An Easter Editorial – (PIP #102)

By Louise Peloquin

     L’Etoile published the editorial below one hundred years ago.

The 25th “peek into the past” presents another such piece and casts a light on the newspaper’s publication choices by pointing out the following.

“For the French-Canadian community, the church was not only a place of worship and religious ceremonies but it was also an institution of education for all ages, from the parish school to adult, life-coach-style counseling, mirroring its all-pervasive role in “the old country” – Québec. The church was also a venue for social gatherings from charitable organization meetings to musical and theatrical performances to kermesses and bingo tournaments.

Consequently, it was vital for L’Etoile to cover church events. In addition, as a service to the community, the newspaper gratuitously published many Franco-American parish bulletins. Naturally, this move met potential readers’ expectations, making the effort a win-win for both the paper and its public.” (1)

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L’Etoile – April 3, 1926

SURREXIT DOMINUS, VERE,

ALLELUIA (2)

     In order to understand the meaning and the scope of these words, following Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane to the cross and hearing him cry out “all is finished” would have been necessary.

     Yes, everything seemed to be finished for Jesus. All that was left was a horribly disfigured body.

     Of his lifework even less remained: a few poor women, a small number of ashamed disciples among whom only one had the courage to follow him up to calvary. Which one among his friends was thinking of conquering the world? Judas, one of the twelve, sold him to his enemies. Peter, the leader, denied him. The others, only thinking of returning to their fishing nets, were trembling at the tragic adventure they had witnessed.

     Yes, everything really seemed finished for Jesus. He, who had been like so many others, the Life and the Resurrection, was sleeping, with the debris of his work, in a tomb sealed by Roman authorities.

     Of this Jesus, whose words had moved all of Judea to the point of making the crowds want to crown him king, undoubtedly all that was left within the hearts of the small groups of remaining faithful was just a memory made up of admiration, of sadness and of love. And in the spirit of future generations persisted the image of the most generous and most vain of undertakings ever conceived for humanity’s happiness and moral goodness.

     But, on the morning of the third day, three women bearing precious perfume go to the tomb to finish embalming the Master’s body. None of them imagined that the deceased, whom they had wrapped in a shroud, would no longer be where they had seen him placed. Only one question preoccupied them: who could have rolled the large stone sealing the entry of the sepulchre?

     But wonder of wonders, the stone no longer secured the entrance of the tomb. The seal of the authorities was broken. The guards stationed there had fled, terrified. An angel bathed in brilliant light reassured the three women, petrified at the sight of so many wonders.

     The women immediately left the tomb, trembling with fear and joy. They ran to bring the news to the disciples. But lo, Jesus came before them and said “I greet you.”  They drew near, kissed his feet and adored him. To reassure them, Jesus gently told them: “Do not be afraid. Tell my disciples to go to Galilee and there they will find me.”

     On this Easter morning, our Lord and Master comes to us in the glory of his resurrection. Like the women, let us kneel at the foot of the cross of the divine Resurrected and say: “my Lord and my God.” (3)

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 1) PIP #25 posted on March 26, 2024:

https://richardhowe.com/2024/03/26/annual-demonstration-of-faith/

2) The Lord is risen indeed, alleluia.

3) Translation by Louise Peloquin.