I am joining in with Jen @ Forever, For Always, No Matter What and Tiffany @ Family at the Foot of the Cross to do a bit of Easter sharing. I know their posts will be amazing... well, because they are amazing bloggers. Please stop by and take a look.
"I admit that we have not hit the first week of Easter with the zeal that I would like- we are pooped."
Those were my sentiments as Lent came to a close last year and Easter sprung forth. I think it can be that way. You kind of want to take a big sigh and say "we did it!". But it is not over yet. The church year, in it's infinite beauty, keeps going.
The understanding that Easter is a season and not just one day was a slow dawning for our family. I vividly remember our first Lent- the one where our family realized that that there is a Lent after all! We dove in with all the enthusiasm and effort our limited understanding allowed. And then it was over. We went to dawn mass, feasted on jelly beans, and called it a day. I don't mean to be flippant, but that is where our faith formation and our understanding of the liturgical year was.
As part of the "great untaught" (a phrase from Mary Reed Newland in her book "The Year and Our Children), I did not have much to go on. I realize now that the information was there for the taking. But, as part of the above mentioned group, it took me a while to figure out the right questions to ask of the right people so that I could become an enthusiastic participate in this beautiful faith of ours.
Now there is this wonderful online community of Catholic publications and bloggers who share their knowledge and inspiration.
This article, Catholic Activity: The Time of Easter or Eastertide, from CatholicCulture.org gives a simple explanation of the season:
"The fifty days from Easter to Pentecost are celebrated in joyful exultation as one feast day, or better as one "Great Sunday"."
Taking more inspiration from Mary Reed Newland's book "The Year and Our Children", this is a great season to dive in and learn and pray together. Our first and most important job as parents, according to Mrs. Newland (and I think most would agree), is to form our children in Christ. Because this is our most important job, we ought to lavish our time on it. She further exhorts us to take time to be with our children, do a daily examine of conscience, prayers, reading... how often we are so tired come evening, yet Easter seems like a perfect season to make a renewed commitment to that time together.
Right out of the gate, the Sunday after Easter (the second Sunday of Easter), is Divine Mercy Sunday. Could there be a more fitting time for this feast day? "Jesus, I Trust in You" Celebrating it is a great way to keep the momentum of the season going. This is a fairly new addition to our year (added on the 2nd Sunday of Easter in the Jubilee year). And the Divine Mercy novena is a beautiful prayer.
There is more! So much more! If you are like me, and getting your "Catholic On" a little later in life, go slowly. Choose one or two things that sound really doable. Then have fun and learn about the season.
Resources for Divine Mercy:
Divine Mercy DVD (you can also order worksheets on CD-rom)
Holy Heroes Glory Stories of St. Faustina (awesome story)
Catholic Icing Divine Mercy Standing Imagine (this link also has resources for Sister Faustina and the Divine Mercy).
Divine Mercy Novena Prayer Rings (we made them last year- free printable)
Resources For the Season:
Catholic Icing (crafts and more)
Family at the Foot of the Cross (inspiration galore!)
Menus to celebrate the 50 days of Easter! (food is a great way to gain your kiddos' enthusiasm.)
The YEAR and Our CHILDREN by Mary Reed Newland
Children's Books for Easter at Shower of Roses blog
Lent and Easter in the DOMESTIC CHURCH
I encourage you to have a blessed Eastertide!!
"I admit that we have not hit the first week of Easter with the zeal that I would like- we are pooped."
Those were my sentiments as Lent came to a close last year and Easter sprung forth. I think it can be that way. You kind of want to take a big sigh and say "we did it!". But it is not over yet. The church year, in it's infinite beauty, keeps going.
The understanding that Easter is a season and not just one day was a slow dawning for our family. I vividly remember our first Lent- the one where our family realized that that there is a Lent after all! We dove in with all the enthusiasm and effort our limited understanding allowed. And then it was over. We went to dawn mass, feasted on jelly beans, and called it a day. I don't mean to be flippant, but that is where our faith formation and our understanding of the liturgical year was.
As part of the "great untaught" (a phrase from Mary Reed Newland in her book "The Year and Our Children), I did not have much to go on. I realize now that the information was there for the taking. But, as part of the above mentioned group, it took me a while to figure out the right questions to ask of the right people so that I could become an enthusiastic participate in this beautiful faith of ours.
Now there is this wonderful online community of Catholic publications and bloggers who share their knowledge and inspiration.
This article, Catholic Activity: The Time of Easter or Eastertide, from CatholicCulture.org gives a simple explanation of the season:
"The fifty days from Easter to Pentecost are celebrated in joyful exultation as one feast day, or better as one "Great Sunday"."
Taking more inspiration from Mary Reed Newland's book "The Year and Our Children", this is a great season to dive in and learn and pray together. Our first and most important job as parents, according to Mrs. Newland (and I think most would agree), is to form our children in Christ. Because this is our most important job, we ought to lavish our time on it. She further exhorts us to take time to be with our children, do a daily examine of conscience, prayers, reading... how often we are so tired come evening, yet Easter seems like a perfect season to make a renewed commitment to that time together.
Right out of the gate, the Sunday after Easter (the second Sunday of Easter), is Divine Mercy Sunday. Could there be a more fitting time for this feast day? "Jesus, I Trust in You" Celebrating it is a great way to keep the momentum of the season going. This is a fairly new addition to our year (added on the 2nd Sunday of Easter in the Jubilee year). And the Divine Mercy novena is a beautiful prayer.
There is more! So much more! If you are like me, and getting your "Catholic On" a little later in life, go slowly. Choose one or two things that sound really doable. Then have fun and learn about the season.
Resources for Divine Mercy:
Divine Mercy DVD (you can also order worksheets on CD-rom)
Holy Heroes Glory Stories of St. Faustina (awesome story)
Catholic Icing Divine Mercy Standing Imagine (this link also has resources for Sister Faustina and the Divine Mercy).
Divine Mercy Novena Prayer Rings (we made them last year- free printable)
Resources For the Season:
Catholic Icing (crafts and more)
Family at the Foot of the Cross (inspiration galore!)
Menus to celebrate the 50 days of Easter! (food is a great way to gain your kiddos' enthusiasm.)
The YEAR and Our CHILDREN by Mary Reed Newland
Children's Books for Easter at Shower of Roses blog
Lent and Easter in the DOMESTIC CHURCH
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I encourage you to have a blessed Eastertide!!
5 comments:
I love how you shared a bit about your family journey, Laurie...Our family was just like yours! Prior to our slow knowledge gained about our beautiful liturgical cycle, Easter was over on Easter Sunday! We have since learned so much through Catholic Culture and online blogging as well. Huge blessing, indeed! Thanks for all you give to our blogging community...It's always great to team up with you:) Have a fun St. Patrick's Day!
I love, love, that you posted about Divine Mercy Sunday! One of my favorite books is the one you mentioned, The Year and Our Children - lots of great information for the entire year. Recently I read an article that stated that we should make a point to do something special each Sunday of Easter. Go on a picnic, have a special dinner, whatever, just make a point of making the Sundays of the Easter season stand out. Thanks for linking, you always have great information!!
EXCELLENT post, Laurie!! You summed up my faith formation when you summed up yours. Excellent resources, too. Blessings to you as you begin to wrap up your lenten journey this year!
We must have all been raised poorly catechized and had, by the Grace of God, "got our Catholic on" when we became parents! My next lesson plan is on Divine Mercy Sunday about this Feast so thank you for listing the resources! May You continue to shine the light of God's love to your readers! We are blessed through you!
Thank you.
I was just looking for great ideas about how to explain to a Protestant friend about Eastertide.
I love your post.
Blessings,
Emily
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