The Authorized Version

An Unholy Communion, the third book in my Monastery Murders series, was released in print in the UK and in ebook around the world last Friday (North American print release will be April 1), so I suppose I should be blogging about that, especially since it has been making the top 100 lists on AmazonUK for inspirational books— for which I am delighted and grateful. But sometimes there is something in a writer’s life even more important than than one’s own books and for me, Holy Week is certainly one of those times.

One of the great experiences of my life was spending Holy Week in the Community of the Resurrection in 2005. Normally I want to be in my parish church, experiencing the sorrow of the Great Three Days and the joy of Easter with my church family. But that year I had the total emersion of being in a monastery, participating in fifty-some services in one week, most of the rest of the time spent in silence, the services of the Triduum celebrated with all the fullness of the liturgy, gorgeous vestments and exquisite music— It was an experience that has informed every Holy Week I’ve experienced since then, although I’m 7000 miles away.

It also formed the background of the Holy Week Felicity experienced in A Darkly Hidden Truth   where, in spite of her desperation to unmask a murderer, she manages to participate in the full liturgy. I hope never to face such challenges to worship as Felicity did, but I know that whatever interruptions life presents, I’ll certainly do my best to join believers around the world who are walking through this week with our Lord as Christians have done since the early centuries of the Church.

Wishing you all a blessed Holy Week and a joyous Easter!