It’s hard to believe that it’s been seven years now since our first Lenten Dinner which was originally inspired by Alice’s Lenten Teas. These have definitely become a favorite Lenten tradition in our home. As our children get older I’ve had to be a little more creative to fit them in our full schedule. This year our Thursdays are especially full with tutors, piano lessons and more, so we moved our usual Holy Thursday Dinner to after Mass on Palm Sunday which worked out nicely. I pulled out a couple books about Palm Sunday (The Donkey and the Golden Light and Little Colt’s Palm Sunday) and set them on the counter. It didn’t take long for someone to pick one up to start reading! I also surprised the little ones with some new Easter Blessing Blocks from Almond Rod Toys. I know I’ve posted about these every year, but we love to look back and see the changes we have made from year to year.
~ Palm on the Road ~
I picked up a jar of Hearts of Palm from Trader Joe’s to include in a salad.
“And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields.” Mk. 11:8
~ Costly Oil ~
For dressing we used balsamic vinegar and some “costly oil”.
“And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” Mk. 14:9
~ Thirty Pieces of Silver ~
Our children gave up candy for Lent this year, but since we ended up having this Lenten Dinner on Sunday they were all excited to enjoy the 30 Chocolate Coins (3-4 each) for dessert.
“Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.” Mt. 25: 14-15
~ Unleavened Bread ~
Like last year, and to keep it simple for myself, I picked up a package of Naan since my family loves it, although technically it is a leavened bread… It was perfect to serve with either the Chicken Soup.
“And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the passover lamb, his disciples said to Him, ‘Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?'” Mk. 14:12
~ The Mount of Olives ~
This year’s Mount of Olives was a couple cans of Black Olives.
“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Mk. 14:26
~ The Cock Crows Twice ~
I baked a couple chickens and fed my family with them twice! 🙂
On Saturday I roasted two chickens (along with parsnips and carrots) for dinner… Then on Sunday I used all the remaining meat and the remnants of one of the chickens to make a large pot of Chicken Soup for the Lenten Dinner. (The remnants of the second chicken went into the crock pot to be used for making bone broth.)
As
I mentioned last week, I’ve been on a special autoimmune elimination diet (AIP) which really limits what I can eat, but there was still plenty included in this menu that I could enjoy: Salad (minus the tomatoes) with the Oil and Vinegar, a few Garlic Stuffed Green Olives (I passed on the black olives), and a big bowl of Chicken soup filled with lots of extra veggies (turnips, celery, onions, carrots and leeks). I made sure to fill a smaller pot with some soup for myself (with enough for lunch the next day) before adding noodles for the rest of the family. Yummm! I need to get back to Costco to pick up a couple more Organic Chickens!
“And Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.'” Mk. 14:30
~ Gethsemane Figs ~
“And they went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here, while I pray.'” Mk. 14:32
~ Sleepy Apostles ~
Last year (as suggested by Jennifer Anne) I served Sleepytime Tea after dinner, and I did enjoy some myself this year, but for the rest of the family my husband suggested serving Mochas (or hot cocoa for the little ones) after dinner to “Keep those Sleepy Apostles awake!” I love it!!
“And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?” Mk. 14:37
One Hershey Kiss each to represent Judas’ Kiss.
“And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, ‘Master!’ And he kissed him.” Mk. 14:45
~ The Clouds of Heaven ~
We topped the Mochas with whipped cream…
“And Jesus said, ‘I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'” Mk. 14:62
… and sprinkled on a few mini marshmallows for Peter’s Tears.
“And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.” Mk. 14:72
The girls set the table and the boys helped prepare the soup and salad.
I printed off some new little card stock signs, this year on red card stock for Palm Sunday.
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You can download my document over at Scribd.) During dinner my husband read the sermon for the day from Sermons of the Curé of Ars after the children read all the bible verses for each menu item.
This year our older boys came up with LEGO creations for Holy Week and Easter, instead of the Playmobil scenes they’ve created in the past! I’m hoping to gather all the pictures into one post to share, but here’s a little peek what they were working on for Palm Sunday.
Prayer of Mothers
Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.
Jessica, I tried to figure out how to access your Lenten Supper cards on scribd but I wasn't successful. Is there another way? I am so illiterate with computer stuff:(
2015-04-08 18:40:09
I'm sorry you've had trouble downloading the cards. I just emailed them to you using the email address used with your comment! Let me know if they didn't come through. Happy Easter!
2015-04-08 19:06:28
I always love seeing these! They are so fun. We don't do all of them, but my kids love doing them on Good Friday and the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Thanks so much for posting!
2015-04-08 19:06:45
I love the Sermon book of the Cure of Ars. I need to pull out ours again, what a great reminder.
2015-04-08 20:07:15
Hi Jessica! I would love to have your file too The scribd doesn't work for me
2016-03-09 22:13:19
Hi Elena! I just uploaded the document to my dropbox here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xfet16suolcp3ag/Holy-Th…
2016-03-16 07:32:31
Can I ask you where your dining room table is from? I am looking for one that big,
2016-03-11 08:19:43
Hi Tammi! We ordered it from a local furniture store. It's a version of the Hillside Village Table from Intercon.
2016-03-16 07:35:16
I did this a few years ago and am going to do it again this year. Thank you so much for this inspiration and making it free! I am going to do the dinner portion on Palm Sunday and the hot tea (chocolate) in the afternoon before Holy Thursday Mass.