The Day That Jesus Dropped By

sister amata shina recounts the year that
her family welcomed a very special easter visitor

Holy Week and Easter were sacred in my family. The days of Holy Week were spent window washing and doing a good cleaning. The Easter services were cherished. On Holy Thursday after Mass, we visited the area churches to pray, and Good Friday meant no radio at all and absolute silence from 12 to 3 p.m., then services at Church. No one touched any candy or the Italian Easter Pie until after the Easter Vigil service. Our traditional Easter foods were the Italian meat and cheese pie, egg bread and roasted lamb with, of course, homemade manicotti, ravioli or lasagna!

As a 9-year-old, I was deeply impressed when Sister said that it would be the ultimate act of love to keep silence on Good Friday from noon to 3 o’clock. I was sure I could do this. However, I knew my brother would try to get me to talk. So my Aunt suggested I take my books and paper dolls down to the cellar and she would keep my brother away. Fine. I spent 12 to 3 in perfect silence. Boy, I was going to get a big jewel in my crown in heaven. Just one little problem — in those days, the Easter ham had to be cooked. The roaster was in the cellar, and I became good friends with it during my great silence. I kept my promise to the Lord as I nibbled on ham on Good Friday!

Barbara Ann -- Besides Christmas, Easter morning was the greatest day to wake up. You weren't looking for a stocking, but searching for your Easter basket. Our baskets were hidden somewhere. That darn bunny!

One Easter, I just about wore out the soles of my “footie” pajamas looking for my treasure. My brother found his and had half the candy eaten, and I still hadn’t found mine. I started to cry, so I was given a big hint — go down to the cellar. I did . I found my basket. Where? In the washing machine!