Reflections of Holy Thursday & Good Friday

Last night was Holy Thursday…one of my favorite days of the entire year and also one of the saddest. It remains a favorite of mine because of what Christ was doing and was about to do for love of mankind. I can’t help but think it must have been a moment of His life on earth that he most looked forward to and most dreaded. He knew soon his work on earth would be complete “It is finished” and he’d return to the Father in Heaven. That must have caused him great joy and happiness. Yet first he would have to suffer in all ways. He was to be humiliated, spat upon, mocked, ridiculed, betrayed, abandoned, whipped, beaten, tortured and nailed to wood suspended into the air for all to watch him slowly give up his life. The horror of that must have been overwhelming...but not more overwhelming than Christ's love for us.

It saddens me to see Holy Thursday parishes with empty seats. Christ went through ALL of that for love of us and some people can’t be bothered to even show up to reflect, celebrate and worship Him. How that must wound Him- again. Has he not suffered enough for us all already?

At the end of Holy Thursday mass Christ in the Eucharist is placed in the Repository (side altar). There the Eucharist is reposed “at rest” until the Easter Vigil. The altar is now stripped bare, during this time people are asked to remain completely silent in honor of Christ (don’t get me started on those who ignore this request), while we adore Him and pray. I love this time- perhaps it is my favorite time of the entire year within the Church as the silence after such a moving and emotional mass gives me great depth in reflection. I am an easily distracted person, so the silence is particularly helpful to me in my worship and prayer time.

Soon parish volunteers silently begin to finish the stripping of the altar until the lights dim and we are left with flickering candles around the Repository and people on their knees adoring, worshiping and praying to Christ. 'What a wonderful time to be Catholic!' my heart is singing as I kneel and thank Jesus for his tremendous suffering! To have Holy Thursday in the Catholic Church is truly an awe inspiring event to look forward to each year.

Reflections on Good Friday

I had never participated in a Way of the Cross walk until I became a Catholic. I could have, it’s certainly not limited to Catholics alone. As a matter of fact in my town we have an Ecumenical Way of the Cross walk at noon each Good Friday. The walk is open to our town and surrounding towns with several churches and Catholic parishes working together to make our way of the Cross starting from one church and ending at another, reading scriptures, praying and singing along the way. My two favorite songs for this are “Lord of the Dance “(which we begin with) and “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” which we end with.


These photos are from the noon Ecumenical Way of the Cross walk today in the town of Durham, Ct. The walk began at Notre Dame Catholic Parish, stopped in front of the United Churches of Durham and ended at The Church of the Epiphany (Episcopal) in Durham. Middlefield churches also participated in the walk.






But Good Friday is more than cross walking…it’s the day Christ gave up his life, becoming our sacrifice. He took up his cross for us…we must ask ourselves…are we taking up our own crosses for Him?
[ The Way of the Cross ] Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." [Mark 8:34]

Mass held at Durham Fair

It's that time of year in Connecticut. It's Durham Fair time! When you think of the fair, what comes to mind? Is it the old fashion sugar donuts? Is it tractor pulls? Is it fried dough and Lime Rickey drinks? Maybe you think of the rides and assorted games or the animals. Do you think of Notre Dame parish holding mass on the fair grounds? Why not?! Come and join the members of Notre Dame Roman Catholic parish for Mass led by Father Lipton, at the Durham Fair Sunday morning at 7 A.M. in the Photography building.

Visiting Cemeteries

This Memorial Day I found myself at Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Hamden, Connecticut (photo taken at Saint Mary's Cemetery). This is where a large part of my family is buried and most recently my grandfather who was a World War II Vet. Some people get uncomfortable at cemeteries and avoid them as much as they can, often preferring to attend a deceased persons wake rather than funeral so they won't have to go to the cemetery. I admit this can be hard, but I have always found comfort and a deep sense of peace in cemeteries. I am one of those people who actually likes to visit cemeteries at different times of the year and read grave stones contemplating the lives of those buried there. I can't help but feel sadness at the sight of a child's grave. Or wonder and thankfulness at the sight of a soldiers grave. When I see a grave marked "Mother" or "Father" I wonder about their families and the lives and memories they had together, the laughter and tears they shed as a family. For me, a cemetery is not just about the death of a person, but the wonder of the persons life and how they might have touched other lives. Have you ever walked in a cemetery and saw your family name and wondered how or if you were related to the person buried there? An unknown or never met relative? I visit cemeteries in other states during vacations or just weekend trips (with the price of gas these trips have unfortunately dwindled). I think the only cemetery I've visited that just overwhelmed me with sadness and shear awe was Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. I can't really give a better description for what I felt seeing that for the first time. It was overwhelming. My favorites, if you can say there is a favorite cemetery are the old ones. The really old ones scattered around New England. Probably one of the oldest I have visited is the Old Granary Burial Ground in Boston, Massachusetts. It's like stepping back in time walking thru there. Another cemetery I have enjoyed visiting is the Trinity Churchyard of the Trinity Church in NY located near Ground Zero in lower Manhattan. Here is where Alexander Hamilton is buried. We've got some nice old cemeteries here in Connecticut too. One that I have visited is the Old Durham Cemetery in Durham, CT. The oldest grave in this cemetery is dated 1712. Years ago we would do stone rubbings but most old cemeteries now forbid it as it could damage these old stones.
There's a Catholic tradition of crossing ourselves when we pass by a cemetery that my great grandmother taught me as a child. When I am thinking and notice a cemetery as I am driving I make sure to follow that Catholic tradition and I have taught my children to do it also. I'd love to hear from readers about cemeteries in their area's or cemeteries you've visited. Please share a comment or two about them or email me a story.

1 Sam. 2:6 "The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up."
Eze. 37:13 "Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them."