The Triduum in Rome- a Wonderful Blessing!

Hey everyone! Jesus Christ is risen today! Alleluia! Happy Easter!

I have finished celebrating the most beautiful Triduum of my life in the heart of the church here in Rome. It was absolutely wonderful! Though words really can't express it, I'll do my best to help you get a glimpse of what I experienced here in the last week.


The girls at St. Peter's


We started off Holy week with Palm Sunday Mass with Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's square. There were lots of people, and we were somewhere in the middle of a big crowd- but it didn't matter to us- we were all still moved by the beautiful Mass and by seeing and hearing the pope (or ‘il papa’ as we like to call him) speak to us. For most everyone this was their first experience of Mass with the pope. This was my second experience- my first being almost 3 years ago now. I can't even compare the two experiences though- they were both just very wonderful! After a day like this, I knew that Holy week was off to a great start!

We finished up with class on Tuesday, with our two finals. After that, we were free to spend our time soaking in Holy Week in Rome. On Wednesday a few of us stopped by St. Peter's square to see il papa at a Wednesday audience. We didn't attend the audience, but at least got to see him from the outside of the square. :) Holy Thursday we decided to go to Mass at the American Parish here in Rome so we could hear Mass in English. While we were sitting at Mass, one of the hospitality men asked four of us to carry up the gifts- and I was one of them. So I carried the wine that would become the Blood of Christ to the altar- on the anniversary of the Last Supper itself! It was wonderful!

It is tradition in Rome on the night of Holy Thursday to visit 7 churches throughout the city and pray in each one. The churches are all kept open late for this very reason, and so we took advantage. It was the most beautiful experience to walk as a group to these churches- we actually went to 9 of them. We call it our little "church novena." It was a lot of people's highlight for the week- it was the most beautiful Holy Thursday I ever had!

Good Friday was wonderful as well. That morning we climbed up the very stairs that Jesus would have walked up to be condemned by Pontius Pilate. I already explained this holy staircase, "Scala Santa," in a previous blog, so I won't explain again. The experience was again very powerful- and even more so because it was on Good Friday. It was almost surreal. I went to the Good Friday service at the church of Santa Croce in Gerusaleme- this church is built on soil from Jerusalem and contains the relics of the true cross, parts of the crown of thorns, one of the nails from the crucifixion, and the plaque that hung above the head of Christ on the cross. So we venerated the true cross on Good Friday. That night we went to the Colosseum to pray the Stations of the Cross with the Pope Benedict- in the very place where many martyrs died for the faith. It was certainly the most powerful Good Friday that I've had thus far.



Waiting in line for the Vigil Mass

 Saturday was the Easter Vigil- the highlight of my entire semester. I went to St. Peter's square at noon, to wait for 9 hours for the vigil to start! Call us crazy- we know we are! ;) But it was totally worth it. We were one of the first people in line, and managed to keep that spot for 9 hours, though our feet were tired and we were hungry. While waiting, we made plans for when the gates opened. We paired up and decided that one partner would run, while the other would take both of the bags and go through security. I was a runner. :) Jay and I were at the way beginning of the line and ran in and locked down AWESOME seats- aisle seats in the center of the basilica.  



St. Peter's at the Vigil Mass



Words cannot describe the beauty of the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Peter's. The incense, the lights, the sacred beautiful music- it was all wonderful! I had chills in my back several times and I was on the verge of tears as well! When the pope papa walked down the center aisle at the beginning with his lit Easter candle, he stopped in the center of the aisle for a good minute or two- RIGHT in front of us! We were only 3 feet of so away from him for those two minutes, and I'll never forget it. I could see something in his face- something moving. it was as if he was preparing to go into this celebration with all that he had. H was determined and he was going to worship the Lord with all that he was in the next 3 or so hours. I could not believe how easy it was to see this on his face- it was beautiful. At the same time, he looked old and frail- I could see the sacrifice of his life that he was making for the church. There I was, so close to the Vicar of Christ on earth, and so blessed to be there.

Another one of my favorite parts of the Vigil was when the Gloria was sung and more of the lights in the Basilica turned on- my heart skipped a beat. The very church at the center of the Catholic faith was so ALIVE with the praises of the Lord. It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. Of course the major highlight was receiving the Body of Christ- the Risen Lord came into me that night just as He has so many times before. But it was extra special to me this night- Jesus was very real to us there!! What a gift!

How can I ever thank Him for this night- this Mass? I really can't thank Him enough- it's all indescribable. It's beyond anything I ever could have imagined. I have discovered the beauty and the importance of Easter and the Resurrection of Christ in a whole new way this year. I remember being so full of joy after the vigil that I just had to dance in the rain with a friend. How GREAT is our God for giving us the gift of His son, for giving us this joy!! My prayer for the rest of the Octave of Easter is that you all may experience this joy too- that God will shower you with His graces in the same way He showered me.



Stef and Shaina making cookies for Easter!



Easter Sunday we all hid 'secret' baskets for one another and went on a hunt for them here on campus. We all laughed a lot and enjoyed the day with each other. We cooked a big dinner in the afternoon all together- like a big happy family here in Rome. Our dinner that night was our last community night- it was bitter-sweet. I am so thankful for the wonderful people and times I've had here, but it's hard to leave it all. I'm excited to come home to you all though, which makes leaving sweet and exciting, too!

We are spending the last couple of days packing, organizing, and preparing to leave. We are seeing a few last things in the city, but mostly we are taking it easy. It's crazy to think I'll be on my way home in less than 48 hours!

Thank you all for keeping up with my blog- I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it. I hope the underlying message that came across was the greatness of God- because that's what this entire semester was all about. God has blessed me in ways that I never could have thought of myself- He has given me more than I ever could have asked for. Praise Him!

I look forward to seeing you all when I get back to Bismarck- I'm very very excited to see you all again and to know what's been happening in your lives! See you soon!!