1947 Chronicles (10): Our First Holy Hour and First Holy Week

“Reverend Mother with her two assistants, who wore white aprons, began to wash and kiss the feet of all the Sisters, beginning with the oldest...”

March saw the first Holy Hour and Holy Week at the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace. Our chapel hosted a full crowd for the Holy Hour, with devotions conducted by Father Moore. Holy Week had the appropriate amount of solemnity even with our crowded conditions.

Crucifix in the yard of the farmhouse monastery

“The first Holy Hour was held on Sunday, March 10th, at three-thirty. The chapel was crowded to its capacity, which was about thirty-five people. The devotions were conducted by Father Moore, of course, and began with the recitation of the Seven Sorrows and Joys of St. Joseph. This prayer was followed by the rosary hymn which was sung before each decade of the rosary. The litany of the Blessed Virgin was said and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament was given.

“St. Joseph was very generous on his feast day, March nineteenth. Through the medium of Sister Mary Joseph’s friends, we received linens, food supplies, and some oilcloth. The foundation for the barns was also completed on that day.

“The first week of April, 1947, was Holy Week, the most solemn and sacred week of the year. It would be observed this first year of the foundation as in years past with full solemnity. On Holy Thursday, Sister Procuratrix approached Reverend Mother who was eating dinner alone in the refectory. The Mandatum (washing of the feet) was to be held at two o’clock, but there was no chapter hall for this most solemn ceremony which commemorates Our Lord washing His disciples’ feet at the Last Supper. Our Mother looked up and smiled sweetly at the worried face before her. ‘Our Lord said, ‘Where is my refectory where I may eat the Pasch with My disciples?’ We shall have it right here, in our own refectory.’

“And so it was. Tables were pushed against the wall, and we, wearing our black cappas, and with feet bare, seated ourselves on the stools on either side of the room. The head chantress intoned the first antiphon which was taken up by the Sisters while Reverend Mother with her two assistants, who wore white aprons, began to wash and kiss the feet of all the Sisters, beginning with the oldest. When she had finished, she and the two Sister assistants humbly submitted to the same ceremony, which in turn was performed by Mother Sub-Prioress and two of the younger Sisters.

“When the thirteen antiphons had been sung and the washing of the feet was completed, Reverend Mother gave a little sermon which she took from the Discourse of Our Lord at the Last Supper, ‘This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.’ It was not unusual for Mother to stress this commandment of love, for love of neighbor proves our love for God, but today her words possessed a force and sweetness which moved our hearts and inclined our wills to resolve to be more faithful in practicing this divine precept in the future.”

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