death watch
by Melanie Bettinelli on April 01, 2005
Pope John Paul II lies dying on this the Friday within the Octave of Easter.
What a non-Catholic might not know is that Easter is technically not one day, Easter Sunday, it is eight days. This is reflected in the Divine Office, for eight days we pray the exact same psalms in Morning and Evening prayer. It is all one feast, that lasts 8 days. Because one day isn’t long enough to contain our celebration of this highest and holiest of days. Instead, from the Church’s perspective we have one day which lasts an entire week.
So the Pope will most likely dies on Easter. What a joy, what a great blessing for him, for us. Tree says: “Its kind of like good friday… the king is dead, long live the king.
When the pope dies, I’ll feel every bit that mixed up. But man, he’ll be watching over us all so much better than he is now”
He will be praying for the Church as he stand face to face with Christ. For now he sees as in a glass darkly, but then he will see face to face. To paraphrase St Paul.
And as Tree says, “what a great blessing, to have that veil stripped away.”
The splendour of Christ risen from the dead has shone on his people redeemed by his blood, alleluia.
Our Redeemer has risen from the tomb; let us sing a hymn of praise to the Lord our God, alleluia.
Alleluia, the Lord is risen as he promised, alleluia.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad, alleluia.
tree also has a good entry
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