Chi Rho Letters - Easter Triduum

Apr 04, 2026 3:01 pm

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April 4, 2026 - Volume II, Issue 6


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"Our birth would have been no gain, had we not been redeemed."

-the Exultet



Editor’s Note

Happy Easter! Vivat Jesus! He is Risen, and these are the Chi Rho Letters.


The basilica, full of parishioners, is quiet and dark. Only the sound of a few creaking pews fill the air as people shift, waiting in anticipation of the night’s festivities. A fire is smoldering on a grill on the sidewalk at the corner of Haywood and Flint streets in Asheville, NC. Tonight is the night of all nights, the pinnacle of the Triduum celebration marking the resurrection of Christ. Fr. Wilbur Thomas cues his mic, blesses those in attendance, and blesses the blazing fire with incense. The flame from that fire is shared via candle to everyone in attendance as Fr. Thomas blesses the Baptismal candle for the year. It will be used later that that night, welcoming those catechumens and candidates who completed the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). The giant candle and incense lead the procession of the priests, deacons, and altar boys into the Basilica of St. Lawrence, now illuminated by hundreds of candles held by those in attendance. The glint of the candles cast a unique hue across the optical dome and throughout the space, transporting those in attendance back 2000 years to the time of Christ.


With the clergy safely on the altar, Fr. Thomas’ beautiful tenor voice begins chanting...

Reflection on Substack



Now, onto the Headlines -


Holy Week around the world comes to an end tonight, so I found a few articles that highlight some of the good things that took place in preparation for our Easter celebration. Pope Leo carried the cross around the Colosseum in Rome in his first Way of the Cross meditation service. This was after he washed the feet of the priests he now oversees at Holy Thursday's Mass. Cardinal Pizzaballa worked with Israeli officials to gain access to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, whose access has been inconsistent since the beginning of the Iranian war. Faithful near Bangladesh stage a Good Friday Passion Play, and Young Adults in Doylestown, PA, start holy week with a retreat. OSV News has a great summary article covering what's taking place in Mexico, Spain, Malta, and more.


Also happening outside of Holy Week celebrations, Pope Leo appointed 5 US Catholics to Vatican groups, an Indian Court rules on religious affiliation in their country's caste system, and DNA research has continued on the Shroud of Turin, reveling its universal veneration.


Finally, in our feel good stories this week, a special one caught my eye as a "light in the dark" moment - Victor Greenawalt, the brave young boy who shielded a fellow student from gunfire during the Annunciation Catholic School shooting in Minneapolis last fall was presented with the 2026 Young Hero Citizen Honors Award by Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter. Victor laid on his friend as the gunman burst into the back-to-school Mass in August 2025. Tremendous bravery, and the article is certainly worth a read.


Happy Easter, friends!


Sunday Readings

The Resurrection of the Lord - The Mass of Easter Day - Link

Reading 1: Acts 10:34a, 37-43

Psalm: Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

Reading 2: Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8

Gospel: John 20:1-9 or Matthew 28:1-10


Collect:

O God, who on this day, through your Only Begotten Son,

have conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity,

grant, we pray, that we who keep the solemnity

of the Lord's Resurrection may,

through the renewal brought by your Spirit,

rise up in the light of life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.



Headlines

Holy Week around the World



War in Iran



Church Governance



Technology



Papal Watch



Feel Good Stories



Pro-Life News



Contemplative Corner

The Exultet: Christ our Light

Fr. Michael Flynn, a native of Birmingham, AL, shares the ancient Easter Proclamation, known as the Exultet. If you can't tell, I love this part of our Easter liturgy and found this article one worth meditating over.


Read: Catholic Guide to Holy Week



Apostolate Spotlight

Catholic Relief Services - Focus on Middle East Conflict - Link

As conflict and displacement continue to affect communities across the region, Catholic Relief Services is working with trusted local partners to provide lifesaving assistance and support families forced from their homes. With your gift, families across the Middle East will continue to receive vital relief and care as they seek refuge and relief. Please give now to support families across the Middle East.



The Liturgical Week Ahead

Coloring indicates Liturgical Color, links provided to USCCB site.


April 6, 2026 | Monday | Monday in the Octave of Easter

Acts 2:14, 22-33 | Matthew 28:8-15


April 7, 2026 | Tuesday | Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

Acts 2:36-41 | John 20:11-18


April 8, 2026 | Wednesday | Wednesday in the Octave of Easter

Acts 3:1-10 | Luke 24:13-35


April 9, 2026 | Thursday | Thursday in the Octave of Easter

Acts 3:11-26 | Luke 24:35-48


April 10, 2026 | Friday | Friday in the Octave of Easter

Acts 4:1-12 | John 21:1-14



Community Prayer Intentions

For Strength and Comfort

  • Families of Servicemembers
  • Those affected by the Iranian and Ukrainian wars
  • Families experiencing losses
  • Myers Family
  • Demers Family
  • Pope Leo XIV


Eternal Rest

  • Noel Demers
  • Bernice Myers
  • Emma Niese
  • Those killed in the wars in Iran and Ukraine
  • Pope Benedict XVI
  • Pope Francis


Saints in Progress, pray for us!



Thank you!

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Please know of my prayers for you, and please continue to pray for me and my family. I’ll see you next time, but in the meantime, God Bless!


–☧ Rob

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