By Anthony Alonzo
Spring is a time of increased daylight, renewed activity, a commitment to cleaning and, for many Munster area residents, a time of devotion to faith in a sacred season.
For Christians, particularly Catholics, practices during the 40-day period which precedes the Easter Triduum (the time from Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday) are a visible expression of spiritual preparation.
Christmas may make the largest festive and economic impact on modern society of any holiday, yet Easter is considered not only the high point of the liturgical calendar, but more elementally, the commemoration of the key event in salvation history – the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Lent mirrors the example of Jesus’ time in the desert, his own preparation to do his Father’s will – and face the authorities of the day, leading to the historic events that unfold from Palm Sunday to the Last Supper to Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
“When we see the number forty used to denote time in the Bible, we are being told that something extraordinary and definitive is happening.” – Fr. Charles Grondin
Many enjoy the somewhat-symbolic-but-more-commercial Easter imagery of bunnies, Peeps and all things pastel. Looking around the Region at those practicing their religious faith during this time of the year can lead some to ask questions such as “Why are the fish frys so popular?” or “What are Stations of the Cross?” “What’s so good about Good Friday?” or “Why is Easter Sunday the ultimate ‘alleluia moment’?”
To begin the Lenten season, believers (or those seeking) present themselves to be marked on the forehead (often in big, bold fashion) with ashes made from burned leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. A simple reminder of that unpopular topic of mortality beckons the searcher to believe in that which transcends the physical.
Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary, IN
Photo by Anthony Alonzo
In recent weeks, other expressions of faith have become topics of discussion around the water cooler or on social media. Churches from St. Thomas More in our hometown, to parishes throughout the four-county Diocese of Gary have hosted fish frys to promote fellowship while facilitating a Lenten discipline. Tender battered Cod or potato pierogis can warm the soul in the cool late-winter and early-spring days.
Fish on Fridays is significant for reasons other than the eventual prompting of the Golden Arches to create the Filet-O-Fish. First, it is abiding by an Old Testament tradition regarding the creation of fish on the fifth day. Second, it was commonplace for the apostles to eat fish as per their livelihood before they became commissioned as “fishers of men.” Fish also came to be a symbol representing Christ by the fourth century.
Any spiritual quest involves a journey, and one traditional Catholic prayer, the Stations of the Cross, takes the faithful on a walk as a witness to the events of Christ’s passion. A stark contrast to his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem when crowds cheered and placed palms under his feet, Jesus’s betrayal, trial and forced walk to his place of execution where he is crucified on a cross are summarized in the Stations.
“The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” Matt. 21:8-9
About the Fifth Station of the Cross, Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the Cross, Munster native and inspiration speaker Dr. Edward Sri, a St. Thomas More and Bishop Noll Institute graduate unpacked the scene.
“Why is Simon of Cyrene a model of compassion? He didn’t lovingly volunteer to carry Jesus’ cross. He was forced to do so! The Gospels, however, give us one small detail that indicates Simon was personally transformed through his encounter with the cross on Good Friday. And his example reminds us that the crosses bearing the most fruit are often not the ones we seek out, but the unexpected crosses – if we embrace them when they come.”
Preparations continue for Palm Sunday Masses, Holy Week liturgies and Easter Sunday celebrations at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, 8501 Calumet Avenue, Munster
Most Catholic churches have plaques, statues or stained glass depicting 12-14 events of the passion, each marked by a Roman numeral. Parishes throughout the area feature Stations of the Cross prayer services, where brief reflections are read as a procession moves to each representation. This is true at St. Tom’s, where 550 students arrive in the church from their classrooms to join in prayer during Lent.
“Good Lord, give us Your grace not to read or hear this Gospel of Your bitter Passion with our eyes and our ears in manner of a pastime, but that it may with compassion so sink into our hearts that it may stretch to the everlasting profit of our souls.” – prayer of St. Thomas More (1478–1535), Lord Chancellor of England, author, devout Catholic, martyr
A beautiful place to go for meditation, cultural events or worship, the Carmelite Monastery in Munster features among coral grottos and tree-lined walks, the Stations of the Cross marked in stone memorials. Members of the public are welcome to visit the grounds constructed in the mid-century by Polish friars, to look or wonder at the stunning art that speaks of sacrifice and redemption.
What began as an outreach of Discalced Carmelites (priests and brothers) from Poland to serve Eastern European Americans in the Chicagoland area has grown into a place of pilgrimage and sacramental life for thousands of visitors and area residents.
Though many busy families may not attend those services that commemorate the institution of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday or the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday, Easter Sunday Mass and the services at churches throughout the Town on the Ridge are generally filled with those wearing their “Sunday best.”
Photo by Anthony Alonzo
The pastels and eggs are pretty, but the texture of faith and hope – the kind that does not disappoint – is played out anew in the devotions, fellowship and worship of your Munster neighbors. Before posting in affirmation or criticism, first walk a mile in the sandals of those who realize that our Good Fridays always precede the Alleluia Chorus of Easter Sunday.
“A joyful heart is like the sunshine of God’s love, the hope of eternal happiness.” – St. Teresa of Calcutta
On a personal note, “you are invited” to the church that nurtured my faith growing up and is an important gathering place and source of ministries for our family and friends.
“Join us for Holy Week” at St. Thomas More Church: Palm Sunday (March 24) Masses at 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.; Daily morning Mass, March 25-28 at 6:30 & 8:30 a.m.; Taizé Prayer, March 27 at 7 p.m.; Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper, March 28 at 7 p.m.; Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion (Good Friday), March 29 at 1:30 p.m.; Tenebrae Prayer Service (Good Friday), March 29, 7 p.m.; Blessing of Easter baskets, March 30, 2 p.m.
Easter Services: Vigil Mass of Easter, March 30 at 8 p.m.; Easter Sunday Masses, March 31 at 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and 12 p.m.
