Liturgical Living: Holy Week and Easter Ideas

It's been a long year for everyone (2020-2021). I felt amongst my friends a sense that we all NEEDED Lent. To take a step back from everything and reset our focus on our personal journey with Christ. No field trips, less run around, and significantly reduced input from media to block the way. Next week is Holy Week, and my little teacher light went on in my head that I should get back into some planning for our Liturgical Living in Holy Week and the Easter Season. I must admit, I've loved the calm so much, I think I'll be rehashing plenty of old favorite activities and traditions. I understand some may be on lockdown, so I included as much as possible from my experience last year. So here you go, my mind at work in the form of a blog post of what we might do this season, or save for next year. No mom does it all, seriously, so only fill your basket half full! This post is the motherload of hidden eggs.

HOLY WEEK

From the last week of the amazing, free lesson plan LENT JOURNEY FOR FAMILIES {Link} I began this blog, and then added a heaping of so much more. Peep on below for lots of pictures.

Do you have a prayer altar at home? This would be a good week to set one up. Our family has several around the house to stop and reflect with Jesus awhile. For those on lockdown, maybe one right under the TV or near the computer you watch Mass on.

PASSIONTIDE is the week before Holy Week and it is tradition to cover our crucifixes,  and some cover Holy images too, to arouse our senses to a yearning for heaven. They are uncovered in Good Friday. I used scarves and veils.

A good read this Holy Week for women is "A Walk in Her Sandals" by Kelly Wahlquist {link} if you haven't read it yet. Over the years I've created a small selection of books to pick back up during lent.

PALM SUNDAY

For those in lockdown: Our family really brought the Hallelujah to life in our home on Palm Sunday. We processed into our family room where we would watch the Mass, waving our palms and carrying candles for our makeshift home altar on the coffee table.

I had everything laid out in the kitchen before hand. Our church had a drive thru pickup of palms. We are looking forward to waving them amongst friends in church this year. Oh the joy!

Don't forget the exercise mat or garden pad kneeler. Not quiet like being in the church.

Activity: Take a picture of your church, a statue, stained glass window, or religious art hung up in your parish or home.  Print out the picture and write what made you choose that image.  What about that image moves your heart towards God?

Art: Before your palms dry out, quick look up on line a way to fold them into something smaller to have around your home for the next year. I really enjoy making Palm Roses. We watch online video tutorials because sometimes a picture isn't enough to get it right.

Art: Hosanna Palms & Feet. Trace your hands on green paper for palms and feet for the face of the donkey. Glue on paper or googly eyes. Fill in the details as you'd like. 

 

MONDAY

Writing: Choose song lyrics that inspire you regarding God’s Mercy, Love, and Forgiveness.  Play the song and write the lyrics or chorus. Write about how it inspires you.

We take the Crosses We Bear and turn them into Rosary Hangers

  Ask your children to carry a wooden cross with them for the Lent or Holy Week. At times it will be hard or bothersome. It may get worn, dented, scratched or colored on. When asked to do something, they take their “cross” with them and offer it up. When they are wondering if they should do something questionable, such as watch a tv program, they need to ask themselves - “Would Jesus want to do this with me?” If the answer is no, then stop.   At Easter, we will take a good look at our crosses and talk about it. Then we will grab bright paints or decoupage with tissue paper, painting our crosses to look bright and new as Jesus’ body on Easter morning when he rose from the dead. Attach hooks near the bottom and use these as rosary hangers.

" When you carry a Rosary, Satan has a headache.

When you use it, he collapses.

When he sees you praying it, he faints."

TUESDAY 

Reflect: Read Luke 9:23-25 then write verse 23:“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

We drew crosses on our wrists to remind us of the wounds of Jesus, and that we too must carry our cross. This was a very powerful moment for everyone young and old.

Journal: Then read about the crucifixion in Matthew 27:31-35. What crosses (challenges) do you bear that you can offer up to God? Ask Him for healing and serenity (acceptance). Write about it in your journal.

WEDNESDAY 

Copywork: “O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy.”  ~Prayer of Fatima. 

Art: Find an Our Lady of Fatima image to paste or draw on a journal page.

Snack on some prayer pretzels and fruits of prayer today.

EASTER TRIDUUM

HOLY THURSDAY

Activity: Attend a service at your church. Otherwise, you may have a family scripture reading about the Passion of Jesus Christ while you eat a supper of unleavened bread and grapes. A good prayer to pray  together would be the Anima Christi.

RECIPE: Holy Thursday Bread

Let me be your servant too! One of the most touching moments we had was washing the feet of our children. My husband came by with warm water filled with bath oil and essential oils, and then dried their feet. I came by and rubbed them with lotion and prayed over them, looking into their eyes. Neither of us said a word, as music filled in the quiet of the room. Then my husband and I did the same for each other. Awwww.

Watch: The Passion of the Christ, or an age appropriate film about it.

Reflect: Write about a moment in the movie that moved you, stirring your emotions or compelling you to do something.

Build: A puzzle with the family, like this Last Supper puzzle. 

GOOD FRIDAY

Keep them busy:  Have your littles build a grotto for your table crucifix.

Math: A little homeschool lesson in Roman Numerals, we wrote in our journals about the Stations of the Cross. Math lesson... check.

Coloring the Stations: 13 Jesus is taken down from the cross. 14 Buried in the tomb. These can be copies from a coloring book or your own drawings. Reflect on the image, what it was like for Mary, John and the others to grieve the loss of Jesus. What makes you sad? What are you passionate about? How do your emotions/feelings direct your life?

Stations of the Cross Montessori Kits: Play a matching game of the Stations of the Cross with card sized images. Or maybe you have a Stations or Resurrection Egg Set {link} that has little tokens that remind the child of each station? 

Activity: Attend a service at your church, pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, or the prayer of Divine Mercy at 3pm. Our parish has a LIVING STATIONS and a CHILDREN's STATIONS we're excited to attend.

Some friends met up with us for Stations of the Cross posted in the parking lot last year, and then a rosary at the cemetery. It's the little things.

 

Meal: This was a special fish friday meal we made in Lent. However, it is also common to fast from all food this day. Which ever you choose, do it well. I personally intend to fast from after Holy Thur supper until Holy Sat supper. That meal will be very light, to prepare for the Feast on Sunday.

HOLY SATURDAY

Read: 12 Things to Know About Holy Saturday by National Catholic Register

 "On Holy Saturday the Church is, as it were, at the Lord's tomb, meditating on his passion and death, and on his descent into hell, and awaiting his resurrection with prayer and fasting. It is highly recommended that on this day the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer be celebrated with the participation of the people. Where this cannot be done, there should be some celebration of the Word of God, or some act of devotion suited to the mystery celebrated this day. Fasting is also encouraged, but not required, on this day." - from Paschales Solemnitatis

 So save the Easter Celebrations for the 50 Days of Easter!

 Activity:  Here's a few ideas to do with your family during the day.

Dye Eggs.

Make a floral arrangement.

Visit a Cemetery.

Decorate an Easter Candle.

Make yeast breads

Pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the Conversion of Souls near death

Pray a Rosary for the Souls in Purgatory

Tidy the House

Meditate on the 7 Sorrows of Mary.

Read the Hours of the Passion.

Listen to Gregorian Chant

Read about Redemptive Suffering

Visit the Elderly, Shut In or Imprisoned

Watch a movie, such as:

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

The Robe (1953)

Ben Hur (2016)

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Narnia series

The Chosen TV series

Any movie about the saints

 

Dying Eggs: After all these years, I finally found the least messy way to color an egg. Add food coloring to a bag of rice. Toss in your cooked egg, mix into other bags for a marbled look. Easy peasy!

From this to this!

or you can still do it the old fashioned, messy way...

with one kid

or many!

I'm crafty, but I have a hard time with messes. Depending upon my mood, we either get colored eggs or devilled eggs. I'm hoping this year I'll be up to trying naturally dyed eggs. Nah! haha 

 

And what do you do with all those egg cartons? Make a flower wreath, silly! Or rather, have your kids do it. Of course, they'll want to save this as a Mother's Day gift, because that's right around the corner... ahem.

Devour the Tomb: A new fun family tradition we made up, is to make a rice kripie bar tomb for Holy Saturday. We closed it up with a holy card of a crucified Jesus. Then I snuck in a risen Jesus holy card inside so when the kids moved the stone he was there. After the Easter Vigil Mass, we dug in because Jesus conquered death!

NEW TRADITION!

Activity: Consider attending the Easter Vigil. It is an incredible experience at church or within your home. Typically there is a lot of candle light in the first part, so when we were on lockdown I was sure to have every single candle I owned lit. Unfortunately, they were all scented to we were glad for the moment to blow them all out. Something to consider if you're preparing ahead of time.

I just love this part.

 

We also enjoy Easter Sunday Mass. Last year in lockdown, this was our prayer table.

Have you had "Resurrection Rolls" before? You might want to look it up!

 Sacrifice Beans turn into Jelly Beans! The one visitor the night before Easter we do have is Jesus. He comes to see our Sacrifice Jar full of dried beans, one for each good deed or sacrifice we made during Lent. Jesus replaces all those beans with sweet jelly beans, a sweet reward for our efforts. Perhaps a spring bunny may tag along and leave a few treats around the house to find too!

EASTER SUNDAY

Second to Christmas, I think Easter wins the Mom pulls out all the stops kind of holiday. I love feminine, pretty things. So I was thrilled to have a lovely tea and hard baked easter egg and fruit breakfast.

From this to this - Fancy Ham and Eggs

We Light up our Easter Tree

 

This is made from a light up tree, adding silk flowers on the ends for a cherry blossom look. Conceal cord in the vase with faux eggs and embellish vase with vinyl stickers. 

Paschal Candle with Crown of Thorns changed into a King's Crown!

 

 If you made a salt-dough crown of thorns, Easter is the perfect time to paint it up bright for a centerpiece. We added tissue paper lilies and a paschal candle.

Yes, I went all out!

We also do Traditional Easter Baskets and An Egg Hunt

 

Each year I do something different for their Easter Baskets. Usually I like to get them a new pail for their sandbox or carrying their favorite toys around. Inside is treats, socks, a toy, new crayons, or maybe a new Christian/Catholic movie. Simple - I like simple and homemade if possible.

 

Color coded Easter Egg Hunts are the best. Everyone collects the color egg that matches their basket. Everyone has the same number of eggs, so it's fair and easy to account for missing eggs. There is one Golden Egg that has a bonus gift including cash and other treasures.

Then we release the TEENAGER BUNNIES to hide the eggs and toy rabbits!

Anyone can hunt eggs, but can you hunt eggs while carrying huge stuffed bunnies you also found? The person with the most bunnies gets a prize. This is one you have to watch garage sales and after Easter sales for all those unwanted toy bunnies and have a place to store them. We've played inside and outside, and both are equally as fun.

Just because he's so darn handsome.

Enjoy a Game of Alleluia from Catholic Family Crate

EASTER MONDAY

If you're not too tired from all the celebrations, it would be good to start sharing all that Good News! Last year we made a huge batch of happy cards to send to a local nursing home and their staff.

We also took to the streets with our joy and decorated driveways, sidewalks, and even our Priests' home driveway with messages and drawings.

Well, I hope you're not overwhelmed but actually made it this far with a page full of notes or a click of the print button. Thanks! 

I love sharing what I can so your mom brain can take a rest.

Happy Easter! Jesus Christ is risen and will come again!

Nurturing Relationships in Hospitality and Prayer

 

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near" (Heb 10:23-24, RSV). 

It is on my heart to share with you why, in a time of being told to distance ourselves, we should nurture our relationships with prayer and hospitality. I’d like to first touch on what our faith has to say about these things. Secondly, I’d like to share with you a wonderful way to put this into action: The Holy Family Prayer Cenacle. A prayer group with leader guide and prayer guides to make it easy to begin.

{LINK TO A PRINTABLE FILE - HOLY FAMILY CENACLE GUIDE}

ABOUT PRAYER & RELATIONSHIPS

“I used to pray that God would feed the hungry, or do this or that, but now I pray that he will guide me to do whatever I'm supposed to do, what I can do. I used to pray for answers, but now I'm praying for strength. I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us and we change things.” - Saint (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta

Jesus came to teach us a great many things, including how to pray in love, in manner and in intentions.

“In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

“This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” Matthew 6:7-15 

The Our Father has been a treasured and most perfect prayer for all Christians. It’s more than a prayer to recite, but also a guide to the order of all prayer. It begins with praise and thanksgiving. It expresses hope in the eternal, and trusting in God each day. It encourages us to show mercy and seek forgiveness. It seeks protection from sinful temptations. Do you notice, it doesn’t include petitions, because they are fulfilled through a trust in God and protection from sin. The verse before states that God the Father already knows our needs before we ask them. Shortly after this verse he reiterates our need to trust and be free of anxieties.

^“Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” Matthew 6:26-34

“Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.” ~ Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

This is not to say that prayers of petition and requests for intercession are unnecessary. It’s the next part of the conversation, which we have as we form a relationship with God, and the communion of saints. Would you go to a stranger and tell them all your problems and desires? First you get to know each other. Do you know much about God? Have you been still and listened to him (Ps 46:10)? This relationship with God grows to be valued above all others, all things, all wants, all worries. Someone to lean on, but that He can turn back to rely on you. We let Him love us and we return that love.  It is a most precious friendship.

“For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.” ~ Saint (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta

When in friendship with Jesus, we learn to express our love and fidelity in a variety of ways.  There are different expressions of prayer:  thanksgiving, offering, contemplative, intercessory, petition, recitation, praise, adoration, and even in the stillness of our hearts our prayer continues. The Rosary is a combination of prayers and reflections that engage us in several expressions of prayer.

"A similar need for commitment and prayer arises in relation to another critical contemporary issue: the family, the primary cell of society, increasingly menaced by forces of disintegration on both the ideological and practical planes, so as to make us fear for the future of this fundamental and indispensable institution and, with it, for the future of society as a whole. The revival of the Rosary in Christian families, within the context of a broader pastoral ministry to the family, will be an effective aid to countering the devastating effects of this crisis typical of our age." St. Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae 6