Introibo- with Flowers

Usquequo, Domine. A prayer in tribulation. Unto the end, a psalm for David. How long, O Lord, wilt thou forget me unto the end?  How long dost thou turn away thy face from me?  How long shall I take counsels in my soul, sorrow in my heart all the day?  How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?  Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God.  Enlighten my eyes that I never sleep in death:  Lest at any time my enemy say:  I have prevailed against him.  They that trouble me will rejoice when I am moved:  But I have trusted in thy mercy.  My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation:  I will sing to the Lord, who giveth me good things:  yea I will sing to the name of the Lord the most high. Psalm 12, Douay- Rheims Bible Arrangements: "Bach" lilies from the local bulb farm and white centranthus and boxwood greens from my garden.  

Arrangements made with the help of my daughter for our home prayer mantel.  The candles were blessed at Candlemas.   For our family paschal candle we used cloves in lieu of incense and decorated it according to the instructions in the 1962 missal. 

He is risen, Alleluia! "Bach" lilies and freesia,  with plum branches and crocosmia greens.

For the altar of repose this Maundy Thursday I made two arrangments of white anenomes, yellow ranunculus and freesia.   On this sunny Wednesday of Holy Week, my "essential outing" was to get flowers for the church.  In the car, I listened to Joseph Pearce speak on the topic of subsidiarity  and creating a strong local economy.  The bulb farm that generously donated all of the beautiful flowers for the  ordination reception  was quite a different landscape today than it was just four weeks ago.   The friendly young man who helped me with the reception flowers, informed me today (from behind a face mask) that over fifty percent of their workers had been laid-off leaving greenhouses full of dying flowers-- all this during what is usually their busiest season.  He came out of the refrigerator with arms full of blooms to donate.  I insisted on paying full price for the flowers and after leaving a reception thank-you card and gift for him and his assistant, I said goodby

My first year living in Spain I was edified by the many beautiful Catholic traditions that are celebrated across the country.  Statistics show that Catholicism is dying in this former jewel of Christendom; my experiences proved to me otherwise.  The Catholic Faith seemed deeply engrained in the soul of the country and its people.  Semana Santa  was always a thrilling time.  For the suffering people of Spain who this year will be deprived of the glory of its grand processions, liturgies and celebrations,  perhaps this temporary deprivation will lead to a greater appreciation and love for its Catholic roots. La Macarena.  Jueves Santo en Sevilla. Domingo de Ramos en Valladolid. In Madrid on  Domingo de Ramos (Branches Sunday), blessed olive branches adorn the entrances to the churches   - s o fitting for the heart of España which is geographically surrounded by olivos or olive groves.  This week Father agreed to bless palms and leave them outside the church for t