I wish all my readers a happy Easter, after presumably having celebrated the various ceremonies of Holy Week and the Triduum.
There is always a lot to do, between the Maundy Thursday Mass and the stripping and washing of the altars. In the Use of Sarum, we don’t have an altar of repose like in the Roman rite, but the Easter Sepulchre on Good Friday which receives the third host consecrated at the Maundy Thursday Mass and the crucifix that was venerated on Good Friday. Then everything is prepared for the Paschal Vigil ceremony and put away afterwards.
I was entirely alone this year, since Sophie was with relatives to help with preparing the food for some anniversary celebration. However, the entire Church is present in spirit at in every place where these ceremonies re-actualise the Mystery of Christ in his salvific work of the Incarnation and Redemption.
I am about the remove the Blessed Sacrament from the Sepulchre this Easter Sunday morning prior to Mass and put it in the hanging pyx.
May these celebrations renew in us the grace of our Baptism and commitment to persevere in faith and the Christian life, in joy and hope in spite of everything the world can throw at us. The victory is already won! Alleluya!
The Blue Flower 
May Easter bring you many graces and blessings in the coming year father. It must have been strangely cleansing and peaceful to have spent the Triduum alone. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be a priest and to offer the liturgy,especially the most sacred liturgies of the year.
I like how you see that connection between believers that makes one never alone. As a home aloner Orthodox (there’s no church within skating or biking distance to me) with Western sympathies, I’ve had to have that insight as well. We are united across time and space with all the saints, the angels and our brothers in the Faith.
I posted elsewhere how many years ago I walked into a storefront Pentecostal church after the announced service time. The elderly “Bishop” was sitting alone on the platform. He heard me come in, looked up from his prayers and said, “Come right in and take a seat. You may have to push one of them angels aside – this place is full today. Let’s worship God.” I think he meant just what he said, and I think he was right. Can we find faith like that?
A Blessed Easter(tide)!
I think Patristics lectures on what was meant by ‘ekklesia’ really helped impress it upon me; even the hermit priest – and the entire Church!