Holy Week Reflection
by Sister Joan Marie Stelman, OSB, senior vice president, mission integration
We are preparing now for the Easter Triduum – the three most sacred days of the liturgical year for Catholics and many other Christians.
Triduum begins on the evening of Holy Thursday and ends on the evening of Easter Sunday. There are many special liturgical celebrations:
- the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday evening,
- the commemoration on Good Friday of Jesus’ death,
- and the celebrations of Easter Vigil on Saturday evening and the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord on Sunday.
I hope this will be a blessed time for all of you. I thought the following reflection and prayer may help you to focus on these three holy days.
The Cross of Christ! Ever blossoming, the tree the Cross continues to bear new fruits of salvation. This is why believers look with confidence to the Cross, drawing from its mystery of love the courage and strength to walk faithfully in the footsteps of the crucified and risen Christ. Thus, the message of the Cross has entered the hearts of so many men and women and changed their lives.
–St. John Paul II, from his homily on the canonization of St. Edith Stein
Prayer
Lord, as we journey with You these next days,
help us to remember that You walk with us always.
Grant us the courage and wisdom to carry out what we are called to do
and the humility to accept whatever God wills for us.
We pray in Your name, Amen.