22nd Cross - The Talavera Holy Water Font Cross

Today, Saturday, March 9th, we find ourselves in an in-between day.  We have just left the fourth Friday of Lent behind, where we fasted and/or abstained and took on a little more austerity, in keeping with the solemnity of Fridays in Lent.  But tomorrow, March 10th, is Laetare Sunday.  "Laetare" is Latin, and is part of the expression proclaiming, "Rejoice, O Jerusalem!" (Is 66:10) This Sunday is similar to Laudate, or Rose, Sunday in Advent. At Mass tomorrow, the priest's chasuble will not be the purple we have seen during Lent. He will instead be wearing a rose or light violet colored vestment.  (The rose hue of Laetare Sunday is slightly different than that of Laudate Sunday in Advent, just as the purples of Advent and Lent are not quite the same.)  Nevertheless, tomorrow we should experience a lightening, a sense of expectation, a bit of hope in the midst of these long 40 days. We might even see a few flowers on the altar.

In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul explains why should feel hope now, despite still being out in the desert, wandering in the wilderness.  He writes, "Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand.  Let us then throw off the works of darkness [and] put on the armor of light!" (Rom 13:11b-12)

We are now deeply into the journey to the cross, not too far away from Jesus' ascent to His cross on Calvary.  What will take place there is the restoration of the covenant not kept by the first Adam, but renewed and fulfilled by the second Adam, Jesus the Christ.  On His cross, water will flow from His side, pouring down upon the earth in the same way that the water originally flowed out of the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:10 tells us that a river rose "in Eden to water the garden; beyond there it divides and becomes four branches." The water in Eden signified the presence of God, who shares His life with us and makes this life universally available by separating into four branches, i.e. the four corners of the world.  We ourselves are able to partake of this holy water through Baptism, and the mingling of the water and the wine is repeated in every Mass.

"Let us throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light!" (Rom 13:11b-12)

That's why the cross for today is not just a cross, but it's also a holy water font. It is a sacramental specially designed to hold Holy Water, so that we can bring that Holy Water home from the church and use it in our daily lives, so that what we proclaim in the Sacred Spaces we use to sanctify in the ordinary places.  As you can see, this cross is also joyful!  There's nothing sad or downcast about this type of Mexican pottery, commonly referred to as Talavera pottery. This cross is a fitting symbol to ponder on this in-between day, as we stop at an oasis for a bit of spiritual refreshment before pushing ahead to the end of the journey.

​Let us pray: Holy Trinity, thank you for giving us this small pause, this little break of refreshment, so that we can rest and recover enough to move ahead with the rest of the Lent season.  Help us to carry the joy of Laetare Sunday in our hearts as we journey on. And in all things, let us praise You. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.