Growing up in Reserve and belonging to St. Peter Catholic Church, I can still remember Easter Sunday being a special holiday. On that day, everyone went to church. Ladies and young girls wore their Easter dresses. In those days, the heads of women had to be covered, so not only did most of them have new dresses, but all had new hats. What an Easter parade that was!

Another thing I remember is that Easter Sunday was the official opening of the River Parish Baseball League. Teams from Convent, Sorrento, Gramercy, Lutcher, Reserve, LaPlace, Norco, Luling, Vacherie and Ama made up the league. If your team played at home that day, it was considered a special treat.

I also remember that as a young boy, I was so anxious to become old enough to attend the Easter Sunday Men’s Mass. The rule was, but not officially, that one had to be 13 years of age to attend.

When my turn finally came to wake up early and go to the “Men’s Mass,” I really thought I had arrived! The mass was at 5 a.m. Ladies were not allowed to attend. The church would be packed – standing room only. The confession lines on Saturday afternoon and again on Sunday before Mass were at least a 45-minute to an hour wait. Men who never set foot in church during the year came this one day to make their “Easter duties.” In my opinion, the reason the Mass was held so early (it was still dark) and the women were not allowed was to prevent some men from being embarrassed. In other words, to allow them to continue in their pride and not be seen attending Mass by the women in the community.

It’s a blessing that tradition is now ended. Some men continue to be proud and in their arrogance just refuse to go to church.

This Easter holiday, I hope we can focus on what Christians are supposed to be celebrating.

Friday, we acknowledge the death of Jesus. He was crucified for our iniquities. He paid it all for the sins of men. Of course, for us to claim the victory at the Cross, we have to repent and allow Jesus to be the Lord of our lives. We have to invite Him into our hearts. He knocks at the door, but we have to invite Him in.

Sunday, we will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. As Christians, we talk more about the birth and death of Jesus than we do about the resurrection. It’s by His resurrection that He defeated death. He is alive today! That’s the miracle!

Happy Easter!

    

If you have any questions or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477, or email hkeller@comcast.net.