Holy Thursday and What it was ounce.

   

     The road to Easter for me and my family starts on Holy Thursday. Holy Thursday represents the last supper the night Judas betrays him.   On Holy Thursday I would set out with my mother to the 8pm mass. Even though mass started at 8 we would have to get there at 7:30. Why you ask, because it would get so crowded there would not be anywhere to sit. Now a days I could get there 7:55 and there will be more than enough room, sad but true. At church we would meet my aunt (My father’s sister), my Godmother and her daughter Maria. We all sat together on the side of Saint Joseph.  Years ago, we had a monsignor, who was fantastic. He started as a priest when I was in elementary and confirmed me when I turned 13, a long, long, time ago. Years ago, you did your first confession before conformation. I went to him for my first confession and he told me to sit by the 5^th station of the cross and say the Hail Mary.

The 5^th station is an important one, it is when Simon helps Jesus carry his cross. It is the station of kindness, someone giving another a helping hand when they need it the most. Somethings just stick out in your mind, from that point I always felt like the number 5 was my lucky number. Any way our monsignor was fantastic, on Holy Thursday he would always give the mass.  During the mass at one point the chorus would start singing “Do you know what I have done for you” and you knew it was time for the Monsignor to get on his knees, and like Jesus did that holy night, he too would wash the feet of 12 parishioners.  The chorus would continue to sing “you who call me your teacher and your lord, If I have washed your feet so you must do as I have done for your" Watching him wash the feet of 12 parishioners brought tears to my eyes because it shows humility. No matter who you are, you are not better than the person next to you that you can't wash their feet or hold their cross. After the washing of the feet, the choir would start singing Pange Lingue while the priests started striping the alter and leaving it bare. 

I remember the first time I heard the song Pange Lingue song in Latin, it was so moving, and my mother new the song by heart. It blew my mind that she knew Latin. I remember being so in awe of her.  Back to the ceremony, the Monsignor would rap himself holding the Chalis with the body of Christ inside.  With incense filling up the church, the altar boys would start the procession, behind them wee  all the priests, decans and last in line was the  Monsignor all the way in the back.  Every fifth pew he would drop to his knees holding Crist in his hands. It brought so much emotion.  You actually felt like Jesus was walking to his death. The procession would flow out of the church and we would follow to the catholic school next door. The school would be dark, filled with candles, the choir would still be singing  pange lingue and we all would silently sit. The body of Christ carried by the Monsignor would enter and placed on a temporary altar until good Friday.  The night is so emotionally moving you can't help but feel something spiritual. 2020 has changed our traditions and Holy Thursday is just not the same. Hopefully someday we will go back to our traditions and maybe the sheep will come back to the flock. 

Different day

 It's a different sky, a different moon.

another day is coming soon.

It's a different sun, a different ocean.

another day full of great emotion.

It's a different life, a different time.

another mountain we have to climb. 

It's a different song a different dance, 

another life full of romance. 

It's a different time, a different world.

another dream has come true. 

 

Mary a young woman, surrounded by God and the Angels.

Mary gave birth to a baby in a manger.

The Manger a home for animals to shelter.

The Manger that day was the birth place of life ever after.

The Baby born on a floor full of hay.

The Baby named Jesus would be the world’s miracle on Christmas day.

His Sacrifice gave us Hope

 

Everyone on their knees

Wondering what will be.

Hands are folded, prayers are spoken,

and ears are wide open.

They stand in front of a cross made of wood.

Crucified, is a man full of good.

A man whose physical body has been broken.

But his soul has been woken.

Their hearts are full of Sorrow of a life that has been sacrificed.

For all of us to enter paradise

His Sacrifice has given the world hope.

A Sacrifice that a mother must have faith to cope.

A mother’s heart full of sorrow

She never knew what was to follow.

People worshiping her son with love and affection.

Angels standing next to him with adoration

We worship him, we are thankful for giving us life ever after. Amen  

Friends come and go but some stay for lunch

Friends come and go but some stay for lunch

Some people that you meet in your journey of life are there just to be witnesses and  some are there to assist in your life's journey.  Friendship is like a marriage, it has its ups and downs but if you care about the relationship you stick with it and fight for it.  Just like every other relationship.
The first companion in my journey I met in third grade.  Her name is Denise(but we call her D) and one day at lunch she asked me to trade sandwiches.  No one had ever wanted my lunch before.  D had tuna fish on white American bread and I had Mortatella with provolone on My moms home made bread.   We traded lunch that day and have been having lunch ever since. My friend  Maria was friends with Denise first and I became friends with her through Denise. We met Cathy in High School nineth grade.  She had just moved into our town and became friends with another friend of ours Diane.   Forty two years later and we are all still haveing lunch together. My friends are a  part of my family.  We went to each other’s sweet sixteen; we were part of each other’s wedding party. We supported one another through the deaths of our parents and the births of our children.  What makes us such great friends is that we honestly care for one another.  We don’t envy each other and  we are happy for the good things in one another’s life. Just like families we have our disagreements but we get over it and move on.  I was the last to get married (late bloomer) and buy a house.  I love having my own place, I love company and entertaining. Since my children are smaller than everyone else, I have them come over my house it’s easier.

One Thursday afternoon my three besties came over for lunch.

Maple Glazed Ham, Smoked Turkey and Imported Mortadella

Bologna and White American Cheese

Fresh Bagels

Angela’s balsamic vinaigrette garden salad

We wouldn’t be Italian if we didn’t have pastries for dessert

You can't have dessert without some coffee

We sat around the table eating, talking and laughing.  We always have a great time when we are together.

That day  I used paper plates so it would be easier to clean up.   We sat at the kitchen table in the corner, the windows were closed no wind blowing in the room.  As we talked the plate in front of Denise slid by its self over to where Maria was sitting.  Cathy did not see it move. The three of us on the other hand stopped talking looked down at the plate and just asked out loud “did you see that?” We laughed shook our heads and then Denise said “is the coffee ready?”. I served the coffee we ate dessert ignoring what just happened.  Please someone give me the check.