NARROWING OUR FOCUS AND BROADENING OUR HORIZON

“But Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.” (John 8:59)

For centuries the final two weeks leading up to Easter have been referred to as Passiontide. The veiling of statues, crosses and holy images is an exterior sign that gets our attention and signals that something is different about this time. The above line from St. John’s Gospel was traditionally read on the Fifth Sunday of Lent which spoke to Jesus hiding himself as tensions were mounting in Jerusalem that would lead ultimately to His Passion. Since our parish is named in honor of the Holy Cross, Passiontide is a particular season of grace for us.

If we are honest, we all need help focusing on what is most important. In pondering the veiling of sacred images, Liturgist Msgr. Peter J. Elliott writes, “The custom of veiling crosses and images in these last two weeks of Lent has much to commend it in terms of religious psychology, because it helps us to concentrate on the great essentials of Christ’s work of Redemption. The episcopal conference decides whether this should be obligatory within its territory, but any pastor may choose to restore or maintain this wise practice in his own parish” (Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year).

Here in America veiling is not required but commended in the directives of the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal which contains all the formularies, orations and rubrics used for the celebration of the Holy Mass throughout the year: “In the Dioceses of the United States, the practice of covering crosses and images throughout the church from this Sunday may be observed. Crosses remain covered until the end of the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, but images remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil” (Rubric for Fifth Sunday of Lent). While not every parish continues this tradition it is nonetheless praiseworthy and helpful to set the tone and focus our hearts. Many subtle aspects of the Lenten traditions are meant to grab our attention in this way including the Rose vestments and tabernacle veils used only twice a year, once in Advent and once in Lent. Hopefully the brightness of the vestments caught your attention last Sunday and perhaps caused you to wonder!

Returning to the topic of veiling sacred images, the Church doesn’t mandate the covering of all images, for example Stations of the Cross, or images that are hard to cover like murals or stained glass. In various times and places, statues of St. Joseph were not covered since his Solemnity often falls during this time and the month of March is dedicated to devotion to him. Ultimately the covering of crosses and sacred images is a spiritual invitation to narrow our focus but to broaden our horizons. The eyes of our hearts must be turned inward to contemplate Christ as we walk though these final weeks of Lent with Him into the Passion, Death and Resurrection. Sacred images are a great gift in our Catholic Faith and we treasure them as helps to prayer, but in this time, we ‘fast’ from them so that we might be led unto the ultimate realities they signify. As the First Reading this Sunday announces, “All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD” (Jeremiah 31:34). So may it come about!

God bless you, this Passiontide and always,

Fr. Howe