Posted on 04/16/2006 11:48:30 AM PDT by NYer
The whole, blessed tradition - from Lent through Holy Week -- Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday -- had a life changing impact on me.
Once again, after so many times before, I think to myself, "how did I live so long without knowing this was here? How can people take this for granted -- this awesome Church? Why didn't someone make me see it sooner?"
I really didn't begin to live until I came back to the Church.
Bump for later. First Easter for Pope Benedict XVI, first Easter for Vlad the Usurper :-).
I think to myself, "how did I live so long without knowing this was here?
Recall the Parable of the Sower. The seeds were all there. It took time for them to be watered and fed. Many of us slip and slide throughout our lives. Our loving and merciful Savior patiently calls us back. You are not alone!
This is the first year that I attempted to partake of the Easter Triduum. I was blown away. "Easter Sunday" -- in the sense I was raised with and took for granted was what "Easter" is all about, doesn't begin to even touch on it.
Like you, I also threw myself into the sublime mysteries of the Easter Triduum this year, though through a Maronite Catholic Church. It all culminated last night at Midnight Mass (that's the time it began) when Father rolled back the stone from the empty tomb. Like you - I really didn't begin to live until I came back to the Church.
The challenge now is to hold fast to this awesome experience and allow it to carry you through the entire liturgical year - until next Lent - when we will take stock of our shortcomings and renew our commitment to Christ, our Divine Savior, who called to us out of Love.
Easter blessings to you and your family!
Thank you for posting that, it's a wonderful witness. I am really stunned by how many people seem to have found (or re-discovered) the True Faith this year. Despite all the difficulties in the Church, the Truth shines out and is defeating the darkness, and people are seeing it and recognizing it.
All of our parishes here (North Florida) have had large numbers of converts or people coming back, and I read somewhere that the Diocese of Miami received 1200 people last night. Many of them have said in interviews published here in the press that it was what they saw of the Church during the death of JPII - and his enormous courage and faith during that time - and the beauty of the funeral liturgies, combined with admiration for BXVI and his forthright orthodoxy, that has brought them into the Church or back to it. I was talking to a friend from Atlanta today and she said the same thing. They received 60 people in her parish last night!
BTTT again!
As newcomers to the Eastern Rite, my little family and I have had one magnificent experience after another throughout this whole season. Today's Divine Liturgy was simply indescribable. Several times, I was profoundly reminded of just what it really was that we were celebrating. The harmony of the chants was close and very beautiful. We are truly blessed.
My oldest daughter and I attended a Greek Orthodox devotion to the Blessed Mother a week ago Friday, on the advice of FReeper Koloko-whatever. I thought it was beautiful, and I plan to spend more time meditating on the texts of the liturgy during the Easter season, and include some of it in our family devotions.
My daughter is 15, and she thought an electric guitar would be a good addition :-).
"The Resurrection was like an explosion of light, an explosion of love which dissolved the hitherto indissoluble compenetration of "dying and becoming"."
Preparation, no doubt!
Ain't it great?? :) :) :)
Welcome! May God continue to shower you with His gift of abundant blessings!
I'm one of them -- I entered full communion, was confirmed and received Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time at the Vigil last night! I don't even have words to describe the feeling.
Congratulations and a very big welcome! BTW, I am really happy because it seems that all of my favorite Freepers (that is, folks whose posts I like!) are coming home to the Church now!
What a great feeling going to Communion for the first time. You have so many discoveries ahead of you! And you have 2000 years of history behind you to draw upon. It is truly wonderful. Welcome once again, and my prayers for you.
**The whole, blessed tradition - from Lent through Holy Week -- Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday -- had a life changing impact on me.**
Amen! And welcome back home!
**Why didn't someone make me see it sooner?" **
Because you weren't hanigng out on FR -- LOL! No, seriously, we have an awesome Religion Forum here. Lots of learning opportunities.
Check out all the links as you go down the thread -- Catholic Culture has the most.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.