Humbled yet proud

Last week I spoke quite a bit about how I wanted to make our Holy Week holy. I had projects lined up. Not overwhelming and complicated projects but simple, Passion-centered little things every day. I wanted to pray the Stations of the Cross daily and on Good Friday start (and for once actually complete) the Divine Mercy novena. Oh yeah, and I wanted the tv to be kept off. I thought maybe I was expecting too much and wasn't sure how it was all going to go. I talked to Ruby Red about the week and my plans and the little stinker has held me accountable on every single one! We actually did all that I set out to do and my husband told me it was the holiest week he's ever had. I was glowing when he told me this, as if he had just told me I looked thin or my hair was perfect.

I was brought to tears several times that week as Ruby Red would tell us it was her turn to pray at one of the Stations, repeating my husband line by line and becoming so engrossed in the way of the Cross. When we started the chaplet for the novena on friday she quickly caught on to the prayers. With both, when either my husband or I was tired and hoping to kind of glaze right over our prayer commitments, she would remind us that we hadn't prayed yet. And how could I tell her we weren't going to? Her innocence and eagerness was humbling for me and I was beaming seeing her openly display her love for Our Lord.

I share this because our little ones want to learn. They want to be close to Jesus. If we teach our faith to them and bring it into our home, instead of just leaving it for the next Sunday, they will, even at a young age, learn that He comes first and they will hold you to the standards you want in your home. I hope you all had a truly holy Easter and continue to do so as we continue to celebrate His Resurrection!

50 Days of Easter prayers

To go along with the 50 days of Easter where we will hang 50 Easter eggs in our front window, our family has chosen to put prayers that coincide with the Mass readings of the day to be said before bedtime with the girls. Please feel free to use!

1. The Lord has risen from the dead, as he foretold. Let there be hapiness and rejoicing for he is our King forever, alleluia. Chist now raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has power over Him, alleluia.  Mt 28:14-25

2. If men desire wisdom, she will give them the water of knowledge to drink. They will never waver from the truth; they will stand firm forever, alleluia. If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, alleluia. Jn 20: 11-18

3. Come you whom my Father has blessed; inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world, alleluia. The disciples recognized the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread, alleluia. Lk 24: 13-35

4. Your people praised your great victory, O Lord. Wisdom opened the mouth that was dumb, and made the tongues of babies speak, alleluia. You are a people God claims as his own, to praise Him who called you out of darkness into marvelous light, alleluia. Lk 24: 35-48

5. The Lord led His people out of slavery. He drowned their enemies in the sea, alleluia. Jesus said to His disciples: Come and eat. And He took the bread, and gave it to them, alleluia. Jn 21: 1-14

6. The Lord led his people to freedom and they shouted with joy and gladness, alleluia. All you who have been baptized have been clothed in Christ, alleluia. Mk 16: 9-15

7. Jesus spoke to Thomas: Put your hand here, and see the place of the nails. Doubt no longer, but believe, alleluia. Jn 20: 19-31

 Almighty God, may the Easter sacraments we have received live forever in our minds and our hearts. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

8. I will look after my sheep, says the Lord, and I will raise up one shepherd who will pasture them. I, the Lord, will be their God, alleluia. You have not chosen me; I have chosen you. Go and bear fruit that will last, alleluia. Jn 3: 1-8

9. The Lord chose these holy men for their unfeigned love, and gave them eternal glory, alleluia. Lord, let us see the Father, and we shall be content. And Jesus said: Philip, he who sees me, sees the Father, alleluia. Jn 14: 6-14

10. I will be a witness to you in the world, O Lord. I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers, alleluia. The Lord says, I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last, alleluia. Jn 3:16-21

11. When you walked at the head of your people, O God, and lived with them on their journey, the earth shook at your presence, and the skies poured forth their rain, alleluia. I, the Lord, am with you always, until the end of the world, alleluia. Jn 3: 31-36

12. By your blood, O Lord, you have redeemed us from every tribe and tongue, from every nation and people: you have made us into the kingdom of God, alleluia. Christ our Lord was put to death for our sins; and He rose again to make us worthy of life, alleluia. Jn 6: 1-15

13. You are a people God claims as His own, to praise Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, alleluia. Father, I want the men you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may see the glory you have given me, alleluia. Jn 6: 16-21

14. The disciples recognized the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread, alleluia. Lk 24: 13-35 Lord, look on your people with kindness and by these Easter mysteries bring us to the glory of the resurrection. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

15. The Good Shepherd is risen! He who laid down His life for His sheep, who died for His flock, He is risen, alleluia. The Lord says, peace I leave with you, my own peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give, alleluia. Jn 6: 22- 29

16. All you who fear God, both the great and the small, give praise to Him! For His salvation and strength have come, the power of Christ, alleluia. Because we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also come to life with Him, alleluia. Jn 6: 30-35

17. Fill me with your praise and I will sing your glory; songs of joy will be on my lips, alleluia. Christ has risen and shines upon us, whom He has redeemed by His blood, alleluia. Jn 6: 35-40

18. Let us sing to the Lord, He has covered Himself in glory! The Lord is my strength, and I praise Him: He is the Savior of my life, alleluia. Christ died for all, so that living men should not live for themselves, but for Christ who died and was raised to life for them, alleluia. Jn 6: 44-51

19. The Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive strenth and divinity, wisdom and power and honor, alleluia. The man who died on the Cross has risen from the dead, and has won back our lives from death, alleluia. Jn 6: 52-59

20. You have not chosen me; I have chosen you. Go and bear fruit that will last, alleluia. This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you, alleluia. Jn 15: 9-17

21. The Good Shepherd is risen! He who laid down His life for his sheep, who died for His flock, He is risen, alleluia. Jn 10: 1-10 Father, eternal Shepherd, watch over the flock redeemed by the blood of Christ and lead us to the promised land. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

22. Christ now raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has power over him, alleluia. Jesus came and stood among his disciples and said to them: Peace be with you, alleluia. Jn 10: 11-18

23. Let us shout out our joy and hapiness, and give glory to God, the Lord of all, because He is our King, alleluia. Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, and so enter into His glory, alleluia. Jn 10: 22-30

24. I will be a witness to You in the world, O Lord. I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers, alleluia. The Lord says, I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last, alleluia. Jn 12: 44-50

25. When you walked at the head of your people, O God, and lived with them on their journey, the earth shook at your presence and the skies poured forth their rain, alleluia. I, the Lord, am with you always, until the end of the world, alleulia. Jn 13: 16-20

26. By your blood, O Lord, you have redeemed us from every tribe and tongue, from every nation and people: you have made us into the kingdom of God, alleluia. Christ our Lord was put to death for our sins; and He rose again to make us worthy of life, alleluia. Jn 14: 1-6

27. You are a people God claims as His own, to praise Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, alleluia. Father, I want the men you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may see the glory you have given me, alleluia. Jn 14: 7-14

28. I am the vine and you are the branches, says the Lord; he who lives in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit, alleluia. Jn 14: 1-12 Merciful Father, may these mysteries give us new purpose and bring us to a new life in you. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

29. The Good Shepherd is risen! He who laid down His life for His sheep, who died for His flock, He is risen, alleluia. The Lord says, peace I leave with you, my own peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give, alleluia. Jn 14: 21-26

30. All you who fear God, both the great and the small, give praise to Him! For His salvation and strength have come, the power of Christ, alleluia. Because we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also come to life with Him, alleluia. Jn 14: 27-31a

31. Fill me with your praise and I will sing your glory; songs of joy will be on my lips, alleluia. Christ has risen and shines upon us, whom He has redeemed by His blood, alleluia. Jn 15: 1-8

32. The Spirit of God is upon me; He has anointed me. He sent me to bring good news to the poor, and to heal the broken-hearted, alleluia. I, the Lord, am with you always, until the end of the world, alleluia. Jn 15: 9-11

33. The Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive strength and divinity, wisdom and power and honor, alleluia. The man who died on the cross has risen from the dead, and has won back our lives from death, alleluia. Jn 15: 12-17

34. In baptism we have died with Christ, and we have risen to new life in Him, because we believed in the power of God who raised him from the dead, alleluia. Father, I pray for them: may they be one in us, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me, alleluia. Jn 15: 18-21

35. If you love me, keep my commandments, says the Lord. The Father will send you the Holy Spirit, to be with you forever, alleluia. Jn 14: 15-21 Almighty and ever-living Lord, you restored us to life by raising Christ from death. Strengthen us by this Easter sacrament; may we feel its saving power in our daily life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

36. Christ now raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has power over him, alleluia. Jesus came and stood among his disciples and said to them: Peace be with you, alleluia. Jn 15: 26- 16:4a

37. Come, all you who fear God, and hear the great things the Lord has done for me, alleluia. All generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is His name, alleluia. Lk 1: 39-56

38. The wicked tempted me with their fables against your law, but I proclaimed your decrees before kings without fear or shame, alleluia. I resolved that while I was with you I would think of nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, alleluia. Jn 16: 12-15

39. When you walked at the head of your people, O God, and lived with them on their journey, the earth shook at your presence, and the skies poured forth their rain, alleluia. I, the Lord, am with you always, until the end of the world, alleluia. Jn 16: 16-20

40. Come, you whom my Father has blessed; inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world, alleluia. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life, which grows in the paradise of my God, alleluia. Jn 16: 20-23

41. You are a people God claims as His own, to praise Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, alleluia. Father, I want the men you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may see the glory you have given me, alleluia. Jn 16: 23b-28

42. I, the Lord, am with you always, until the end of the world, alleluia. Mt 28: 16-20 Father, in this Eucharist, we touch the divine life you give to the world. Help us to follow Christ with love to eternal life where He is Lord forever and ever. Amen.

43. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You will be my witnesses to all the world, alleluia. The Lord said: I will not leave you orphans. I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice, alleluia. Jn 16: 29-33

44. I am the beginning and the end of all things. I have met death, but I am alive, and I shall live for eternity, alleluia. The Lord says, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things, and remind you of all I have said to you, alleluia. Jn 17: 1-11a

45. All nations, clap your hands. Shout with a voice of joy to God, alleluia. The Lord says: When the Holy Spirit comes to you, the Spirit whom I shall send, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me, and you also will be my witnesses, alleluia. Jn 17: 11b-19

46. Let us come to God's presence with confidence, because we will find mercy, and strength when we need it, alleluia. This is the word of Jesus: It is best for me to leave you; because if I do not go, the Spirit will not come to you, alleluia. Jn 17: 20-26

48. Christ loved us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and has made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father, alleluia. When the Spirit of truth comes, says the Lord, he will lead you to the whole truth, alleluia. Jn 21:15-19

49. This is the prayer of Jesus: that he who believes may become as one as He is one with the Father, alleluia. Jn 17: 1-11a God our Savior, hear us, and through this holy mystery give us hope that the glory you have given Christ will be given to the Church, his body, for He is Lord forever and ever. Amen.

50. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke of the great things God had done, alleluia. Jn 20: 19-23 Father, may the food we receive in the Eucharist help our eternal redemption. Keep within us the vigor of your Spirit and protect the gifts you have given to your Church. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Links for Holy Week

These are from the blog Catholic Icing, or at least linked somewhere in there. I'm posting them here for easy-to-get-to links.

We will probably be doing most of these during Holy week.
Pascal candle
Holy Week crafts

50 days has Easter

Holy Week and Easter Traditions

Our family has a few traditions that my husband and I have continued for our girls. Does your family have any traditions? If so, I would love to hear about them!

We keep Holy Week prayerful in our home. No TV unless it's religious. This might prove difficult for my two year old, who likes to earn movies or a half hour tv show after dinner, but we'll replace it with reading and preparing for Easter, doing some art and other activities.

This Lent we went to a Rosary play on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. I really wanted to take Ruby Red, thinking that she might actually "get" what Lent and Easter is all about. I have talked to her about Jesus' death and Resurrection, but it is so hard for a little 2 year old mind to comprehend it all (even a 26 year old mind!), so I thought it would be a nice idea to have her see it played out. I was afraid she would be frightened but she wasn't; just very interested.

I've been wanting to do the Stations of the Cross every Friday but so far something has always come up (horrible excuse!). We are really going to focus on them during Holy Week. Maybe the reminder and step-by-step of Jesus' Passion and Death so close will really help Ruby Red understand what we are focusing on and celebrating that week. This weekend we are going to color them together, praying them as we do. Here are our favorite kid-friendly Stations of the Cross (once you click on the link, scroll down to get to them). I posted others below, along with the prayers that I thought appropriate for Ruby Red. The others are so beautiful, but I a little too difficult for a 2 year old to color.

Stations of the Cross1
Stations 2
Stations 3
Stations of the Cross prayers



Pisanki

We also go to the Broadway Market downtown during Holy Week, a tradition carried on by my maternal grandparents, who we used to go with when we were young. Now I take the girls, along with my family to get some pussy willows, Pisanki (Polish Easter eggs), cross bread and of course, have a little treat for ourselves! In the past, we made our own Pisanki, but to be honest, until Ruby Red and Baby Blue are a little older, I really don't think it's worth the time and effort to do this with them. Instead we will color our Easter eggs on Good Friday, by dipping hard-boiled eggs in dye. I would love to try dye made from beet juice and other veggies. I have the instruction in a cookbook (I can post them if someone is interested), but somehow the Paas kit just seems easier. Maybe in a few years....

Holy Thursday:
I would like to go to as much of the Triduum leading up to Easter Sunday as we can make it to with the girls. Of course, if it seems to be too overwhelming or fruststrating I say better to have quality lessons and activities centered on the Passion and Resurrection here at home than be frustrated, so we'll see what happens!

We also visit 7 Churches after Holy Thursday Mass. This tradition probably began in Rome where early Christians visited the 7 major basilicas as penance (St John Lateran, St Peter, St Mary Major, St Paul outside-the-walls, St Lawrence outside-the-walls, St Sebastian outside-the-walls and the Holy Cross in Jerusalem). In our family, we start the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary at the 1st Church, do a decade at each of the next 5 Churches and finish the rosary at the 7th. This way we are keeping with the penitential tone and not getting distracted.

Good Friday:
We fast and abstain from meat! (I know that if you're pregnant you do not have to fast, but honestly there are days I almost do fast as a result of being too busy to eat. If I get nauseous, then I will have a little something, but not much. Scroll to the bottom of this post for exclusions for fasting.) We turn off all electronics, unplug the phone and maybe put on some solemn religious music. We try to keep noon-3pm very prayerful and quiet, even if the girls play quietly while we pray, read or journal. We will probably say the Divine Mercy Chaplet and/or the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. We end our time of prayer by going to Church for Good Friday services and kissing the Crucifix. Ruby Red is always excited for this, as she often looks up at the Crucifixes in our home to kiss Jesus' "boo boos" and make them better. She even has Baby Blue pointing at the Crucifixes and saying "please" in her own little sign language (actually the sign for "milk" haha. I'm so glad that she equates the Crucifix with milk, her comfort food).
After Church we get together with my side of the family to make our own fish fries, color Easter eggs, and make our butter lambs.
History of the Easter egg

Instructions for making a butter lamb:
1 lb of butter (but not a brick of butter, you want the 4 sticks of butter)
Red ribbon
2 cloves
a little red embroidery floss
mesh strainer
tooth picks

Take 1 stick of butter and lay it on your plate.

1. Cut a quater of another and put it near the end of the stick on your plate for the head.
2. Cut the remaining sticks of butter into quarters.
3. Work a quarter of butter at a time through the mesh strainer. Take off with a toothpick and place on your bare lamb that is on your plate.
4. Continue until you have a fluffy lamb. (Be sure to leave some empty space for the face.)
5. Put 2 cloves in for the eyes.
6. Cut a small piece of embroidery floss for the mouth.
7. Put a toothpick in the lamb's body.
8. Make a flag with red ribbon. Fold in half lengthwise and cut diagonally at one end. Fold in half the other way and make 2 slits on top of one another. Secure to toothpick.
9. Viola!

~Pictures to follow~

Holy Saturday:
We go to Confession and get our baskets blessed. In our Easter baskets, we have:
Butter Lamb (Baranek)- reminds us of the good will of Christ we should have towards all things.
Easter Bread- symbolizes Jesus, the Bread of Life.
Horseradish- symbolizes the bitter Passion of Jesus.
Eggs- symbolizes new life and Christ's resurrection from the tomb.
Polish sausage (Kielbasa)- symbolic of God's generosity.
Ham- symbolic of joy and abundance.
Salt (and Pepper)- a necessary element in our life. Symbolic of prosperity and justice.
Fruit (usually an apple and orange for us)
Placek (coffee cake)
Some people also put in a candle and greenery
Cover with a while linen cloth

Later that day we prepare for Easter Sunday. For us, this consists of decorating our house with all the activities we did that week. I don't like to decorate before this as I like to focus on sacrifice and Jesus' Passion during Holy Week. Beginning Easter Sunday up to Ascension Thursday, we take the next 40 days to celebrate the Resurrection.

Easter Sunday:
We go to Mass and celebrate our Lord's Resurrection, His triumph over death and our salvation!
Afterwards, we search for Easter baskets.
For our meal, Swieconka, the head of the household cuts an egg and shares it with the rest of the family, wishing them a blessed year. Then we all partake in the food which has been blessed the day before.

May you and your family have a holy and blessed Easter!


Exclusions from fasting and abstinence:
Besides those outside the age limits, those of unsound mind, the sick, the frail, pregnant or nursing women according to need for meat or nourishment, manual laborers according to need, guests at a meal who cannot excuse themselves without giving great offense or causing enmity and other situations of moral or physical impossibility to observe the penitential discipline.  (Taken from http://www.catholic.org/clife/lent/abfast.php)

         

Stations of the Cross: Hands-On for children

Click here for the link to Catholic's Icing's printable Stations of the Cross. I think they are beautiful and can't wait to print them and glue them onto cardstock with Ruby Red!

All Hallows Eve (Halloween)

Before I became a parent it really never occurred to me that such a fuss could be made over Halloween. I knew the history and how it started out as a Catholic holiday and it's obvious that this once holy holiday has been distorted by the secular world. I've been criticized for allowing my kids to dress-up and trick-or-treat as well, being told that I'm allowing them to participate in this satanic day. But am I really doing that? Absolutely not! As children growing up in a Catholic home, my sister and I were allowed to dress-up and go trick-or-treating- our costumes had limits and THAT'S OK. We also participated in Saint's Presentations with our homeschool group. I have to admit, I really wasn't a big fan of the dressing up as a saint and presenting her biography that I had researched, but I did it nontheless and totally see the point behind it. In fact, one day I'll probably do the same...although the report may not have to be spoken in front of all their friends. My husband and I don't allow any evil, scary, or sleazy costumes. I try to turn the girl's eyes away from ghosts, goblins and other scary things. I've tailored my lessons about this day down to a 2 year old's comprehension and told her the real meaning of this holiday and of the great men and women we strive to be like who have gone before us. Leading up to Halloween we have been doing a lot of pretend play, imitating saints and Biblical figures from stories we have read. It is a time to celebrate people and God's creation. So yes I will let them go out dressed as a cow and a pig and go door to door; after all, God did make all creatures great and small! I think that as long as you keep the real meaning behind the holiday alive, it's ok to participate in these newer secular traditions if they're not sinful and turning one's thoughts away from God. We will be celebrating All Saints Day and All Souls Day the two following days after Halloween, making them special celebrations in our home as well. We will carve happy, cute little pumpkins and toast the seeds in the oven and focus on the harvest and the bounty God has blessed us with. When the girls are older we will have lessons on how these little traditions of trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins came into practice. For now, we're keeping things simple and innocent as they have fun dressing up with their cousins and visit their grandparents. In the future, I would love to have a "saint party" on November 1st where each child dresses up as a saint and brings a treat for everyone that has something to do with that saint. An example of this would be something like eye gumballs for St Lucy or cross cut-out cookies for St Helen... You get the idea. I was actually thinking of doing that this year but my kids only being 2 years old and 7 months, I don't think they'd really get much out of it. I'd rather save that for next year, when my daughter knows a little more about her namesake and is excited to share her treat with everyone and tell them why she chose it.

I have included a brief history of Halloween and the traditions that came about in case someone doesn't know them. Just click on the link below!
I would like to hear other parent's thoughts, whether Catholic or not! Just please, keep it civil.

History and traditions at Halloween

(Referring to the Communion of Saints) “a perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth. Between them there is, too, an abundant exchange of all good things” (#1475).
Let's remember our loved ones and those adoring Our Lord face to face in Heaven this "All Hallows Eve"!