Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Today ends the Easter Octave or Easter Week.  The greatest benefit of being here at the monastery has been this Easter Octave Celebration.

I have always told people that my saddest day as a priest comes each year on Easter Monday.  The crowds of Holy Week have dissipated and the daily Mass crowd that had grown over Lent is dwindled as even many of the year round Mass goers are often visiting with family.  Not even the school children are there it's vacation.  So on these holiest days of the year it's often just a hand full of faithful.

The Octave of Easter (or Christmas for that matter) treats each day like a mini- holiday.  The Mystery is so large that it needs more time to reflect on and let sink in.  Daily was read another account of Easter at Mass.  The reality is too great to capture from just one viewpoint.  and like our own realities many people besides Jesus were involved.  We don't do well living as a Resurrected People.  The Power of Christ's Triumph should mean more than my soul lives on after this world.  We have to see the value in each other while we live.  Why can't we just bask in the light of Easter Joy?

Everyday this week was Easter at the monastery.   Every Mass was celebrated like Easter Sunday:  from the tower bells ringing to the time schedule, to the chants and choir.  It was even Easter all week in the refectory as extra food and sweets were added.   What use is it to profess a belief in the Resurrected Lord and not let it alter our way of life quite literally.

One thing I missed terribly was our Mercy Celebration on Sunday afternoon.  It's so moving to sing together the Divine Mercy Chaplet and so many always come out.  Plus I would not have had to preach as Pope Francis talked about the triumph of God's Mercy which is intertwined with the Resurrection of Jesus.  I'm sure he would not have minded if I borrowed a line (paragraph) or two.

Even if the monks did have some thing here, it would would not be in English or use that wonderful melody that we reserve for the Easter Octave day.  I remember back in 2009 when I had my date with the electrophysiologist the Monday after the Easter Octave Day.  The last thing I did before I went into St. Francis Hospital was the Divine Mercy Celebration.  Fresh in my memory and on my soul I prayed/sang the chaplet through the entire procedure and haven't stopped since.  I'm sure it was wonderful again this year at Incarnation with Deacon Robinson's efforts.  I know I was praying it here at 9:30PM as I was preparing for bed.

Mercy received, Mercy shared.
Resurrection won, Resurrection lived.

Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Happy Easter!