ITALY CELEBRATES PASQUETTA, LITTLE EASTER
Today is Easter Monday – Little Easter or Pasquetta – and is also known here as Monday of the Angel, a big holiday in Italy. This day recalls the meeting between the women who went to Jesus' tomb, sad to see it empty but then rejoicing when an angel comforted them, saying the Savior had risen!
Italians typically dedicate Easter Monday to family outings, most often celebrating a picnic meal at midday, especially when the weather is great! If you google Pasquetta or Little Easter, chances are you'll find more menus for picnics than you will information on its history!
By the way, the noon prayer in this Easter time is the Regina Coeli, not the Angelus.
Those who work for the Vatican and Roman Curia began their Easter vacation on Holy Thursday and return to work only this coming Wednesday for a total of 6 days off. I loved it when I worked for the Vatican as I made some very special trips for Holy Week liturgy, including 6 days in Malta and about the same in Spain.
In the event you may have seen some video highlights of the papal Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square, during which he gave the twice-annual 'urbi et orbi' message (to the city and the world), there were big numbers in the square all morning, according to the Vatican gendarmerie – about 60,000 faithful. That number included those with tickets for the Mass and the many thousands who arrived for the noon Regina Coeli.
Another big number was 35,000 - the number of flowers, plants, floral beds and shrubs that decorated the square. This offering from Dutch florists follows a tradition begun in 1985 with the beatification of the Dutch Carmelite priest Titus Brandsma. For decades, it has been Dutch florists who have provided the floral decorations for St. Peter's Square for Easter.
Some Vatican photos:
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It is always a true labor of love – not just growing the flowers but, extremely important, packing them correctly in the huge vans that bring them to Rome so that they arrive fresh and unbroken. The florists are able assisted by dozens of Vatican gardeners and technical staff.
By the way, several photos depict an image of Jesus, to the pope's right on the altar area. At one point, the very strong wind that has dominated Rome for days, blew that heavy image over and three lay assistants mounted the altar area to set it upright.
With the Resurrection, we are now fully into the Easter period that ends at Pentecost. Easter time is the period of 50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost and is celebrated as a single joyful feast, called the "great Lord's Day." Each Sunday of the season is treated as a Sunday of Easter.
Rejoice and be glad, this is the day the Lord has made!
More photos here: Easter Sunday - Holy Mass of the day - Activities of the Holy Father Pope Francis | Vatican.va
PS. An interesting liturgical note: Lectors know that during the year there are two readings at Sunday Mass in the three liturgical years A ,B and C. The first is always from the Old Testament and the second reading is always from the New Testament. However, in the 50 days of Eastertime, the Gospel of John replaces the first Old Testament reading and is read in all three years.
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