I love the Triduum

As my faith life has grown I have been blessed to fall in love with the Triduum, that is to say Holy thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.  Our family has attended all three services for the past six years or so and they equal about 8 hours of church attendance.  If you don't go, boy are you missing out!  My Easter experience is so much richer for having gone.

On Holy Thursday we celebrate the institution of the priesthood and the Last Supper.  Every year twelve member of the parish are chosen, and our pastor tenderly washes their feet as Jesus did.  I was chosen several years ago, and it was incredibly moving.

On Good Friday we hear about out Lord's Passion and then we have the opportunity to venerate the cross.

Easter Vigil at our parish is inspired.  The introductory reading take you though salvation history and are set to music.  We bless the new Easter candle and everyone lights a small candle from it.  this is also the night that new (adult) members of parish are welcomed into the Church.  We have Baptisms, First Communions and Confirmations. 

I hope your Easter traditions deepen your relationship with Chist.  God bless you!

"In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences"
Arch Bishop Timothy Dolan

The Obama administration and the Dept of Health and human services has mandated that Catholic and other religious institutions provide contraceptives and sterilizations in their health insurance plans regardless of their conscience or religious views.

We are not forcing our beliefs upon anyone else. We respect the constitutional right of all faiths to freely exercise their religion. We simply want that constitutional right given to us as well.
Bill Thierfelder, President of Bellmont Abbey College

HHS argues that there is a conscience clause, but it is so narrow as to render it useless.  Once a religious community goes out into the world and serves people outside its own faith, that religious institution loses its exemption.  Universities, hospitals, and social service organization would not be exempt.

So what?  This is a huge attack on how people can worship and practice.  This forces people to participate in an evil.  While you may not agree that abortion and birth control are evil, I hope you can see how the next time the government infringes on religious freedom, it may be yours.



http://www.stophhs.com/