Dear Friend,

First, I would like to wish you and your family a Blessed Triduum & Joyful Easter. 

Today, I am writing to you with great joy, in anticipation of the Triduum and Easter Sunday because ‘unlike this time last year’ the majority of churches around the world have opened. We can attend, in-person at our parishes all the Holy Week liturgies. This should inspire us to “live our faith wide open” each moment of the Triduum services in person, thanking God that that we can attend, with no computer screen between us and the priest.

Let us go forward in hope - rejoicing in our faith!

On Holy Thursday, the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, signifies the Institution of the Holy Eucharist, the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the institution of the sacrament of the priesthood. Let us all take time to show our respect and love for every priest who has been ordained.  Their hands are sacred, for they were consecrated during the sacrament of ordination.  This reminds me of a poem “The beautiful hands of the priest”:

At the altar each day we behold them,
And the hands of a king on his throne
Are not equal to them in their greatness
Their dignity stands alone.
For there in the stillness of morning
Ere the sun has emerged from the east,
There God rests between the pure fingers
Of the beautiful hands of a priest

On Good Friday, let us hurry to the church to be with Our Mother of Sorrows as she meets her son Jesus, on the way to Calvary. Let us consider the grief the Blessed Mother felt as she saw her beaten and wounded Son. So protective of her child Jesus, her heart broke when she could no longer protect Him. Let us be with Mary as she stands by the cross, witnessing the death of Jesus and share the sorrow when the body of Jesus is placed in her arms.  

At the Holy Saturday Easter Vigil, when the Cantor or Priest sings “Christ the light”, let us shout with a joy as never before “thanks be to God!” For there is no greater joy or happiness than the anticipation of celebrating the Risen Jesus on Easter Sunday!

When Easter Sunday arrives, let us plan on being the first ones to be inside of the church, where we can look at Jesus in the tabernacle and give thanks that we are able to participate in the greatest celebration of the Catholic Church.  Jesus has conquered sin, we loudly exclaim that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead! 

Let us meditate on how Mary Magdalene felt when Jesus revealed himself to her; a heart bursting with joy and overcome with emotion after she heard Our Lord say her name.  She was the first to announce the joyful message of Easter. 

Following Saint Mary Magdalene’s example, let us exuberantly proclaim our Catholic Faith, a precious, unending gift, our love for the Church and Our Blessed Mother Mary.

May Our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ, be with you and your loved ones, throughout this Easter Season.

Your friend in Christ,

Thomas J McKenna

P.S. Have you seen our latest edition of Conversations with Cardinal Burke? Watch here:

http://www.catholicaction.org/