EASTER MONDAY AND THE SOLEMNITY OF THE EASTER OCTAVE..........

In our customary American way, we have celebrated Easter Sunday and moved back into the work a day world, although the Paschal Season of 50 Glorious Days has just begun. In many other countries Easter Monday is a national holiday, allowing families and fellow believers in the Resurrection the opportunity to relax and extend their Easter weekend. During my two Easter Mondays in Ireland in 1983 & 1984, this was a quiet, restful, day after all the activity of Holy Week and the Easter Triduum. As a priest I have tried to honor that custom, as the body can use the rest and relaxation of re-grouping, after the beautiful and extensive Liturgies of last week. The first week of the Easter Season is celebrated as 8 days of Solemnity, thus the Octave of Easter is highest Solemnity of prayer and worship in the entire year. So as we commemorate and celebrate the Resurrection from the Dead of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, let us not rush away from Easter, but embrace it and make the most of the New and Risen Life of Christ in our own lives. My personal resurrection this Easter is in the continuing sucess of my kidney transplant last August 25. And in thanksfulness to all whose support made it possible, Almighty God; Victor my living Donor; the Mayo Clinic Arizona Transplant Team, and my family, friends, fellow believers, and many parishioners, who prayed and have seen me through this process. Ponder the small resurrections taking place in your life these 50 Days of the Paschal Season and faithfully witness to the God of Eternal Life..........ALLELUIA ! ALLELUIA !!, Fr. Troy