holy thursday

It’s Not Easter Yet (or, If Your Lent Didn’t Go Well, There’s Still Time!)

cajuntexasmom Pray , , , , , ,

I know for some of us, our Lent chose us in the forms of physical or emotional or spiritual suffering. I know you’re hurting and sad and just want it to all be over. I also know if your Lent wasn’t as Lenty as you’d hoped – if, like me, you failed miserably in your chosen disciplines – you have a chance now to focus on the present.

Live as fully as you can in the spirit of these holiest of days. We’re all busy and we’re all overwhelmed, I know, but look for opportunities in the midst of your vocation to live these days well. If you can, try and make it to some or all of the beautiful Masses and services. These are the highest days in our liturgical year and the rituals we’ll celebrate have been handed down to us as a gift from our beautiful Church. They are powerful and opportunities for such grace.

Easter Triduum Catholic

Continue reading →

A Peek Into Our Holy Week

cajuntexasmom Motherhood, Pray , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As you begin to make plans for Holy Week with kids in your domestic church, I thought I’d share what has worked for us as a family over the years. Some of what follows is flexible and subject to change each year based on our schedules, kids’ ages and temperaments, and parental level of exhaustion, but this is the general outline of what Holy Week looks like for us as a Catholic family.  Thoughts in red are new things we plan to implement with the kids this liturgical year!

Holy Week

Palm Sunday/Monday/Tuesday – Clean the house, top to bottom, to prepare our home for the Triduum and Easter. On Sunday, we will read this new book from Michele Chronister that I purchased last week. The explanations of the Liturgies of Holy Week are written for probably 5-7 years olds, but the lovely illustrations will delight kids of any age, and the simple summaries of each Liturgy are a great jumping off point for deeper discussions with older kids.

Spy Wednesday – Hide 30 pieces of “silver” (quarters) around the house to remember that the day before Holy Thursday, Judas betrayed Our Lord for 30 pieces of silver. Once the kids find them all, they can put them in the box for the poor at Church tomorrow evening. I shamelessly stole this idea from Catholic All Year. SHAMELESSLY. Continue reading →