We've added another Hellebore (Pippa's Purple) to the Carondelet Garden in celebration of Holy Week.  The Lenten Rose is one of my favorite Spring plants and this one is a real stunner.  A beautiful celebration of Spring and all things Holy!

I have taken to an ancient liturgy on the Wednesday of Holy Week the past years: the service of Tennebrae.  Tennebrae is a Latin word which means darkness.  Using music and breaking the story of Jesus' suffering and death into 16 parts.  We light 15 candles and listen and read each part, extinguishing one candle every time until we are in darkness.  It doesn't have to take a very long time, but it is such a moving experience to end Jesus journey as a human and end it in darkness.  The darkness we also experience at this time of year until Easter and all things change.  The light of the world has come.  

It's dark and stormy this morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  The winds are blowing and the lightning is flashing.  Darkness has come.  We wait for the light in prayer and anticipation.  The celebration is coming, but first the darkness.  Tennebrae.  Holy Wednesday.  

The Suscipe (Receive) of Saint Ignatius
Take, Lord, receive all my liberty,
my memory, understanding, my whole will.
All that I am and I possess,
You have given me:
I surrender it all to you to be used according to your will.
Give me only your love and your grace;
that is enough for me. Amen.

"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God;
The creator of the ends of the earth."
     -Isaiah 40:38

I love this verse.  It perfectly sums up the photo from yesterday.  The bees were having a field day out in our Vinca border.  The creator of the ends of the earth!  I will end with this collect from our friends of the Methodist tradition.  A very fitting prayer for this Great and Holy Tuesday:

"Almighty, everlasting God, grant us so perfectly to follow the passion of our Lord, that we may obtain the help and pardon of his all-sufficient grace; through him who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen."

Great and Holy Monday as we begin Holy Week and the first Monday of April.  The Music Garlic is looking good in this raised bed.  The second raised bed did not make it after the harsh freeze earlier last Winter.  I am grateful for this one!  It's partly cloudy and warming up here in the Carondelet Garden this morning.

As I was reading the Gospel of John this morning I was struck by the idea of prayer.  Oftentimes, when I was a younger man, I thought of prayer as a very practiced ideal.  You had to have a certain posture and be very serious.  It was important to use certain language and be very "prayerful."  As I grow older, I'm finding that my prayers are not like that anymore.  I now pray through so many different ways as I journey through this life. 

Several years ago, I was introduced to the idea of "Prayer by walking around."  A simple practice of recognizing God in all things.  Everywhere you look you can see the hand of God at work.  I love the simple, ordinariness of this kind of prayer.  As I continue my journey, I'm beginning to realize that prayer can be as simple a touch or a hug, a smile from a stranger, or a simple act of kindness.  Prayer in all things.  Simple, ordinary prayer.  God in all things.  God in all! Amen.

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Refresh and renew.  Amen!

Happy April Fool's Day!  

I hope everyone is safe and sound on this first Saturday in April.  Spring is so welcome, but Spring storms can wreak havoc.  My heart breaks for the folks in Arkansas and beyond.  

The raised beds are cleaned and refreshed and ready for Spring planting.  I can't wait to plant our tomatoes later this month.  Exciting times ahead.

It's a fun-filled day with visits to friends and watching a little guy's soccer game.  I hope you have a relaxing wonder-filled weekend filled with faith, hope and love on this first Saturday of April.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.