Happy Easter!

Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Everyone was home this week for the Triduum and the big feast. The gardens took on a definitely paschal tone this Holy Week.

Spring is in the air. From top left, clockwise: the magnolia gracing the East of our cemetery came into full glory just in time for Easter (3 pictures); hyacinths are putting in a good show and perfuming the air too; the forsythia is exuberant; in the evening of Holy Saturday, God graced us with the sign of God's covenant arcing over the Hudson.

On Thursday, we started the Triduum with the washing of the feet. Our Superior, our formator and our guestmaster washed the feet of their brothers, our guests and each other. Brother Jacob played a mandolin interlude and our intern Jeremy played a native flute interlude.

A Eucharist followed in the evening. At the end of the Eucharist, the reserved sacraments were brought to an altar of repose in the Holy Spirit chapel (our chapter room).

Maundy Thursday. From top left, clockwise: Bros. Robert James and Josép washing guests' feet; Br. Jacob playing a mandolin interlude; intern Jeremy playing a native flute interlude; during the Triduum we put a knot in the bell rope to remind ourselves not to ring it (waking the buildings with a perambulating wooden clacker instead); the altar a repose in the Holy Spirit chapel (3 pictures).

Good Friday and Holy Saturday were observed in silence. On Saturday, a definite sense of preparation for big things permeated the refectory and the church.

Preparations. From top left, clockwise: Bros. Robert James and David Bryan draping the altar; potted flowers awaiting Br. Robert James magic touch; the water font set up in the Holy Spirit chapel; Bros. Robert James, Ben and David Bryan making sure all is well set; tabletop bouquets waiting to be set on the Easter dinner tables.

This Sunday morning, guests and brothers assembled in front of the guesthouse for the lighting of the  holy fire. We then processed to the refectory to hear the exultet and the history of salvation.

Holy fire and history of salvation. From top left, clockwise: lighting the holy fire; lighting the paschal candle: stepping out for the great litany procession; listening to the history of salvation in the refectory.

From there, we processed to the chapel of the Holy Spirit for the renewal of our baptismal vows.

After which we processed into the church for the paschal Eucharist.

Easter mass and breakfast. From top left, clockwise: Brothers and guests singing the closing hymn; Br. Ephrem dipping the paschal candle three times in the baptismal font, with Br. Francis (left) and Br. Josép holding up the text of the liturgy; Sister Shane, CMA, Sister Annie Hannah, Br. Robert Leo and the Rev. Suzanne Guthrie enjoying the festive breakfast; Br. Jacob and guests conversing over breakfast.

After over three hours of beautiful liturgies, we congregated back in the refectory for a festive conversational and cooked breakfast.

Some, it is rumored, have gone for a late morning nap afterwards.

Indoors blooming report. From top left, clockwise: potted lilies augmented with daffodils and hyacinths from our gardens (three pictures); Magnolia and daffies from our garden gracing the paschal candleholder; Easter sunrise as seen through the little cloister's great oak: Br. Aidan preaching the Easter sermon at the ambo lavishly decorated with spring blooms.

We wish you a Happy Easter and a blessed Eastertide!

Monastery people. From top left, clockwise: our intern Jack browsing a book in the monastic library; our contractor Lewis Morano operating a cherry-picker for our semi-annual gutters cleaning; our Bros. David Bryan (center) and Leonard (left) concelabrating mass at St Hilda's church in Toronto last week; Br. Ephrem in quiet contemplation of our meadow and the Hudson river undeneath the church ambulatory.

Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Hallelujah!