The Triduum

For those of you unfamiliar with that name, it refers to the most sacred days out of the entire year: the evening of Holy Thursday through the evening of Easter Sunday. And no wonder! A lot happens in those 3 days (and yes it is 3: Thursday evening to Friday evening, Friday evening to Saturday evening, and Saturday evening to Sunday evening). It is by far my favorite time of the year and it was another beautiful year celebrating it here in Benque.

So on Holy Thursday we had Mass in the evening which I must admit, I was worried would be filled with all kinds of horribly stereotypical Hispanic music (aka cheesy and awful), but it was actually really wonderful. There was of course a marimba because that's the special occasion instrument, but it was just a cultural experience that still felt like sacred Mass music. I should also mention that the music for the Triduum is some of my favorite, so not being in the States for it is hard, but like I said, Benque did a great job of balancing Belize and the sacredness of it all. After Mass on Holy Thursday, the Blessed Sacrament is processed to what's called an altar of repose because all tabernacles are empty on Good Friday. Well it's the same here obviously so we processed around the block with Fr. John carrying Jesus in the front under a canopy and then as is tradition, there was an opportunity for prayer until midnight at the altar of repose. Now having gone to Franciscan University and especially after being on the Liturgy Committee last year, my visual of an altar of repose is very...European? You know what I mean? On the altar with a tasteful arrangement of candles and flowers and it's very solemn and beautiful. So to be honest, I was kinda nervous what I was going to walk into on Thursday. But once again, my little self was blown away by the beauty and fidelity to culture. There was a little tabernacle under a beautiful canopy with candles and plants all around and it was very striking.

This dinky picture doesn't convey the beauty and sacredness that was all around it either. It was just so still and peaceful, all of us praying in Gethsemane with Jesus.

Good Friday, I always feel guilty on Good Friday because even though I'm in the solemnity of it all, it always seems to be a good day. There are always a couple of big things on Good Friday in Benque, the first being a live representations of the Stations of the Cross. It starts in one part of Benque and traces the Way of the Cross ending at the church and all of our boys were in it (except Joe because his sister was visiting), so that was really great to see. Then of course there is the service in the afternoon which again was beautiful. Adding to the beauty was the fact that Fr. Juan was the celebrant and since he was just ordained in January, I was just so moved by him celebrating his first Good Friday as a priest. Then that night they had one final procession. Now we've been processing all week, but they were all the prelims, leading up to this Good Friday. It all started that morning when there were people scattered throughout Benque along the route of the procession. See all along the way there are "rugs" for the people in the procession to walk on and the rugs are colorful and in all kinds of different designs. Us girl volunteers (along with a lot of other people) helped Mary with the one going down the Church steps

Beautiful right? All of the rugs are made out of colored sawdust, so all morning people had their stencils and their hoses getting it just right. Michael took a couple pictures of some others.

This one has uncooked beans and rice for the cross. Of course it would, but it's neat to see how people used different materials.

So for most of the procession route there were these beautiful, colorful decorations on the road, so even though it was supposed to be a solemn procession, it was kinda fun seeing what the next rug looked like. Well that evening we actually had the procession which had 2 andas (the floats that are carried): the smaller one had Our Lady of Sorrows and then there was the huge anda that needed 40 men to carry it which had the body of Jesus on it. The idea is that it was a funeral procession for Christ, so there was incense and torches carried to light the way along with a band playing funeral songs. Everything but the band was nice.

 The front of the huge anda

You can see the statue of Jesus on top

The procession lasted 3 hours and the only reason why it was ok at all was because it was Good Friday and if Jesus died for my sins, then surely I could walk around Benque slowly for love of him. I mean it's not like I had to carry the giant anda.

Then Holy Saturday came and as much as I love Holy Saturday, it's also kind of an awkward place to be in: Jesus is dead and in the tomb, but most of the day is spent getting ready for the Easter Vigil that night and I was especially excited for my kids to receive their Sacraments. A lot of the day was normal though, making breakfast, reading, relaxing, and then when the afternoon came is when things started to get real. There was some grocery shopping to be done and some mental preparation for Easter Sunday when we would be leaving for our vacation (more on that!). But finally night came when we all got spiffed up for the Vigil Mass and some of us headed to the park and the rest went to save seats in the Church. The reason why some of us went to the park is because at the beginning of every Easter Vigil is the lighting of the new Paschal Candle and along with any regular person who wants to be there, all catechumens and godparents are there and 5 of us volunteers were godparents this year. So we started at the park for the candle lighting bonfire.

It's a very beautiful ceremony with a lot of rich symbolism. Oh for those of you that don't know, the Easter Vigil is my favorite Mass ever. I cry every single year and even though this year was in Spanish it didn't matter. I had Joe carry tissues in his pocket for me because it was bound to happen. Luckily, the misty eyes didn't come until we were at least in the Church which was plunged in total darkness (as per tradition) throughout all the readings since there are 7 readings for the Vigil that recount salvation history. It was actually during the readings that I first started to tear up. Then when it comes time to sing the Gloria, all the lights come on and the bells are rung to let everyone know we were moving into celebration mode! It also helps to wake everyone up. I literally had to nudge Joe more than once. But the rest of Mass was beautiful especially when it came time to administer the Sacraments.

Look at them, making their profession of faith! After invoking the prayers of the saints, it was time to baptize these little ones! I was full of nerves and excitement because since we were on the end closest to the font, Jose Miguel (my godson!), Joe and I were first.

AND THEN HE WAS BAPTIZED!!!! No more sin, forever belonging to God as one of His own. Much to my surprise (and relief), I didn't cry! Have no fear though, as soon as we walked away from the font and got back in line, Jose Miguel and I looked at each other and then I was sniffling. And I had 3 more kids to see baptized! Of course none of the others were godchildren of mine, but I still just spent a whole year with them watching their interest and desire for the Sacraments grow. But do you want to know when I really lost it? Communion time. It's tradition that the new Catholics receive communion first since it's their first ever. Before they even stood up to get out of the pew, I was tearing up, and by the time I went to receive (which wasn't long after since all the godparents were sitting in the row behind them), I was straight up crying. I think Fr. John was a little puzzled. But thankfully I have a good Joey who didn't wait for me to ask to give me my stack of tissues. It was so wonderful and I still cried for a few days after just thinking about that moment of each of them receiving Jesus for the first time ever.

And here they all are! The new little Catholic kids and the godparents! I must admit, my favorite part of this picture is Elmer giving a thumbs up.

And Joe and I with our godson! So much goodness. So much joy.

After a few pictures, us volunteers went to the boys' house to celebrate Easter coming and Lent ending! Lots of chips and candy and such things. But eventually we went to bed, or at least I did because it was late seeing as how Mass didn't even start til 9:30. But I like it that way and it was another glorious Easter celebration. I'll write about Easter Sunday/our trip to Anitgua another day (soon I promise!). Meanwhile, thank you so so much for any prayer you offered for those 4 kids. Please keep all of us in your prayers as we only have a few more weeks of school left. Crazy!

Also, a quick weather update: it's miserably hot and humid here with no escape. Any of you that still need sweaters or jackets, 1) where the heck are you?? and 2) you think you'd rather have the heat but I assure you, you would not. So snuggle up in a blanket for those of us who desperately wish we were able to!

St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us.

Totus Tuus, Maria.