Liturgical Living - Faith and Family

“Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!” A large crowd sings with joy and waves palm branches in the air as they welcome Jesus to Jerusalem.  

During the time of Jesus, palm branches were signs of victory and triumph. They symbolize that Jesus is the true King and that He comes to Jerusalem to conquer sin and death. 

The people cry out, “Hosanna!” which means “Save us” or “Give us salvation.” Just as the people sing these words as they await Jesus’ coming in Jerusalem, we sing these words at Mass as we await Jesus’ coming in the Eucharist.

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Holiness at Home

Palm Crosses
If you are able to attend Mass, make sure to bring home your blessed palms!

One beautiful tradition is to fold the palm branches into the shape of a cross, for it was by the Cross that Jesus saves us. As you’re folding your palm crosses, talk as a family about what excites you most about your relationship with Jesus.

Then, use a marker to write on your palm cross something in your life you want to give to Jesus. You can then place these palm crosses somewhere you'll notice it - the dinner table, near a crucifix, or at your home altar if you have one.

Let it be a reminder that the Lord will bring victory to whatever you give Him.
 

How to fold a palm cross
 

 

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The Passion of Christ

Every Palm Sunday, the Church reads the story of the Passion of Christ. We hear the entire story from Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem all the way to His death on Calvary. 

Click the button below to read the story of the Passion from the Gospel of Luke. Read it out loud as a family and try to picture and imagine every word. You may consider breaking the story up to read a little each night during Holy Week. If your children can read, you may invite them to take turns reading out loud.

Discuss as a family: What would you do if you were there?

Holy Thursday begins the highpoint of the Church’s Liturgical Year - the Easter Triduum. This is the time in which we remember Christ's final days on earth, in particular, we celebrate the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection of Jesus. 

On Holy Thursday we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, where we remember Jesus’ Last Supper with the 12 Apostles. On the night before the Crucifixion, Jesus did some amazing things that we celebrate today. 

• He gave us the Eucharist, His Real Presence under the appearance of bread and wine. 
• He instituted the Priesthood, giving the Apostles and their followers the ability to give us the Eucharist
• He washed the Apostles’ feet, giving us an example of selfless love

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Holiness at Home

 

Whether or not you join us in person for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, you have a beautiful opportunity to celebrate this special and holy day as a family.

Jesus didn’t wash the disciple’s feet for fun, He did it to set an example of how we ought to love one another. The task of washing feet belonged to slaves and servants, certainly not to Jesus, our Teacher and our God! Yet, with love and humility, He stooped down to wash His disciple's feet.

This is a radical example of love that we ought to follow. There is no better place to start practicing this than within your family. Remember and imitate the love of Jesus this Holy Thursday by washing the feet of one another.


Family Activity:

After having dinner together as a family, gather together the following items:

• Large bowl
• Cups or pitchers of water
• Towels
• Chair
• Click the button below to read the Gospel story together.
  
  Take a minute to imagine what it would be like for Jesus to kneel before you and wash your feet.

Then, take turns washing the feet of each member of the family. Make sure that everyone has the chance to wash someone’s feet and have their feet washed. 

It’s okay if things get a little silly, the Lord is joyful and so should you be. Love is the important thing.

Today is the most solemn day of the year, the day we remember the Crucifixion and death of Jesus - Good Friday. While it is a day for mourning and sadness, it is also the perfect day to talk as a family about the meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.

As Catholics, we’re used to seeing images of Jesus on the Cross; we have large crucifixes at the front of our churches and often have them hanging in our homes. It might seem crazy to some people that we show so much honor and love to such a sad and terrible image, but ultimately, the Cross brings eternal life and joy. 

There can be no Easter Sunday without Good Friday. 

 

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Holiness at Home

 

Whether or not you participate at the Good Friday service, you have a beautiful opportunity to celebrate this special and holy day as a family.

Venerating the Cross
As a family, take some time to venerate (show reverence and love towards) the Cross. If you have a crucifix or cross in your home, take it down and lay it on a table. Then, take turns as a family, kneeling before it prayerfully. Give it a kiss, and thank the Lord for the gift of His life and tell Jesus that you love Him.

Parents, we challenge you to go first, to be an example to your kids of what it means to love Jesus. Children love to observe and imitate us (especially when we place sincere attention on something intentional) so seeing you go first will help spark their curiosity and encourage them to participate.

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The Hour of Mercy
Known as the hour of mercy, the Church especially reflects on the loving sacrifice of Jesus at 3 pm—the hour of His death.

As a family, take five minutes to truly pray at 3 pm today. For a moment, put down your phone, turn off the TV, and pause your music. Sit in silence, imagine Jesus on the Cross. You can do this all together in one room, or earlier in the day invite each child to choose their own comfy, quiet spot in the house where they will go when you let them know it is time.
When you're ready, come together to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Even if you have never prayed this devotion as a family, it is super simple and easy for children to pick up as you go along.

Chaplet Divine Mercy

Of all the days of the Easter Triduum, Holy Saturday can be the most mysterious. It is an odd day, the time between the death and Resurrection of Christ. 

Surely this is a day of great silence and sadness. Perhaps a day of fear and wondering as well. Imagine how confused and worried the followers of Jesus must have been! 

The man they followed and believed in was gone… they were not expecting the Resurrection. They thought it was over.

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Holiness at Home

 

A Great Silence
Today is a day of great silence and stillness as we reflect on the Lord’s body lying in the tomb. Take a nice, quiet walk as a family. Try to walk in silence and imagine how the disciples of Jesus felt after His death. 

What were they thinking? How did they feel? How would you feel?

After walking in silence for a bit, talk about this as a family. Have you ever doubted or struggled to believe? Have you ever worried about what’s next?

As you talk together, remind each other of the times the Lord has come through and has answered your prayers.

Parents, we challenge you to really invite your children to share any of their fears or worries with you and help them come to trust in God.

Too cold outside, or not an easy place for a family walk? Swap in some quiet coloring time, with the discussions above as the inspiration for your children to color their thoughts and share what they drew and why.

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The Light of Christ
On the eve of Easter, the Church celebrates the Easter Vigil. This beautiful Mass begins with the church in darkness, the only light is the Paschal candle (the Easter candle). 

Then, the flame from the Paschal candle is passed from candle to candle, until the entire church is completely lit by candlelight. This powerfully symbolizes how the Light of Christ is spread and dispels all the darkness of the world. 

Try this as a family! Turn off all the lights during dinner, use only candles (or electric candles) to provide the light. Reflect on the darkness the world felt as Jesus lay in the tomb. 

Where do you need the Light of Christ in your life? Where do you need the presence of Jesus?

Then, discuss as a family how you can bring the light of Christ to others!