Last Sunday was Palm Sunday and tomorrow begins the Easter Triduum, which is the holiest time of the year for Christians. As a Catholic, the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday) have liturgical celebrations that are the most beautiful and sublime, but also the most profound of all during the year. Holy Thursday features the washing of the feet and the Transfer of the Holy Eucharist from the tabernacle to a place of repose recalling to mind Jesus and the Disciples leaving the upper room to go pray in the Garden of Gethsemene. Good Friday features the holy petitions and the Veneration of the Cross. Holy Saturday is the day on which the Church begins in complete darkness, we consecrate and light the new Paschal candle, and hear the story of salvation through the Old Testament with seven readings from Creation, the Exodus, to the promise of a Redeemer. And then the light return in triumph as we remember Christ's Resurrection.

Right now all the Churches are closed and so we can only watch these celebrations online (at least we have that). What a Lent; where the sacrifices we must have were chosen for us.

We're doing okay here. Tired and eager for all of this to end. I struggle to comprehend just how everyone's lives have been disrupted, and especially in places like New York where so many have been infected and so many have died. Italy is beyond what I even want to imagine. I am grateful that everyone in my family is okay, and that all of my friends seem to be doing fine too. They say we're going to be hitting the peak here int he US this week and next. Stay safe everyone; keep washing those paws and if you have to go out mask your snout!

Dominus vobiscum