Mamamontezz's Mental Rumpus Room

Happy Easter...

Happy Easter to you readers who have taken time from your day to trot about the Blogosphere like so many little Easter Bunnies.

Having to work on Easter Sunday is not much fun. But then, staying home to play Easter Bunny doesn't pay the bills unless, of course, the interest rate on the trust fund daddy set up for you is good enough to allow for such activities.

One of the the local bakeries sent three huge boxes of Cross-Buns to the hospital, and we were lucky enough to have an operator on break at the time so that she could grab one for each of us. Mmmm... I hadn't had one of those in years, and it was quite a treat. Golden raisins and a little bit of clove, soft, tender bun, and that cross of white icing on top... Wish I could have another for later.

Anna woke up for a minute just as I was leaving to tell me Happy Easter. She looked over and saw her little basket with her chocolate eggs and bunnies and gold-wrapped coins, and just beamed. It's amazing how little it takes to make her happy. And all this time I was worried that the little bit I was able to afford wouldn't be enough. Obviously I need to relax and quit worrying.

We have relatives in from Maryland who area staying at my parents' house just "up the road" from us. Since they are practicing Catholics, we asked if they would like to join us for Easter Vigil mass last night at 7:30. "Sure," they said, so we bundled into the car and drove to what we thought would be a quick Anticipation Mass. Oh, I thought, we'll be out and back home in an hour. Ha! That's what I get for thinking.

First thing as we drove up, we noticed a huge bonfire burning in one of those outdoor fireplaces. You know, the black metal mesh ones with the lids on them to keep the sparkage down. Odd, I thought when I saw that. Then they issued us all candles when we went into the church. As the time approached, the choir started singing. Uh oh. There went the quickie-mass. Anytime there's a choir, count on being there the full hour.

Just before mass started, the announcement was made that there were going to be several baptisms, and that we should prepare to leave the building to participate in the Blessing of the Fire and the subsequent Lighting of the Pascal Candle. So off we trundle, candles in hand, into the misty grey evening, half lit by the streetlights and the glow of the roaring fire out on the main walkway.

Everyone lines up on either side of the walk, and Fr. Tony and entourage procede through the little gauntlet. Fire is blessed, candle is lit, candle makes it back to the church without being prematurely extinguished by an errant raindrop, and we all proceed back into the church. One by one we pass the huge candle and light our little ones from it as we enter and head back into the dry and relatively warm building.

Well, the candlelit church is beautiful, and after the requisite prayers we are asked to blow out the candles. Is it just me, or is there something special and different about the smell of the candles in a church? I don't think there's a candle in the world that smells as good, burning or newly extinguished, as those hard white church candles. Now it's time for the Baptisms to begin.

Seven new members of the Catholic Community of St. Michael the Archangel. One beautiful infant boy, three cute little girls, and three adults. Then those who were old enough went back to the front and were joined by 3 more adults to be confirmened into the church. All of these people, spiritually renewed and free of the blemish of sin, would take Communion for the first time as members of the Catholic Church. It was really nice to be able to witness and participate in the sacraments for these people on the evening of Christ's resurection.

And honestly, it more than made up for the fact that was I thought was going to be a 45 minute mass turned into a 2+ hour one.

Posted by Mamamontezz at April 11, 2004 11:45 AM