April 10, 2007

As I watched all of the faces process by the one light of the Easter candle into St. Adalbert’s Church, I couldn’t help but think of Flannery O’Connor’s description of the Catholic Mass: “Here comes everybody.” There was a great mix of young and old, men and women, rich and poor, sick and healthy, a variety of ethnicities and languages represented, all of them entering together into our dark little church in the South Bronx, illuminated solely by one persistent light.

I was very grateful to be with this collection of friends of the Lord Jesus. The simple greeting by the priest at the beginning of Palm Sunday,  “Dear friends of Christ Jesus…” was an ample enough meditation for all of Holy Week. It is amazing how many close friends Jesus has. It is so beyond predictability to see how generous He is to His friends. It is such a privilege to be able to join together united in the One Light who speaks to each of us in the depths of our hearts and to see how His light shines through each one and catches and reflects His glory and together overcomes the darkness. The simple drama of lighting candles speaks analogously but truthfully of how the Church overcomes a world darkened by sin with the light of Christ, until the day when we enter that whole new level when all of the lights will come on, that is, in the brightness of eternity.

These photos were taken by Rosann Mucciolo at our Easter Vigil. We are grateful for each of you with whom we are united as friends of Christ Jesus. Even if your contact with us is only through this electronic connector, we are deeply united with you by prayer in Him, the One Living Flame of Love, Who is persistently bright enough to light up all of eternity!

Fr. Richard Roemer, CFR

Most Blessed Sacrament Friary
Newark, NJ