Passiontide

There's been so much excitement with the barbershop competition, it's been hard to maintain some of my Lenten devotions. It is already a busy time preparing for the liturgies so I am grateful that next year the competition will be in May. It was a shock to my system going for Adoration one day, where I could feast my eyes on the Blessed Sacrament and the Altar and then the next, with the statues covered up. Not only is the Gloria gone, but the Gloria Patri as well, and now some of the visual beauty. 

I've been praying the Stations of the Cross privately using Tina Jost's One Hour for My Priest. It might be my most favorite section along with Help Him! Our parish has been praying the Stations every Wed, followed by a soup supper. What I love about the corporate prayers is that the priest recites this beautiful prayer after Benediction:

O Jesus Christ, remember,

when Thou shalt come again,

upon the clouds of heaven,

with all Thy shining train;

when every eye shall see

Thee in deity revealed,

who now upon this altar

in silence are concealed.

Remember then, O Savior,

we supplicate of Thee,

that here we bowed before Thee

upon our bended knee;

that here we owned Thy Presence,

and did not Thee deny,

and glorified Thy greatness

though hid from human eye.

Accept, Divine Redeemer,

the homage of our praise;

be Thou the light and honor

and glory of our days.

Be Thou our consolation

when death is drawing nigh:

be Thou our only treasure

through all eternity. Amen.  

We're in the middle of Holy Week and preparing beautiful music for all the liturgies for the Sacred Triduum. Spring is here and I'm loving the warm weather and the promise of renewal. We had such a lovely weekend, riding our bikes to Waterfront park and providing some background music for the 379th birthday of Capt. Robert Daniell (our island town is named in his honor).