Rituals & Hope

By Julie Hellebusch | April 11, 2020 |

Lenten Rituals

In Myths To Live By, Joseph Campbell describes a ritual as “an organization of mythological symbols; and by participating in the drama of the rite one is brought directly in touch with (the) revelations here and now.” During my childhood, the Lenten rites were wonders. I found myself in awe (like “awe shucks”) during this solemn season as my mother insisted on a candy abstinence. Seriously though, the sacrifice had meaning. Every week during Lent we were hauled to church for the Stations of the Cross. My candy sacrifice seemed minimal compared to Jesus being killed for our sins. Then came the Holy Week rituals, including those awfully litanies. Remember? Over and over, “ora pro nobis!” OMG! would those refrains ever end? In those moments of pure discomfort I felt a sliver of Christ’s suffering. In my teens, the Church took a modern turn. They suggested doing good deeds versus giving things up. The rituals of the Lenten season persisted but the command to suffer lessened significantly. Change came crashing!

The Mystery Gone

Sophomore year in high school, in Sr. Helen Cecilia religion class, the air of mystery started to seep from my beliefs. Sister explaining that the parting of the Red Sea may have been overstated, that perhaps God intervened naturally, like a low tide at the moment the Israelites crossed, then a rising tide when the Egyptians were in hot pursuit. This forced me to wonder, “is it all a fantasy?” I stopped wondering in college when Father Wordeman shared that the resurrection of Jesus may have been exaggerated, apparently, His reappearance being a spiritual versus physical event. Hum! Luckily, as I aged my beliefs ripened into a more spiritual maturity.

The Mystery Persists

While the mystery emanating from certain beliefs remain in question, rituals continue. Many church rites hold a magic, especially during this most holy season. Communion and the contemplation of the risen Christ still works for me, as does the odor of incense and the pomp and circumstance: the Latin, the chants, the whole “ball of wax” that the church resurrects during this season. Through these rituals we continue to experience the mystery of Christ in the moment. There is an enigma surrounding Easter that surpasses the religious and reaches into the depths of the spiritual. The trick is to immerse oneself in the wonder of Easter. The wonder being that there is no greater love than for one to give their life for another. There’s an abundance of Christ-like action currently all around us as our medical professionals, EMTs, police, et al are suffering, and some even dying, to save others. There is a great mystery in the sacrifices many are making while most are sheltering in place wondering, “when this will ever end.”

WILL THIS END?

Similar to the shocks of the past: wars, depressions, 9/11, recessions, epidemics and, now, a pandemic THE question always ruminating as we traverse these shocks is, ” when will this ever end?” Shut in, minutes begin to feel like hours, hours like days, days like weeks, and weeks like months. Could they turn into years? Like those Lenten litanies of old, will this ever end? As the time drags on, where do we find patience to endure? For me the answer came earlier this week. Barb, a friend and neighbor from Madeira writes… “Our friend in Hawaii just sent this & I thought you might love it as much as I did. Never lose hope, & keep on praying.” The true meaning of the Easter reveals itself in this four candles video. Click on the LINK below to view.