Easter Joy

Spring bursts today,
For Christ is risen and all the earth’s at play. …
Winter is past,
Sweet Spring is come at last, is come at last. …
Break forth this morn
In roses, thou but yesterday a Thorn.
Uplift thy head,
O pure white Lily thro’ the Winter dead. …
Sing, Creatures, sing,
Angels and Men and Birds and everything.
All notes of Doves
Fill all our world: this is the time of loves.
From “An Easter Carol”
By Christina Rosetti (1830-1894)
*******
Alleluia! We thank the Lord for our friend Milette, born now into eternal paschal joys. Several classmates wrote to celebrate the gifts that Milette leaves behind: a generous spirit, deep faith, friendship, kindness. Here they offer a wreath of remembrances for a special classmate —
From Rorit Marco Mendoza
“It's been so very long since we've seen each other, and it's unfortunate to establish contact on a sad occasion as Milette's passing. I am saddened … even if there was no communication since college, I always knew Milette as a gentle spirit. I will certainly keep her in my special prayers. I greatly appreciate the memorial and tribute. … It's a beautiful way to learn of Milette's life path, and I am so touched that she had opted to be professed with the Norbertine Order. Thank you for sharing your communication with each other, as Milette's words show how deep and special she was, and how strong your ties with each other were. It's so wonderful to have friendships like what you two had! I am so sure that our Lord has blessed her with a peaceful and loving welcome to His home. There is such pain when we lose someone, at whatever time and for whatever reason. So I want to reach out to you at this time, just to let you know I share the sorrow that you feel at this loss. I look forward to other stories on the website. Thank you once again. … Blessings, Rorit”
From GV Silverio
“Thank you for your tribute to Milette (and) what you wrote about her life of deep faith and your friendship. Though I wasn't close to her in school and even after school, I called her … to reconnect with her. We had a nice conversation. I would often read about her pilgrimages to Europe and suggestions on places of interest. I felt a connection with her. Milette's death has affected me even though we weren't close. Maybe it's our spirituality that connects us. I continue to pray for her – that she is enjoying the life 'up there'. Again, thank you and God bless! – GV”
From Monina Magallanes Buchanan
“I am so saddened by your news of Milette’s passing. You have written a very loving and beautiful tribute to her. Thank you very much, Lynne. I will have a Mass offered for Milette at my parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lesmurdie, Western Australia. The first and last time I communicated with Milette was when my book was published in 2011. I was so encouraged and buoyed by her impressions of my book. It came as a surprise because like you, whilst we were a special bunch of CA majors in Maryknoll, I did not know her very well. We also had no opportunity to see each other again after college. Thank you for sharing your deep friendship with Milette. You are lovingly pulling us into the loop and we join hands across the globe in thanking God for our dear classmate Milette. May she be in His everlasting embrace.
Love and prayers, Monina”
From Celine Arvisu Quinio
“Thank you for celebrating Milette's life with the creation of this beautiful website, a tribute to her life and spirituality that she generously shared with us. For those she has touched, we have all become a better person, in some small or big way, through her kindness and generosity. She freely gave of herself and her time, reaching out to each of us with her inspiring and faith-filled stories. Rome, she said, was her favorite place in the world, and so we had several communications by e-mail about places I would visit during my time there. You are blessed to have been her close friend for (many) years, and we are fortunate that you have an archive of materials to share so she can continue to be with us and (we can be) inspired by her love for the Lord. – Affectionately, Celine”