It is near 1:00 a.m. as I write this entry. The Mass, Procession to the Altar of Repose, Stripping of the Altars, and the Maundy all went well. Every year I look forward to this night. It has been a favorite since I first saw the Triduum at the Advent in Boston when I was 23. I was only a torch bearer and carrying one of the poles of the Blessed Sacrament's canopy, so I could relax and be part of the whole thing.

When I got to the church, the choir was rehearsing My Song is Love Unknown. I listened to them practice as I waited for the other servers to arrive and vest. The congregation for the night was the smallest I remember at S. Clement's-there weren't many of our regular visitors in the pews, but from the ringing of all of the bells at the Gloria of the Missa Pagne Lingua to the Durufle Ubi Caritas at the Maundy, everything was lovely.

After the Maundy, four of us said vespers and compline in the choir before the bare altar, then I shucked my cassock and five of us raced off to make the traditional visit to seven altars of repose. Timing on this is key since you need to make some of the churches that close early as quickly as possible. Here's the route:

The Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul: At our nearest neighbor the Altar of Repose was much more highly decorated than any of us had seen. One priest was keeping watch.

S. Francis Xavier: The Oratorian's church strips down well. Two younger members of the community were trading watches as we arrived.

S. John: The Franciscan's lower church had a bare ciborium on the altar with a few rose petals scattered around it.

S. Mark's, Locust Street: The darkness and stillness of the church contrasted with the lights and flowers banked around the silver altar of the Lady Chapel. The chapel is small and intimate. It's always here that I have the most sense of waiting with the Lord.

Old S. Joe's: The Jesuits had a large number of people scattered around the church keeping watch.

S. Mary's Bainbridge: Fr. Jackson let us in when we rang the bell. The sacrament was in the small prayer chapel above his office as men slept in the shelter in the basement. The Church was built as a chapel of S. Mark's and, though small, is perfectly designed for catholic worship.

S. Clement's: Back at last to our own altar, the quietness a great contrast to the earlier liturgies. Parishioners will trade off watches here every hour until noon tomorrow.

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The Procession of the Blessed Sacrament.

The Altar of the Maundy in the parish hall.

The Altar of Repose at the Basilica.

The watch at S. Clement's.