The Day before Easter

Anyone who knows me knows that I love this time of the year. There are three high holydays of my life: Christmas, The Triduum and (jokingly) the Tony Awards. Today I am in day two of the The Triduum. A day where it is quiet after the drama of the last two days. This day is the day when we wait. We wait in silence. We have time to reflect. We have time to just sit and to think about the new beginning. Perhaps writing this blog is my way of reflecting on what is important, what is negative, what is postive in my life and perhaps forcing me to realize that whatever lies ahead, despite the drama, the ugliness, and the metaphorical "beatings", there will always be a positive end.

I have come to realize that people say certain things or certain things happen to us to remind us of the positive (no matter how large or small) of the world. For example, I was meeting with someone who has become a dear friend over the past couple of years, and I mentioned to her some of the minor "issues" I was having with certain events of my life. Her response, in a very calming way, was "Hey, embrace this Cross, you know it will all be wonderful when it is over." Ummm. Made me think. How many times do we go through something and don't realize the ending will be more glorious than the process?

That comment has stayed with me throughout these glorious days. On Holy Thursday, I mantained the old Italian tradition of visiting seven churches after an evening Mass. Ever since my pastor friend left our home parish, I have gone elsewhere to find the most meaningful prayer space available. This year, I went to church where I got more than I bargained for. I had been to this church before and I knew that the presider would be extraordinary. The Mass was well orchestrated, well rehearsed, meaningful, tearful, prayerful and beautiful. What a way to start the most holiest of time periods!! After Mass, I began my pilgrimage to visit the seven churches. At the second church, a church were there is always a dramatic display (one year they had silent monks keeping watch, another year the repository was in a tree and the visitors had to actually find it, etc), I was met by a black and white cat. It was a replica of my cat when he was much younger. This cat appeared out of no where when I got out of my car. He literally guided me to the place of visitation. Every step I took he was tangled within my feet. I went in one direction. He meowed and tried to trip me. I went in another direction, he did the same process. Finally, I headed to the direction of the visitation simply because once again, we had to "look." The cat, rubbing his head against my feet as I visited, began to purr as if to say "You found the place of rest. Enjoy your visit." This stray cat stood by my feet and as silently as it arrived disappeared into the dark silent night.

Perhaps it is a stray cat in the midst of a dark night, perhaps it is the kind words of a friend, or perhaps it is a place of prayer, they all remind us to take time to reflect and look for the good despite the ugly of life. Today, we purr. Today we have to make sure we do not get triped up in the drama of life. Today we enjoy the rest. Today we wait for the new beginning of Easter and look forward to the next high holyday.. The Tony Awards.