie Anderson songs came on my headphones..."The Day the Devil " from the album Strange Angels . I have noticed that I can hear a religious theme in most songs but this one is particularly apt for the next few days:

The day the devil comes to getcha
He's a long way from home
And you know he's gonna getcha
Cause you're stuck in the middle
Everybody please rise

Give me back my innocence
Get me a brand new suit
Give me back my innocence
Oh Lord! Cut me down to size

Give me back my innocence
Get me a new Cadillac
Cause when I get up to heaven Lord
You can have it all back

Most especially that last stanza. Let me have everything here and when I get to heaven, Lord, You can have it all back. Wow. We're all like that from time-to-time, aren't we? I think it is the human condition...wanting to get to heaven and wanting everything while we're here. Hmmm. Good thoughts to ponder.

So, after my run (which I could have skipped and gone to pray instead...see? me too!) I cleaned up and got down dinner. I don't even know where the old picture is and I'm NOT going to post today's failed attempt but I made a crown of thorns pretzel for dinner. It will be a good lead-in to talking about Good Friday and the Passion.

Then we will talk about whether-or-not to take a church tour when the older ones return from Mass. I never knew what it was about (see this for one explanation) because we didn't do it when we were young (because churches were 20+ minutes drive apart). I like the other explanation I read about today - uniting in prayer with Jesus and the Agony in the Garden.

So, we will likely go. Where and how many, I can't answer. I think we will pray a rosary along the way and/or Stations and see how many we cover. I do know that I'm looking forward to our family being reunited and praying together. This Lent has been a great exercise in "making a habit" of family prayer and I do hope that we will continue long after the Easter season. I'll put #1 on it. She's a bulldog with all things religious ;0)

Wherever this Holy Thursday finds you, I pray that you are taking a moment to stop and remember the events of this day...events that shape our faith. The Last Supper, where Jesus gathered to break bread for the last time with His disciples before sending them out to spread the Gospel. The washing of the feet, where the Master humbled himself to serve. May we all humble ourselves over the next few days so that we may truly enter into the Paschal Mystery and obtain the graces held therein.

I will probably be back but, if not, have a fruitful end to Holy Week.

We are blessed.