IT'S STILL EASTER

It's rather ironic. Catholics pray, read scripture, and go to daily Mass during Lent. And then Easter Monday comes, and the Churches are empty.For the early Christians, Easter was celebrated at high pitch for eight days, and then at a more moderate but still festive pace for another 42 days, till Pentecost. Lent may be 40 days. But Easter, from at least the early 4th century, went 50 days—from Easter Sunday through Pentecost. In the book of Exodus, God commanded the Israelites to celebrate the greater feasts like Passover for eight days, with a solemn assembly on the first and the 8th day. So liturgically, we celebrate Easter at highest pitch from Easter Sunday to Divine Mercy Sunday. Each and every day of this Octave is considered a solemn feast (aka a solemnity) in the Roman calendar. If there is any time to go to daily Mass, the Easter Octave is it! Can’t make it to daily Mass during the octave? Then at least read the dailyy Mass readings in your personal prayer time, or even better, with your spouse, roommate, or family. The atheist philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “If you Christians want me to believe in your Redeemer, you need to look more redeemed!” The recovery of Easter joy is one of the keys not only to our own happiness, but to the new evangelization. A glum, somber Christianity will attract few disciples.