The Great Days are upon us.
The Days of Sights, Sounds and Senses.
This year as I anticipate these Days I find myself reflecting on how, through my many years, they have been filled with sights, sounds and appeals to the senses - things that stay with me and continue to shape these Days.
And just to be clear, the Days to which I am referring are the Days of Triduum, the greatest of our days each and every year. They are the Thursday that we call "Holy," the Friday that we call "Good" and the Saturday, also called "Holy" that ushers us into the Wonder of Easter.
Entering into these Days, I can still hear the echo of times now long gone. I can hear a Gloria (Glory to God in the highest!)
That is how we entered into these most Sacred of Days.
Vestments of white brightened what had, for so many days before been the somber drapings of purple. And those vestments of white were greeted with that long silenced acclamation - Glory God in the highest! The sound of that singing was accompanied by the majestic, triumphant soundings of the mighty organ. It seemed as if every possible stop that had to be pulled was done so for this grand moment.
And it was also a moment of bells!
From seemingly every corner bells were ringing - at and around the altar, in entryways and doorways and in those churches with steeples hosting bells, clang! Dong! Bells!
Sights and sounds were proclaiming our entry into these uniquely historic of moments!
And this was followed by the silence!
The next time music was called for, only voices, a cappella I believe it is called.
No grand organ playing! No accompaniment of any sort. Majestic sound was suddenly and sharply replaced by a somber silence.
This was now the time to focus totally on the story, the memory, the present reality - The God who loves us, who so loved the world . . .
And in place of ringing bells - KaPoomp! (Say it; speak it loudly. Perhaps to some degree this captures the sharp, shrill sound that then replaced that of jubilant bells.) A wooden device with hammer-like attachment sounded this new, jarring signal.
It almost sounded like a hammer driving nails into . . .
And then came that Friday called "Good."
Silence dominated.
In churches and in homes.
No radios played; no televisions were allowed. Words seemed kept at a minimum. A sacred silence prevailed until the moment of that sound again, that hammer-like device that called the faithful to attention once more.
And a silent procession of ministers entered churches, no words, no music, no sound but that of the movement toward the sanctuary , a movement which ended suddenly and stunningly with all ministers involved first getting down on their knees and then laying prostrate on the floor.
In silence.
Before we unfolded the Story once again of the One who seemed so helpless and yet so strong - strong enough to embrace a cross and welcome death itself.
For us.
For you and for me.
And then another sound . . . Let us pray . . . Let us kneel . . . Let us stand!
Again and again in prayer for all . . . for you . . for me.
And soon we were folding into the silence yet again. Words for the meaning, the power, the message, the reality of these days seemed so inadequate.
We waited in the silence.
Oh, there was another sense being awakened in this otherwise silent time.
Smell!
The aroma of ham baking and fresh kielbasa simmering and other tantalizing sensations being prepared but kept in waiting for a blessing and then a meal to be treasured and enjoyed as the first prepared for that New Creation, that Water-Washed People of God.
And as these incredible Three Days began to move forward there was, in darkness, a blazing fire and a Mighty Candle lighted and proclaiming, "Christ, our Light!"
And the darkness began to disappear as smaller candles gained their flame from that Majestic Light.
Then came the words, that Song!
Rejoice, Oh Heavenly Choir! Let trumpet sound aloud our Mighty King's triumph!
Was there ever a sound, a song as great, as beautiful as that of the Exultet piercing through not just the darkness of the night but the darkness of our fears, our tears, our setbacks and disappointments?
We are disciples of the Mighty King who has conquered!
And in His love for us, He desires to share that Victory with you and me. He lives and wishes to share that life, that true life with you and me!
How the sights and sounds (and even smells!) have led us into the power of these most Sacred of Days!
One more sound, a very unique sound, still rings in my memory in these days.
It is the sound of an elderly priest, Joseph Zalibera, the pastor of my home parish through most of my early years.
In his time the Easter Vigil had not yet found its way back into the hours of that Saturday Night. That did not stop Fr. Zalibera. He drew upon an ancient Slovak tradition that emerged from the hearts of generations of faithful.
As did our ancestors of old, we in our parish under the guidance of Fr. Zalibera had an evening prayer service on that Saturday. As the darkness descended, we gathered. The building was filled to capacity and beyond. Standing room only. It was important that we be there.
We sang and prayed.
And then came the moment.
Joseph Zalibera stood and faced us all.
And in a voice nasal yet strong, he sang out, "Pan Jesus Christus stal smrtfy!"
The Lord Jesus Christ has withstood death!
And everyone stood!
And the organ blared out!
And the bells rang!
And the procession began - a true March of Triumph!
And the Alleluias sounded again and again and again!
And a truly loved People knew still again who they were and how we are loved!
And we didn't need a whole lot of words to tell us.
The sights and sounds and smells of the Sacred Three Days covered the greatest of messages!
