In this installment in our fictional Vocation Letter series, Sister Mary Rosaria shares how we enter deeply into the Paschal Mystery of Christ through the monastic celebration of the Triduum, ending in Easter joy. This concludes our mini-series on liturgical seasons in the monastery after Vocation Letters on Advent, Christmas, and Lent.
Ave + Maria
Dear Mom and Dad,
Happy Easter! Christ is Risen! How was your Easter? It struck me this year that here in the monastery we don’t simply attend services, but really live the celebrations of the mysteries of these holy days.
On Holy Thursday, the community gathers in the chapter hall for the special ceremony of the Mandatum. Mother washes the Sisters’ feet, as we sing a series of beautiful chants recalling Our Lord’s washing of His disciples’ feet, His anointing by St. Mary Magdalen, and His new commandment of charity. In the evening, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper concludes with Father and the nuns processing into the chapter hall, where we have hung special curtains and prepared the Altar of Repose for the Blessed Sacrament. There we nuns keep a solemn vigil with Our Lord until midnight, when Good Friday begins.
Good Friday is the most solemn day of the year. We keep profound silence, and wear our copes and our veils down (I’ve showed you that, right? The top part of our veil is folded back, and we can pull it forward to hide our faces and make kind of a private “cloister” for ourselves), and keep a solemn fast. We make the Stations of the Cross as a community, and at 3:00 pm hold the Good Friday service. For the Adoration of the Cross, we approach barefoot with a triple genuflection, and kiss the Cross while making the venia, our special Dominican prostration. The Dominican chant of the Reproaches echoes in our hearts all day long.
On Holy Saturday, we stay united with our Sorrowful Mother, but the atmosphere changes to one of expectant preparation. Even Our Lady knew that Jesus would rise from the dead, right? And here at the monastery, we have to prepare the altar! Get the Easter lilies ready! Prepare Easter baskets of flowers for all the different shrines around the house! Put the finishing touches on the festive Easter treats for the next day! At last comes the Easter Vigil, starting in pitch darkness, with the shining light of the Easter candle, the proclamation of the Exultet, and finally the singing of the Gloria with all the bells ringing and each nun struggling to hold the chant book (or play the organ or ring the bells vigorously) while at the same time throwing off the black cope we have worn at each liturgy since November 2. Christ is risen, alleluia, alleluia!
Even though the flowers have been blooming outside all throughout Lent, Easter seems to make them spring more truly into bloom. The monastery seems all the more filled with light! The organist pulls out all the stops on the organ (which we haven’t heard throughout Lent) and plays our special choral Regina Coelis with gusto, while the scent of the Easter lilies and special Paschal incense overflows from the chapel.
Does that give you some idea? It is so glorious! And this Easter exultation continues (a little more toned-down than during the Octave, perhaps) for all 50 days of the Easter Season until Pentecost, with the rain of Alleluias at Mass and Office and the joyful prayer of the Regina Coeli constantly reminding us of the joy of Christ’s Resurrection.
May Our Lord also give you a share in His Easter graces!
In Our Lady, joyful Queen of Heaven,
Sister Mary Rosaria, O.P.
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