The Triduum Holding Mary's Hand

St. John the Evangelist bravely stood vigil at the foot of the Cross alongside the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the most incredible act of love, Jesus strains to fill His lungs so He may speak, and with just a few words, He gifts Mary to the world as Our Mother and institutes her spiritual motherhood as He proclaims from the Cross, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He says to the beloved disciple, "Behold your mother!" (John 19:26-27a). 

This incredible gift of Mary as a mother is not only a blessing for John but for every disciple—incredibly, that includes you and me. At that moment, each disciple becomes a beloved son or daughter of the Woman, who epitomizes every virtue and is full of God's grace. Mary, chosen by God to be the Mother of His only Begotten Son, is then beautifully given in the act of sheer love to be the Mother of every one of us.

Mary’s life of faith, marked by her profound trust in God’s promises, exemplifies His goodness and fidelity. She embraced the divine word with unwavering obedience: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” She then lives this out in every moment of her life, most profoundly in the moments of her Son’s Passion and death.

New Life Springs Forth

New life springs forth at the end of winter; it is not by accident that we find Easter amid this season. As we emerge from the cold, dark, barren winter, especially here in the Northeast, every harbinger of warmer weather and longer days brings lightness and a glimmer of the joy of rebirth.

Even on the coldest, darkest night, we do not despair as we remember the temporary nature of each day, knowing soon enough we'll once again bask in the sun (and God-willing one day forever with the Son). Lent can hold a similar quality of bleakness and maybe even an air of endlessness for those longing for their sacrificed item, hamburgers on Friday, or the singing of the Alleluia.  

Perseverance is rewarded when Easter arrives, reminding us that Jesus brings new life to our world, our Church, and our hearts—not only in the redemptive work He accomplished on the Cross 2000 years ago, but also in His glorious workings still today. Our hope in Jesus is never misplaced. He always keeps promises, with the greatest of these being our redemption and the hope of heaven. 

Rosary, the Perfect Prayer

In the twenty-plus years I've worked in Catholic ministry, I have been blessed to meet many faith-filled people. I've noticed that people typically come to retreats or presentations with hearts full of questions, hoping that this time of stepping away and listening to God will help them find answers. Much like the time of Lent, when we rest from our typical behaviors and routines to spend quiet, prayerful time with the Lord.  

The Rosary is a perfect prayer for contemplating the life of Christ these final days of Holy Week, with extra attention to the Sorrowful Mysteries and to Mary's incredible example of trusting in God's plan as the horrific events of Triduum unfolded before her eyes. By trusting in God's promise, as expressed by St. Paul in Romans 8:28—to bring good out of every situation for those who love Him—even when we are unsure of the outcome as events unfold unexpectedly or we continue to question how God is at work in the situation. 

The Expectant Hope of Easter

We pray with expectant hope for the revealing of God’s plan, in His time not ours, that we know flows entirely from His infinite goodness and profound love for us.  We pray with our Queen and Our Mother, whose maternal care never fails in leading us from sorrow to joy. We pray to be, as Mary—trusting, obedient, humble, and confident. On the cusp of Easter, during the glorious season of spring, new life and new beginnings burst forth.

We can behold, with Mary, the joy of Jesus' Resurrection, shared in the Easter season, and how this refreshes and strengthens our resolve to remember that He has overcome every trouble this world may bring. Holding the Rosary, as if we are holding Mary's hand, we emerge from the darkness of Lent into the Light of Easter with our hope resurrected and renewed.