Happy Easter or Blessed Resurrection Day? A Revelation

Synchronicity always surprises me, but I guess it should not. A week before Easter this year I was thinking about the word “Easter” – its definition and origins. I was confident that it was a term that hearkened back to paganism and the rites of spring; but I wondered why do we simply accept the term Easter. Tradition? That is probably the simplest explanation; however, I wondered if there was not another appropriate greeting other than “Happy Easter.”

One of the Groups I subscribe to on Facebook is “Word on Fire,” which led me to the “Catholicism Project.” As I was scanning one or the other (I do not remember which), I noticed a short article with a brief mention of a priest reminding a woman to say “Blessed Resurrection Day” after she greeted him with “Happy Easter.” The light came on – that was it! This is how we Christians, especially Catholic Christians, should be greeting each other on what we have known as Easter or Easterday.

I hadn’t been able to decide where to attend Easter Mass, but found myself driving to Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside. It is one of my favorite places on earth and it had been a while since I had been there. It would be my Easter treat and I could not think of a better place to test my new greeting. As always, the Mass was beautiful with the Monks expertly singing familiar Gregorian chants. The sound sweeps me away.

After Mass, I walked out into the sunny morning to greet people I had not seen for a while and took the opportunity to use my new words:"Blessed Resurrection Day!" The first to receive them was the Abbot. He seemed surprised, but pleasantly so. I moved on to a couple of the other Monks I knew. This new greeting seemed to be well received and I decided it was a step in the right direction.

Having said all this, I began to think that maybe I was behind the times. Perhaps this greeting had been used for years. I decided to put the words into an Internet search and, lo and behold, I found many sites that referenced “Blessed Resurrection.” It is not new and now with a new awareness it may be a good time to spread these words to others, to make the day more of what it is supposed to be…the Blessed Day of Our Lord’s Resurrection.
Now I am curious what other Catholics and Christians think about a change in greeting on what we have known as Easter. I invite comments – positive, negative, or undecided. Is this a good idea? Does it define our celebration better or not? I think it does.

New year, new thoughts, new words

Oh my little blog...I have neglected you; but I am here now. Ready to commit myself to you in this new year.

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Steven Tyler and me. No, I've never met the Aerosmith front man, but I watched him in an interview with Oprah yesterday. In several scenes, it looked as though he was unsteady, almost hanging onto Oprah for balance. I thought: hmmm, is he on drugs in front of Oprah? No, indeed he was not. It came to light during the hour's interview that he is suffering from a most debilitating foot problem that I share with him. Morton's neuroma.

I remember stepping down from my bed and realizing I could barely walk on my right foot. I'd had moments leading up to this morning that might have clued me in that I was developed a problem; however, as a former long distance runner, I was used to dismissing pain and pushing through it. I've had various pangs, such as a sore achilles and I had noticed a slight swelling toward the ball of my foot from time to time, but nothing was constant, so I chose to do nothing.

I had been volunteering at a thrift store for three hours, one day a week for several months, but my foot began to feel more and more weak and painful until I could not go on without some help. Finally, I made an appointment with a podiatrist and walked away with three diagnoses for my right foot (only my right foot): Morton's neuroma, insertional achilles tendonitis, and arthritis (which I thought was a bunion). The prescription for relief was not unlike that for any athletic injuries I had ever experienced: ice massages, ibuprofen, stretching, rest. In addition, I was supposed to roll a tennis ball up and down the arch of my foot, and purchase over-the-counter orthotics. It all felt good, but relief is a long process. I did avoid a cortisone shot...whew!

Today, my foot doesn't feel too bad, but tomorrow is another day. I will have to walk tentatively for the first 20 steps of the day and after sitting for any period of time. I know that any hope I have that my foot is finally healing will quickly disappear the next time I get up from sitting or laying down. It's better, but not healed.

Sorry, Steven. I feel your pain.