Getting Ready for Easter

On Tuesaday of Holy Week they have the Chrism Mass where all the Holy Oils are blessed for the year and all the priests of the diocese come together to receive them-

In the Catholic Church, the Easter Tridium is one large service set over three days.  It begins on Maundy Thursday- the night Jesus instituted the Eucahrist and was arrested.  In the Mass, we read about the Last Supper-

The Bishop washes the feet of 12 church members-

Marc is a Pontifical Server who assists the Bishop-

After Mass the Blessed Sacrament is taken in procession through the church to an altar of repose- and the main altar is stripped of all candles, linens and decor.  It is so somber.  It feels as we are processing with Jesus from the Last Supper to the Garden of Olives.

They turn the lights down-

The altar of repose- many people sit there with Jesus until midnight, remembering Him asking his disciples, "Could you not stay up with Me for one hour?"

On Friday we go into the Cathedral and see no flowers, no organ, no holy water, the Tabernacle is empty.   At noon they have the Stations of the Cross.  At three o'clock exactly the priests and altar servers process in silence to the altar where the priests lay prostrate on the ground.  It is a profound sadness as we sit at the feet of Him crucified for us.

Then we read the Passion narrative and we are the crowd saying, "crucify Him".  Then they bring in the crucifix saying, "Behold the wood of the Cross on which is hung the Savior of the World."  Then we all process forward and kiss Jesus on the crucifix.  After that we have a communion service and solemnly leave.   

Here is Anastasia and Julia after the Good Friday service-

We read many of our Easter books and watched The Miracle Maker-

On Saturday we got the Easter decorations out of the attic and got to work-

We put out the Easter books-

They always sit and read them when they are presented this way- it's hard to walk past a table of picture books!

That night I put out their Easter baskets along with Easter cards from Zaza and Grandpa-

Ash Wednesday

Let us now enter into 40 days of our own deserts for Jesus. 

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.

Joel 2

Boy stuff

Saturday after Julia's horse show Marc took the three boys to the civic center to see the gun show.  They met some friends and their boys and had a great time!

 

 

"Too close for missiles- switching to guns!"

One of the dads offered to take Marky home with them for some more playtime.  They had Marky and another boy from our basketball team over- they sent me a pic from dinner!  :)

I got the boys some pajamas from Pottery Barn to put in their Easter baskets, but Daddy saw them and he just couldn't wait to let them be "wittle match boys."  :)  They LOVE to dress alike.  Marc reminded me, "if you are saving something for a special occassion- don't show me!"  :)

A couple Sunday pics.  Marc and Julia sang in the Cathedral Children's Schola Cantorum today and sounded great! 

They sing in the back balcony where the organ is.  Julia was nervous at first, but it really neat up there. 

Because today was the fifth Sunday of Lent all the statues and the crucifix were covered.  On Good Friday they will uncover the crucifix and on Easter it will all be back with flowers and be gorgeous!