On Easter Day
Easter lilies, Can you hear
What they whisper, low and clear?
In dewy fragrance they unfold
Their splendor sweet, their snow and gold.
Every beauty-breathing bell
News of heaven has to tell.
Listen to their mystic voice,
Hear, oh mortal, and rejoice!
Hark, their soft and heavenly chime!
Christ is risen for all time!
Happy and Blessed Easter!
He Is Risen!
A video celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord.
H/T: Sacred Heart
The Easter Vigil
Since I have been married with children, I have not been able to attend the Easter Vigil Mass. Each year I have wanted to, but as a mother to so many little ones, and the Mass being so late, I have not been able to. Maybe someday when the kids are a little older. Anyhow, I was so excited last year, when a friend of ours filmed the Mass. (We don’t have any TV reception, so watching EWTN hasn’t been an option.) I thought I would share the videos with you all as well, since I was watching them today. OK… Back to coloring eggs with the kids! 🙂
Highlights of Easter Vigil Mass:
The Litany of the Saints:
Easter Vigil Sermon:
The Easter Story ~ Resurrection Cookies
I always love finding fun things to do with my kids in the kitchen. Especially when it can turn into a “hands-on” lesson that the kids can relate to. This cookie recipe is full of symbolism, and is such a fun way to reinforce the true meaning of Easter. Our family will be making these cookies later this afternoon, and we have made them each Holy Saturday for the last few years! The kids just love it! Have a very Blessed Holy Saturday!
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar, plus some for your children to taste
3 egg whites
pinch salt, plus some for your children to taste
1 cup sugar, plus some for your children to taste
Tools: rolling pin or wooden spoon, plastic baggie with a zipper-lock, scotch tape, Douay-Rheims Bible
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. (this in important – don’t wait until you are halfway done with the recipe!) Place pecans in the plastic baggie and let children beat them with a rolling pin or wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3: “And they came to him, and said: Hail, king of the Jews; and they gave him blows.”
Let each child smell and taste some vinegar. Put vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30. “Afterwards, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst. Now there was a vessel set there full of vinegar. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar and hyssop, put it to his mouth. Jesus therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said: It is consummated. And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.”
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep.”
Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it as you put the tsp. salt into the bowl and explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27 “And there followed him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented him.”
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add the sugar to the egg whites, and give some for your children to taste. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 33:9 (34:8 in Bibles with Masoretic numbering) and John 3:16. “O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopeth in him… …For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.”
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18, ” And then come, and accuse me, saith the Lord: if your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as crimson, they shall be white as wool.”
Then read John 3:1-3, “And there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him: Rabbi, we know that thou art come a teacher from God; for no man can do these signs which thou dost, unless God be with him.” Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet (do not use a baking stone!). Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.
Read Mathew 27:57-60 “And when it was evening, there came a certain rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate, and asked the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded that the body should be delivered. And Joseph taking the body, wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth. And laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the monument, and went his way.”
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.
Read Matthew 27:65-66 “Pilate saith to them: You have a guard; go, guard it as you know. And they departing, made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting guards.”
GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20-22 “Amen, amen I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labour, hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. So also you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you.”
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matthew 28:1-9 “And in the end of the sabbath, when it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. And behold there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. And his countenance was as lightning, and his raiment as snow. And for fear of him, the guards were struck with terror, and became as dead men. And the angel answering, said to the women: Fear not you; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come, and see the place where the Lord was laid. And going quickly, tell ye his disciples that he is risen: and behold he will go before you into Galilee; there you shall see him. Lo, I have foretold it to you. And they went out quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, running to tell his disciples. And behold Jesus met them, saying: All hail. But they came up and took hold of his feet, and adored him.”
Love’s Wordless Response:
Good Friday
(While looking for a Good Friday image online, I ran across this one here. This is the Carmelite Chapel where 2 of my brother-in-laws said their first Mass, and another one, Captain’s Godfather, will in May! Captain will also be making his first communion then as well, God willing!)
Stabat Mater
At the cross her station keeping
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
all His bitter anguish bearing
now at length the sword had passed.
Oh, how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother highly blessed,
of the sole-begotten One!
Christ above in torment hangs,
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying, glorious Son.
Is there one who would not weep,
‘whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ’s dear Mother to behold?
Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother’s pain untold?
Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
she beheld her tender Child
All with scourges rent.
For the sins of His own nation,
saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.
O sweet Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord.
Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ, my Lord.
Holy Mother! pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Savior crucified.
Let me share with thee His pain,
who for all our sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.
Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live.
By the Cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
is all I ask of thee to give.
Virgin of all virgins blest!,
Listen to my fond request:
let me share thy grief divine;
Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.
Wounded with His every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned,
in His very Blood away;
Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in His awful Judgment Day.
Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
by Thy Mother my defense,
by Thy Cross my victory;
While my body here decays,
may my soul Thy goodness praise,
safe in paradise with Thee. Amen.
Hot Cross Buns!
“The Hot Cross Bun is the most famous, and probably the oldest, of the many English buns. Unlike today, when it is to be found throughout Lent, the Hot Cross Bun was originally eaten only on Good Friday. According to tradition, Father Rocliff, a monk and the cook of St. Alban’s Abbey, in Hertfordshire, on Good Friday in 1361 gave to each poor person who came to the abbey one of these spiced buns marked with the sign of the cross, along with the usual bowl of soup. The custom was continued and soon spread throughout the country – though no other buns could compare, it was said, with Father Rocliff’s. Hot Cross Buns became enormously popular in England in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Street cries were commonly heard on Good Friday:”
Hot Cross buns, Hot Cross buns,
One a penny, two a penny,
Hot Cross buns!If your daughters won’t eat them,
Give them to your sons;
But if you have none of those little elves,
Then you must eat them all yourselves!
(From A Continual Feast by Evelyn Birge Vitz, page 190)
My cookbook does have the recipe for making Hot Cross Buns… However, I was pretty exhausted after all my Spring/Easter Cleaning, and I wasn’t feeling quite up to baking. Plus, I never made it into town–our little local town didn’t have any–Soooo, THANK YOU to a few of my sweet siblings for picking some up for us yesterday!!
The Divine Mercy Novena Begins Today
Jesus asked St. Faustina, that the Feast of the Divine Mercy–which is the Sunday following Easter–be preceded by a Novena of Chaplets to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. There is a special intention for each day of the novena.
In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:
“On each day of the novena you will bring to My Heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy… On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls. By this novena I will grant every possible grace to souls.” (Diary 1209, 796)
How to Pray the Divine Mercy ChapletStart: the Crucifix
1. Make the Sign of the Cross.
Optional opening prayer:
“You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
(3 times) O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!”
1. Pray the Our Father.
2. Pray the Hail Mary.
3. Recite the Apostles’ Creed.On the large bead before each of the five decades (set of ten prayers):
“Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”
On each small “Hail Mary” bead:
“For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
After five decades, conclude by saying three times:
“Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” (This prayer is based on the Trisagion of the Eastern tradition.)
Optional concluding prayers:
“Eternal God, in Whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen.”
If you don’t have your rosary handy, you can click here, and pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at the computer!
The Easter Triduum
The Easter Triduum begins tonight with the Mass of the Last Supper and ends with evening prayer on Easter Sunday. I can’t believe Lent has flown by so fast, and Easter is almost here! Maybe it is due to Easter being so early this year. Anyhow, I thought I would take a second and share our plans for the next few days.
Holy Thursday:
- Our candle is lit in living room & has been all week.
- Read Bible Story for today and place symbol on Jesus Tree.
- Since today is also called Green Thursday, lunch will be spinach noodles and veggies.
- Read John 13:1-15.
- Story time: Through the Eyes of John
- Make or Buy Hot Cross Buns for Tomorrow.
- For dinner ~ Mexican Restaurant with relatives.
- 7 pm ~ Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Good Friday:
- Candle lit in living room.
- Fast (adults), abstain (kids).
- Read Bible Story for today and place symbol on Jesus Tree.
- Hot cross buns for breakfast.
- Story time: The Little Rose of Sharon & Children’s Stations of the Cross
- Create a page for our Liturgical Notebooks while listening to The Passion of Christ (We have been listening to this all lent and my kids LOVE it!)
- Blow out candle in living room.
- 3:00 at Church: Passion & Veneration of the Cross.
- Don’t forget to bring Rice Bowls to Church!
- Purchase Easter lilies while in town.
- Hubby & I will watch The Passion of the Christ after the kids are in bed.
Holy Saturday:
- Read Bible Story for today and place symbol on Jesus Tree.
- Decorate Easter eggs.
- Make Easter Candy–I bought a really neat kit for this!
- Make Resurrection Cookies.
- Decorate Paschal Candle.
- Hubby & Boys will clean out Fire Place (since there is no light/fire in it today).
- Prepare food for tomorrow.
- Prepare clothing for tomorrow.
- Easter Vigil Prayers at Home.
- Assemble Easter baskets and hide eggs after the kids are in bed.
Easter Sunday:
- Early Mass.
- Light Pascal Candle.
- Read Bible Story for today and place symbol on Jesus Tree.
- Easter Baskets for kids.
- Brunch at home.
- Indoor Easter Egg hunt.
- Dinner at Rascal’s Godparents home.
We are also doing an easy little craft that I found in The Fifty Days of Easter for the Christian Family that you could still start today… I have been meaning to post about it, but got sidetracked with my Spring/Easter Cleaning. It is a Caterpillar/Cocoon/Butterfly project. On Palm Sunday, you create a caterpillar. I used these directions. We then placed the caterpillar on the school table, where the kids have been looking at it all week. Tomorrow, Good Friday, we will place the caterpillar in a brown paper bag cocoon. After the kids go to bed on Saturday night, and I am decorating for Easter, I will depose of the caterpillar and replace it with a beautifully decorated butterfly. On Easter morning, the kids will open the cocoon to find the butterfly, which is a symbol of the Resurrection! This can then lead to a discussion about Jesus who rose from the dead, and in the future butterflies will remind them of our Resurrected Lord!
Next year I hope to do a Jonah project with the kids… We’ll see! 🙂
Does your family have any special Triduum traditions?
Spring is here!!
He likes to joke and play.
He turns umbrellas inside out
And blows men’s hats away.
He calls the pussy willows
And whispers in each ear,
“Wake up you lazy little seeds,
Don’t you know that spring is here.
~Author Unknown
Here are a few Spring worksheets/writing assignments
that we might try out.
Have a great Holy Thursday,
and Happy Spring!!!
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