The Gethsemane chapel is particularly full of pilgrims into the night.
The next day is Good Friday, but Felix is not aware of this special day. He only notices that on this Friday more people are praying at the Stations of the Cross. At 3 p.m., they stream into the Church. It is not a typical Mass, rather a ceremony in which the crucifix is uncovered and venerated.
Then the priest starts his homily.
“We find ourselves in Holy Week and remember the Passion of Christ, especially today on Good Friday, the day of Our Lord, Jesus Christ’s death.”
Now Felix understands why everything is so different. The day is similar to Christmas Eve, only we are happy about His birth and not sad about His death.
Additionally, on the following Saturday morning, no Mass takes place.
“Is it now the end of the shrine? I hope my mission is not coming to an end.
Should I finally think about how I will be able to survive and support myself?”
Felix climbs the tree and after a while falls asleep. It’s common knowledge that cats naturally know how to stay in a tree once sleeping. As he opens his eyes again it is evening and he sees a few seminarians stacking up wood for a fire.
“Everyone is getting as cold as I am,” Felix thinks. It is already dusk and innumerable pilgrims begin to arrive. Happily, Felix is in the tree so he is safe and has the best view.
Then they come. Seminarians dressed like altar boys accompanied by a large group of priests. They go to the fire which burns brightly and so the ceremony begins. The fire is blessed and then surprisingly Felix hears his name.
“Has someone discovered me? Do they want me to come down? I clearly heard my name and am not mistaken?”
“O FELIX CULPA”
“That means, O Happy Fault,” whispers a father into the ear of his small son.
“And so we are very lucky that Jesus Christ took all of our sins upon Himself
and thus was able to open the door into paradise which was closed by the sin of Adam and Eve.”
A priest has a huge candle which he can hardly carry. This candle is lit from the fire. All the people process in the pitch dark Church and sing piously,
“LUMEN CHRISTI”
After a few minutes, the song is recited, louder, in a higher pitch. Then again for a third time with more enthusiasm and joy.
“That means the light of Christ,” repeats the father to his son. All at once it becomes even more interesting when people begin to light their small candles from the large candle. This event causes the Church to beam with heavenly light. A great joy comes to everyone including Felix. That Jesus is risen from death is celebrated on Easter morning. With his own blood, Jesus, the Son of God, has washed us clean from all our sins.
“O FELIX CULPA”
Now Felix understands why he has loved Latin so much from the first time he heard it.....From: Felix the Shrine Cat-
by Edith Breburda,
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