Thoughts and Experiences of Settimana Santa

Palm Sunday filled with olive branches from members’ groves in a procession with tambourine, guitar, and a man’s sandpaper voice.

            “Dio, Dio, perché mi hai abandonato?”

Watching the Passion in a new way and feeling the pitiful humanity of Judas, Peter, John, and even Caiphas.

Feet washing of 12 young boys (I hope they understand) and a candlelight procession around the Duomo.

Being excited and challenged by the news that Papa Francesco washed a Muslim female prisoner’s feet.

Learning the thoughtful, liturgical structure of cathedrals and understanding the Word through every intentional and interconnected detail.

Wondering if Christ had a long walk with lots of time to think and pray on the path from hell to the light of day as I ascend a spiral staircase from the countryside into the city.

Hearing the words to trust in the folly of love and not to avoid conflict like Pilate and not to reject Christ’s weakness as Peter did.

Hiking to La Rocca and reading the Crucifixion at the top. Wearing crowns of flowers instead of thorns---and thankful for that.

Walking la Via Crucis with the Orvietani and getting close as we try to keep one another’s candles lit 

despite the blowing wind. Human distractions like a screeching speaker limiting us from fully understanding and focusing on the steps that Jesus took from condemnation to the tomb.

Giving some Italian children the new experience of Easter Egg hunting at our monastery

A midnight vigil with a small bonfire in the Duomo awaiting the Resurrection ---but much like the disciples I couldn’t stay awake. Luckily I know what comes after the wait… this time.

Breaking bread and getting to share communion for the first time in over a month in our own chapel and worshipping together in English and Italian.

Seeing the miraculous weather-report-defying sunlight beam on the altar and feeling equal warmth as we pass the “pace” and share Buona Pasqua kisses among my fellow choir members after a successful Easter service.

Finding out about the death of a friend from school and feeling more tangibly the death and life involved on this day of Resurrection. May our thoughts and prayers go out to our loved ones of Monica DeMello.

Hiking to the Cappuccini Monastery for a Pasquetta Picnic and getting a breath of much-needed freshness of air and spirit.

Sara, the flower queen.

From the Golden Legend: Exaltation of the Cross

“It should be noted that before Christ’s passion the wood of the cross was a cheap wood, because crosses used for crucifixions were made of cheap wood. It was an unfruitful wood, because no matter how many such trees were planted on the mount of Calvary, the wood gave no fruit. It was an ignoble wood, because it was used for the execution of criminals; a wood of darkness, because it was dark and without any beauty; a wood of death, because on it men were put to death; a malodorous wood, because it was planted among cadavers.

            After Christ’s passion, however, this wood was exalted in many ways. Its cheapness passed into preciousness, so Saint Andrew the apostle exclaimed: ‘Hail, precious cross!’ Its unfruitfulness gave way to fertility, as in the Song of Solomon. . . What had been ignoble became sublime, as Augustine says: ‘The cross, which was the gibbet of criminals, has made its way to the foreheads of the emperors.’”