This is a special week for those of us who are Catholic, as it marks Holy Week—or the Great Week. Here, Holy Thursday and Good Friday are designated as non-working days, extending the Easter weekend; however, specifically in my choral work, we have been granted the entire week off. It sounds lovely, but what lies ahead is a great deal of work starting next week, as we prepare for our 20th anniversary and other parallel commitments we are set to undertake in May. In the meantime, I would like to revisit some sublime photographic moments from two years ago—when we experienced Holy Week in Spain—and thus bring to a close this series of posts I have created to commemorate that trip...
If you read my blog, you know that during Holy Week 2024, I was on a concert tour in Spain with my choral ensemble. On Palm Sunday, we sang at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela; on Holy Monday, we sang at the Oviedo Philharmonic; on Holy Tuesday, we sang at the Pontifical University of Comillas; on Holy Wednesday, we sang at the Burgos Cathedral; and on Holy Saturday, we concluded the concert series at the Ateneo de Madrid. Although the repertoire was entirely sacred and the venues were steeped in history and sanctity, the sheer excitement of the trip made it difficult for me to feel truly immersed in my usual Holy Week rituals.
I took these photographs on the outskirts of Madrid, very close to the hotel where we were staying. Given how secluded the location was—and after four days of travel, concerts, and hotels—I suddenly found myself with my first day off in nine days of continuous work; I felt a profound sense of peace and tranquility that allowed me to let my guard down for a few moments. That cool afternoon held the threat of rain, so I took things easy while waiting for some special friends—for I truly hadn't stopped moving until then. However, I realized that it was Holy Week, and although I didn't go to church, I connected with God through prayer and nature. In fact, I am sharing only a few photos with you today, as it was an afternoon dedicated more to simply enjoying the moment.
That afternoon, we were looking for a nearby McDonald's—it was the quickest option so we could make the most of our time, catch the train, and head into central Madrid. I was with my closest friends and my wife, and I swear to you, everything was incredibly peaceful; there was practically no noise in the streets, though I could hear the sound of a few birds. There were no major architectural landmarks in the area, but some small details inspired me to take out my phone and capture a few images—the very ones I am sharing with you in this post for the 106th edition of the Phone Photography Contest.
That very day, I experienced a special evening in the company of some friends from here on Hive who traveled all the way to Madrid to meet up with us. And although I didn't spend my time participating in processions or attending a Mass where I wasn't singing, I feel that the love I felt for my wife, my friends, and my surroundings was a manifestation of that love which defines us as Christians. I believe these photos reflect the peace I’m speaking of, so today is the perfect day to share them with you.
Today, I write these words from a place so far removed from where I took these photos—I don't even remember what the area was called, though I intend to look it up. I also plan to track down some photographs I took of the hotel, which I hope to share in the next edition of the contest. Yet, even though I am no longer there, the feeling has stayed with me ever since. In recent years, I have learned to appreciate everything—the beautiful, the bad, the sublime, the pain—everything! It is all part of life, and we must embrace it—especially other people, no matter how different or distant they may seem.
For now, I bid you farewell—and I bid farewell to the month of March, to the first quarter of the year, and to the first quarter of my life that I have truly felt I controlled through discipline. I feel at peace with myself right now, and that is why I wanted to write and share something beautiful—something that captures this particular chapter of my life. Right now, I am savoring these days of quiet sanctity, stepping away from the intense workload we experienced back then—a time that was, nonetheless, so perfect that a sense of gratitude has remained within me forever 🙏 Thank you so much for reading and for your support...
