Each year March brings about the most watched basketball tournament. Everyone fills out a bracket and watches with much excitement, anxiety, and, often, surprise. The Church celebrates it's own "madness" during March. We are in the midst of our Lenten season, a time of reflection, renewal, fasting, and prayer. In this midst of this penitential season we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph and the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, two major feasts (and the only times we sing the Gloria during Lent!). Yesterday was Laetare ("Rejoice") Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Clergy can wear pink (rose!!) vestments, rather than purple, as the Lenten season is coming to a close soon.
And of course, there's the Triduum (Three Days) that come at the end of Holy Week. This week begins with a commemoration of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and reading of one Passion Gospel account (this year we hear Mark's version). Over the course of Holy Thursday evening, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil, we remember Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, the Paschal Mystery.
We have many different tones to these celebrations, different focal points, different Scripture, different songs. But in all of this "madness," we recall our own baptism in which we died and rose with Christ. We pray we may reform our lives and be true to the call to live as Christ. We fast and do penance to remind us of our reliance on God. We give alms to help our brothers and sisters in need. We do this all so we can rejoice in the great festival of Easter, of our hope and faith in the Resurrection of Jesus, and ultimately in the great Wedding Feast in Heaven.
And of course, there's the Triduum (Three Days) that come at the end of Holy Week. This week begins with a commemoration of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and reading of one Passion Gospel account (this year we hear Mark's version). Over the course of Holy Thursday evening, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil, we remember Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, the Paschal Mystery.
We have many different tones to these celebrations, different focal points, different Scripture, different songs. But in all of this "madness," we recall our own baptism in which we died and rose with Christ. We pray we may reform our lives and be true to the call to live as Christ. We fast and do penance to remind us of our reliance on God. We give alms to help our brothers and sisters in need. We do this all so we can rejoice in the great festival of Easter, of our hope and faith in the Resurrection of Jesus, and ultimately in the great Wedding Feast in Heaven.