Holy Family Catholic Church PSL FL
  • Welcome
    • About
    • Ministries >
      • Altar Servers
      • Black Catholic Ministry
      • Dementia and Alzheimer's Caregivers Support
      • Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
      • Filipino Ministry
      • Garden Ministry
      • Grief Support
      • Lectors
      • Men's Club
      • ministerio hispano
      • Ministers of Hospitality
      • Ministry of Mothers Sharing (MOMS)
      • Music
      • Prayer Groups >
        • Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy
        • Rosary Confraternity
        • Santo Nino
      • Religious Articles Store
      • Thrift Shoppe
    • Organizations >
      • CCW >
        • Trumpeter Archives
        • CCW Board Roster
        • Events and Projects
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Legion of Mary
      • Respect Life >
        • Upcoming Events
      • Society of St. Vincent de Paul
  • New Here?
    • New and Current Parishioners
    • Events
  • The Sacraments
    • baptism
    • reconciliation
    • eucharist
    • confirmation
    • matrimony
    • holy orders
    • anointing of the sick
  • Making Disciples
    • Ryan Center for Young Children Ministry >
      • Ryan Center Donors
    • Religious Education >
      • CY1
      • CY2
      • Donum Talenti
      • Theology of the Plate
      • Upcoming Family Activities! >
        • Special Celebrations
    • Youth Ministry >
      • Photo Galleries
    • Adult Formation >
      • Welcome Home
  • Contact Us
    • Fr. Tri's Missions
    • Hall Rental

Rosary, SORROWFUL Mysteries

2/26/2021

0 Comments

 

Second Decade: The Scourging at the Pillar

The Flagellation of Christ
Jaume Huguet (1450s)
oil on wood, Large: approximately 3.5 feet high by approximately 7 feet wide
Currently located in the Louvre, Paris, France
Picture
After celebrating a Passover meal with the Apostles, Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. While He was there, God permitted Jesus to see all He was going to suffer. Then Judas Iscariot and a band of soldiers, the tribune of Pharisees, and the Jewish guards came to arrest Jesus. They took Him to a priest named Annas in the Temple. During the Liturgy of the Word on Palm Sunday (Mark 14: 1 through 15: 47) and again on Good Friday (John 18: 1 through 19: 42), you will have the chance to read the events that happen next: the questioning of Jesus before Annas in Annas' house, Jesus' trial in the Temple before Caiaphas, His first trial before Pontius Pilate in the prætorium, His questioning before Herod in the Jerusalem palace, and finally His second trial before Pilate.

We are called to meditate on Jesus' Scourging at a pillar inside the prætorium as we pray the second decade of the Sorrowful Mysteries. The scene in the artist Jaume Huguet's painting is crowded and full of earthly and heavenly action. Let's take a slow and close look.

The first thing we see is Jesus in the center of the painting. His arms are tied around a pillar in the room, and His hands are bound at the wrists. His knees are bent, and His chest and right shoulder are leaning against the pillar.


Do you remember what a halo is? Point to Jesus' halo. Do you see the cross shape inside of His halo?

There is a white cloth with blue stripes around our Savior's waist. This is a prayer shawl that Jewish men cover their heads with when they pray. We know that Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane right before He was arrested. We also know that Jesus' suffering is a prayer that He offered to God the Father for our redemption.
Two soldiers take turns scourging Jesus. What is in the soldiers' hands? What are they doing? Can you guess what scourging means? Christians like us feel very sad when we see what happened to Jesus. It's ok to feel sad; as a matter of fact, feeling sad means that you care about Jesus and that you love Him. But then we need to feel confident: Jesus knew that He was being punished for our sins. Jesus knew that by dying He would open the Gates of Heaven so that we would be able to go there after our deaths to be with God forever. Jesus is passionate about getting you into Heaven, so for Him, this punishment is worth it.

​Remember, too, that we know about Jesus' Resurrection. He died, but He rose from death, and He is alive now in Heaven.
Picture
There are three small angels whom God sent to minister to our Lord-- can you point them out?

The angel near Jesus' Head is wiping His Face.

​The two angels on the floor are holding bowls. They were sent to collect Jesus' Precious Blood. We never want that to spill on the ground.
​
Picture
Picture
Jesus is surrounded by crowds on His left and on His right. Look at the crowd on the left. Find the two two men who have halos. Good news! There were holy men in the crowd, watching Jesus, praying with Jesus, loving Jesus! They are Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. They are Jesus' friends! Both men were members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council. Joseph is the man who got permission from Pilate to remove Jesus from the Cross; he is also the one who found a tomb for Jesus. Nicodemus brought the one hundred-pound mixture of myrrh and aloes to prepare Jesus' Body for burial; he helped Joseph of Arimathea to wrap Jesus with burial cloths and place his body in the tomb. These two are saints who love Jesus very much.
Picture
Caiphas the high priest is part of the crowd on the right; he sits on his chair. He holds a stick called a scepter, and he's pointing it toward Jesus like he is encouraging the attack on our Savior by giving instructions or commands.

There are many more people in the crowd besides these three men. Most of them are some of the chief priests and scribes of the Temple. Many of these men were present when the Child Jesus spoke in the Temple. 

ABOUT THE FRAME

The painting is bordered by a frame that has four small pictures in each corner. Three of these pictures show animals, and one is a man. These four pictures are symbols of the four Gospels, each of which focus on a different event in the life of Christ:
Picture
MATTHEW
This Gospel is always symbolized as a man, sometimes with wings, because God came into the world as a human being.


Catholics believe that Jesus is 100% divine and 100% human. Chapter 1 of St. Matthew's Gospel emphasizes and explains Jesus' human nature. It starts by tracing Jesus' family tree.

In the New Testament, Jesus is called "The Word." Christmas Day is Jesus' birthday. Jesus is God who lived among us. The name for when Jesus was born as a human is incarnation, which means "Word made flesh" in English.

All this explains why a man is the symbol for St. Matthew's Gospel.

Picture
MARK
This Gospel is always symbolized as a lion, sometimes with wings, because God is
omnipotent, which means He is Almighty, all-powerful.


St. Mark's Gospel focuses on God's power, which we call omnipotence ("om-NIP-po-tense"). Mark's Gospel opens with St. John the Baptist coming out of the desert and "roaring" the announcement of God. The stories of St. John the Baptist and of all martyrs teach us Christians that we must be courageous, a characteristic of lions.

We call lions "kings of the jungle" -- St. Mark's Gospel reminds us that, because we are sons and daughters of the King of the Universe, we are royalty. 

​Finally, Jesus rose from the dead and came out of His tomb at His Resurrection, showing His unlimited power. 

All this explains why the lion was chosen to symbolize the Gospel of St. Mark.

Picture
LUKE
This Gospel is always symbolized as an ox or bull, sometimes with wings, because God's final covenant with man was His own sacrificial death.


St. Luke writes a detailed account of the sacrificial death of our Savior. In the Old Testament, the Jewish people-- Jesus' people, and God's Chosen People-- used bulls and oxen as "tabernacle offerings." This type of offering used to worship God visually emphasized that sin has terrible consequences, and the only remedy for sin is the shedding of blood. Jesus shed His Precious Blood for us, to atone for our sins.

St. Luke's Gospel also reminds us Christians that we must be prepared to sacrifice in all ways. ​

All this explains why the ox symbolizes the Gospel of St. Luke. 

Picture
JOHN
This Gospel is always symbolized as an eagle because we believe that Jesus ascended into Heaven.


Every Sunday at Mass, Catholics say a list of things we believe, including: "For us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven. By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again, in fulfillment of the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father." St. ​John's Gospel is symbolized by the eagle because, from John 1 to the end of Revelation, we are carried on eagle’s wings to the throne of heaven.​
​

Additionally, Christians are called to higher aspirations. God helps us with the guidance of His commandments and the Holy Spirit.

All this explains why an eagle is the symbol for St. John's Gospel.

First Sorrowful Mystery: Agony in the Garden
Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning of Thorns
Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Fifth Sorrowful Mystery

Now, with The Scourging at the Pillar in our imagination,
​let us pray.

​For families with very young children, or for families new to the Rosary, simplify by only praying the Sign of the Cross, the Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary. These prayers are inside the front and back covers of your child's workbook. Follow the graphic:
Picture
For families ready to push it forward, add in one new prayer each week until you have a complete decade. Follow the outline:
Hold the Crucifix in your right hand. Make the Sign of the Cross properly, using the right hand only.

Still holding the Crucifix, state what you believe as a Catholic by saying the Creed.

Move to the first bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move to the next beads. Pray the Hail Mary three times, once on each bead.

Move to the next bead and pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Announce the Mystery by saying these words: The Second Sorrowful Mystery, The Scourging at the Pillar. On Palm Sunday, Jesus was cheered and welcomed into Jerusalem. Within one week, the people turned against Him and cheered for Jesus to die. Pilate ordered Him to be whipped. God, His Father, allowed this punishment because He knew how many people commit sins with their bodies. Jesus took on the punishment for our sins so that we have the chance to go to Heaven. We recognize this Sacrifice, and we ask for Jesus' help with battling temptations of the body: lust, greed, and gluttony. Jesus, help us to become pure and loving. Jesus, help us understand that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
​
Stay on the same bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move through the next ten beads, praying the Hail Mary on each one.

Move to the next bead. Pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Pray the Fatima Prayer.

Make the Sign of the Cross using the Crucifix. AMEN!

Lenten Application

Hi Parents!

Sometimes parenting is hard. (!!! obvious!!) As people of faith, even our beliefs can be difficult to talk about with our children. How do we appropriately explain the sixth commandment about adultery to our elementary school aged kids? How are we going to appropriately explain the tortures and crucifixion Christ endured to our elementary school aged children, or sensitive older children? Sin is ugly; explaining it is awkward and hard.

How do you feel showing this art of our Savior's tortures and death to your kids? Do you hesitate? Why? When--at what age-- do you think it is appropriate​ to begin talking to your kids about this? It should be at around age 5 or 6 if you want your child to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Communion at age 7 or 8, right?

We are praying the Sorrowful Mysteries during Lent. My hope is that no one avoids this prayer at this time because they are nervous about bringing the images to their children. While my own children -- 16 and 18-- have not yet seen
Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ, they have meditated on other forms of art showing our Redeemer's experiences since a young age. Let's address how to confidently and lovingly share the Greatest Story Ever Told to your "young children" (pre-K and Kindergarten through third grade, depending on the individual) and "older children" (fourth grade through late teens, depending on the individual).

How to explain the Passion and Resurrection to a Young Child

The events of the Triduum are powerfully disturbing, even for adults.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that parents are "the principal and first educators of their children" (read paragraph 1653). You know more than anyone how to discuss these events with your child because you are most keenly aware of your child's developmental readiness. Remember that when kids ask questions ("How are babies made?"), we often read way too much into it. It is usually best to allow them to take the lead in the discussion (by you asking them questions) so that you know what their objective is and what exactly they are searching for. Your children's curiosity and need for information will probably be satisfied sooner than you anticipate. You can see that I model asking kids questions in my art meditations in these posts.

It's impossible to talk about Jesus' Resurrection without talking about His death, and it's impossible to talk about His death without talking about His crucifixion. So how do you explain the Passion and Resurrection to young children? First, use language and experiences that your children will understand. 
Jesus didn't do anything bad ever, but He was still punished. Jesus accepted this mission to help us get into Heaven. That's why we call Jesus "our Savior." Savior sounds like save. Save means the same thing as rescue. From Adam and Eve through the lives of people living at the same time as Jesus, no one got into Heaven. Jesus rescued all faithful human beings from the time of Adam and Eve all the way to us and beyond. He rescued us from Hell and made it easier for us to get into Heaven. This is why we love Him so much. This is why it's so important to learn to be thankful and to express our gratitude to Him. This is why we pray to meet Him one day. This is how we know that we need to always try our best to be good.

Second, sticking with historical facts helps. When Jesus lived in the Holy Land thousands of years ago, people who did bad things were hung on crosses as their punishment. Sometimes their hands and feet were tied to the cross but other times nails were used. It hurt a lot. Even the worst pain we've ever felt doesn't match the pain the crucified experienced, and certainly not the pain Jesus endured with His additional tortures.

The graphic detail provided in the real story isn't necessary to convey Jesus' act of love and sacrifice. Again, if you allow your kids to take the lead in the conversation about the fine art, you will notice that they can see that He was treated badly; young kids might also understand the concept of being treated unfairly or even getting punished for something they didn't do. Also remember that "death" is an abstract concept that their young minds don't fully understand yet, so there is a lot in fine art presentations that children don't even "see."


How to explain the Passion and Resurrection to Older Children, Tweens, and Teens

If we've been doing our jobs correctly as parents and catechists, our older children, tweens, and teens know what sin is. They know that they have a choice and can either avoid sin or participate in sin. The challenge now is teaching them that they need to be held accountable for their choices, accept responsibility, apologize, and make up for their sins. They are also moving toward an understanding that God lives outside of time, so when we say "Jesus died for your sins," yes, Jesus really did. The journey of understanding all of this shows growth and maturity.

While praying the Rosary, the Mystery is announced. You will notice that within each announcement, I use words that will help older kids start moving toward accountability. I use words like "commit sins with their bodies" or "sins of thought and pride." As we move toward maturity, we realize that we are the ones who cut Jesus' skin, who penetrated His Head, Hands, and Feet. Our sins did that. The Divine Mercy Chaplet, which we will study after Easter, provides interesting meditation on our participation in each of Jesus' wounds; I quote two meditations below, and invite you and your teen to read the entire meditation linked here.
The Second Decade of the Chaplet 
​During the second decade, we reflect on the wound that pierced His right hand. We venerate the wound that He endured. In faith, we accept the awesome truth that out of His love for us, Jesus made reparation for the actual sins committed by the right hand. Examples of this include those who have struck out at others in rage, stolen things, or violated the sacred personhood of another. 
The Third Decade of the Chaplet 
​On the third decade, we reflect on the wound in Jesus' left hand. .... His willingness to take upon Himself all the punishment due to our indifference toward sin. The left hand also serves as a metaphor for being insensitive to the needs of others who now may have to forgive us. Our indifference to the beggar or the plight of another person also needs atonement. Our sins of omission or insensitive mistreatment of others cry out to heaven for justice. In addition Jesus endured the suffering due to the sins of indifference against those who were abandoned, either in the womb or through someone's unwillingness to care for them. 
Older children and tweens will understand the scenario in this video; some will be ready to take the step in maturity:
The gravity and the glory of the Cross: wow. What a juxtaposition. But, you know? There's balance there. Let's always focus on finding that balance. Keep coming back to (and repeating) that we sin and, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation--not just whispering that you are sorry and not just "having faith" that God forgives us-- our sins will always be forgiven. Keep coming back to (and repeating) that Jesus has risen from the dead and that He is alive!

Blessings,
Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education
0 Comments

Rosary, SORROWFUL Mysteries

2/19/2021

0 Comments

 
Dear Families, 

We are inviting you all to pray the Rosary with us. We will pray one decade of the Sorrowful Mysteries per week over Lent. Meditation materials are provided within the posts, which you will receive every Sunday morning during Lent. Praying the Rosary is not simply saying the Hail Mary and Our Father prayers; while we pray the Rosary, we are supposed to be thinking about Christ's life here on earth. Click here to understand why you shouldn't just launch into the prayers.

Each weekly meditation consists of three parts:
  • a child-focused examination of the mystery as presented in fine art;
  • the praying of the Rosary;
  • and some activity I present in the "Application" section at the end.

You choose how to approach this. There will be some families who do not do any of the activities; I'm praying that most families will do something.
  • Some may do all three activities back-to-back in a one or two hour stretch.
  • Other families may do all three, but space them out over a day or two.
  • Still other families may do only one or two of the three activities. 

Before beginning, parents may wish to review. Parents can look in their children's workbooks or click here to become familiar with the parts of the Rosary. A visual guide is also provided in each of these posts. If you need a Rosary, please stop by our office and we can give you one.

The season of Lent is a grace-filled season, a time to pause and step back from "the daily grind." Through the intercession of Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, I pray this Lent will be a time when God’s grace and goodness may be more fully manifested in all of your lives and those of your loved ones.

Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education

First Decade: The Agony in the Garden

Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane
Duccio di Buoninsegna (c.1308-1311)
tempera on wood, approximately 20" high X 30" wide
Currently located at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (Cathedral Museum)
, Siena, Italy
Picture
Can you find Jesus two times in this painting? Point to Him. Yes! We see Jesus two times because this one painting shows two different events happening in the same place on the same night.

This story from Jesus' life happened on what we call "Holy Thursday." Many things happened on Holy Thursday. Look carefully at the painting. Can you name the three things you see going on in the painting? If you need help, answer these questions:  
1: Do you see a group of men sleeping?
Picture
2: Do you see Jesus talking to a small group of three men?
Picture

​3: Do you see Jesus praying?
Picture
The Gospel of Luke 22: 7-23 tells what Jesus and His Apostles did on Holy Thursday. Jesus and His best friends were in Jerusalem because they were celebrating the Passover. Early in the evening, these men ate the Passover meal and then decided to take a walk into a nearby garden. That's where we are in the painting. Can you see the five olive trees in the background?

​Jesus wanted to walk in the garden, but He didn't want to go alone this time. He invited His friends to go with Him. Jesus was in agony. This means something like He was stressed out to the maximum and feeling a lot of pain. Not only was He suffering mentally, He was also suffering physically. What does that mean; can you give some examples of those two types of suffering?


All of that is how Jesus felt. Do you know why He was feeling that way? Here's why: Jesus is God, and as God, He knew all the terrible sufferings, humiliations, pains, and tortures He would experience soon. Holy Thursday night is when Jesus was arrested and tortured. The next day, Good Friday, is when He was crucified. We'll talk about the Crucifixion more when we pray the Fifth Sorrowful Mystery. Easter Sunday is when He rose from death, victorious and alive! We'll talk more about when we pray the First Glorious Mystery.

Look at the painting again. The garden is not lush; it's barren and rocky, isn't it? Look at the colors the artist used for the garden. The colors are almost monotone, which makes us feel that something somber is going on. Even though there is a golden glow, it is not bright and happy. The artist is helping us to remember the seriousness of what will soon happen to Jesus.
Picture

The scenes in this painting show what happened before Jesus' arrest.

To the left, we see the Apostles. How many can you count? Who is the twelfth one who is missing? His name starts with a J-U-?-?-?. Do you know why he isn't painted here? Do you know where he is and what he is doing? If you don't, read the
Gospel of Luke, chapter 22, verses 1-3 and 21-23 and you will find out.

The middle scene shows Jesus begging the Apostles not to go to sleep. He wants and needs them to stay awake and pray with Him. (
Luke 22: 39-46) He has to wake them up and ask them this favor more than once. This must have made Him very, very sad. All of us want our friends to show us they love us by paying attention and supporting us. Even Jesus wanted that attention and support from His friends.

In the right corner, we see the third scene. You can see Jesus praying alone here. His knees must have been really hurting because they are balancing His body's weight on a hard, bumpy stone. He was in such distress that He was sweating blood instead of water.
(Luke 22: 44)

But His friends are not helping Him; they are sleeping.

Remember that Jesus is fully human and fully divine. In His human nature, He begs God like we do: "If it's possible, please don't let this happen to Me. Please take this suffering away from Me." But Jesus knows that there is no other way for us sinners to get into Heaven and that His purpose is to set us free and open the Gates of Heaven. Because He knows this, He also tells God, "Not My will, but Your will be done."
(Luke 22: 42) And do you know what God did when Jesus told God how He was feeling? God sent Him a Guardian Angel. (Luke 22: 43) God sends us Guardian Angels, too. You have a Guardian Angel.
Do you know how the Gates of Heaven were shut? Sinning made them shut. The "Original Sin" of Adam and Eve closed the Gates. Do you know about Adam and Eve and Original Sin?

​When Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, they had the ability to live forever and never die. Can you imagine that? They could actually hear and talk to God! Think about that for a minute. They had it all! But then they listened to the Devil, who confused them. The Devil told them that they could have even more, but that God didn't want them to, so that's why God wouldn't let them eat from the Tree of K
nowledge of Good and Evil. Why would they want to know about evil?! They were already good -- God Himself said so and made them so! How silly and thoughtless they were when they ate from that tree. 
​
Picture
Human life changed drastically: humans now get sick and we die, we hurt each other. We sin. Do you see the two fruit trees close to the kneeling Jesus? The artist put those trees there to remind us of Adam, Eve, Original Sin, and all of Eve's children -- us -- for whose sins Jesus is about to die.
Picture
The doors to Heaven were shut. Only Jesus could open them. Can you see the angel who is with Jesus? The angel is giving Jesus a chalice. We read about this chalice in Luke 22: 42 when Jesus says, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me; still, not My will but Yours be done.” This is the fourth cup of the traditional Passover meal; it's called the Cup of Judgment, and you can read more about its meaning and importance here.
It was in a garden where man first sinned and cut himself off from God and His grace. It was in a garden where Jesus made up for what Adam and Eve had done. In sacred art, the Garden of Gethsemane is never lush. It is always dark and barren -- this is to show how sin affects the world. 

Picture

Second Sorrowful Mystery: Scourging at the Pillar
Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning of Thorns
Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion

Now, with The Agony in the Garden in our imagination, let us pray.

For families with very young children, or for families new to the Rosary, simplify by only praying the Sign of the Cross, the Lord's Prayer, and the Hail Mary. These prayers are inside the front and back covers of your child's workbook. Follow the graphic:
Picture
For families ready to push it forward, add in one new prayer each week until you have a complete decade. Follow the outline:
Hold the Crucifix in your right hand. Make the Sign of the Cross properly, using the right hand only.

Still holding the Crucifix, state what you believe as a Catholic by saying the Creed.

Move to the first bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move to the next beads. Pray the Hail Mary three times, once on each bead.

Move to the next bead and pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Announce the Mystery by saying these words: The First Sorrowful Mystery, The Agony in the Garden. God's greatest desire is for all of us to be with Him forever in Heaven. God loves us. He is passionate about getting us back home with Him. Jesus was sent to Earth to help us sinners get into Heaven. He helped us by taking all of the blame for all the bad things we do. He received terrible punishments for sins He did not commit. On Holy Thursday, Jesus went into a garden called Gethsemane. While He was praying, God allowed Him to see how horribly He was going to suffer. He saw His friends' sins: betrayal, denial, abandonment. He saw all our sins: mean, immoral, evil. And the thought of His Passion and our sins made Him sweat blood. This blood poured out in His agony. Then Judas came with the soldiers who led Jesus away to many hours of torture and finally death on a Cross.
​
Stay on the same bead. Pray one Our Father.

Move through the next ten beads, praying the Hail Mary on each one.

Move to the next bead. Pray one Glory Be.

Stay on the same bead. Pray the Fatima Prayer.

Make the Sign of the Cross using the Crucifix. AMEN!

Lenten Application

Hello!! on this first Sunday of Lent,

Do you know what the word "Alleluia" translates to in English? Truly, there is no adequate translation into English words because the communication behind Alleluia 
(sometimes spelled “Hallelujah”) is more emotional, like wild excitement and sheer joy. Really, it's like when you announce something fantastically amazing to your kids and they all scream and shout a good ol' "HOORAY! YAAAA-HOOOOO!!! AAAACCKKKKK!!! YES! YES! YES!" while bouncing up and down with clear, powerful joy in their tone. Linguists and scholars translate it to "Praise God!" Meh. Keep the visual -- it's important.
Picture
We Catholics sing the word Alleluia in Ordinary Time before hearing the Gospel reading. Before the Liturgy of the Word, we sing the Gloria. Both of these prayers are omitted from Mass during Advent and Lent because they are closely associated with seasons of joy (Christmas and Easter, and Ordinary Time); they are in stark contrast with the somber penitential attitude of Lent and even the contemplative anticipation of Advent. 
This discontinuance of the Alleluia is called the depositio. We participate in self-denial when we can't express our true feelings of love. It's a kind of fasting-- if we are aware of it. 

I invite you to "bury the Alleluia" with your family today. Literally. This is a craft activity you should do at home sometime between Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras and the First Sunday of Lent. You decide what your family can handle; a very simple "Kids, copy this word Alleluia in your own handwriting and decorate it with these markers" is sufficient. If you like computer graphics and have access to a printer, choose a beautiful font and make a banner out of cardstock and ribbons. If you've got time and some money to spend on a permanent family keepsake, create shelf art out of wooden letters and spray paint. (Click on the links for visuals and instructions.) Whichever type of art you create, "bury" the Alleluia you make in an envelope, in a box, under rocks on your prayer table, or in some other way. Then, at the Easter Vigil, "dig it up": take your art out and display it until the end of the Easter season (a 50-day period!).
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Talk to your children. Challenge them to take notice that these prayers are missing now from Mass. Give them the heads-up that at Holy Family we sing, "Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!" during Mass at Lent. Then, on Holy Saturday morning, remind them to pay attention that the Alleluia and Gloria are back and stronger than ever. Help them notice that during the Easter season, a period of great joy and exultation, we can't stop singing Alleluia over and over and over again. You might even challenge them to count how many times we say it during the Easter Vigil or on Resurrection Day. 

If you do this craft, email me your creations so I can see them!

Blessings,
Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education
0 Comments

Lent

2/14/2021

0 Comments

 
Lent starts on Wednesday!

Time moves so quickly, doesn’t it? That’s why I want to make a post about Lent a few days early. I know when I wake up on a particular Wednesday in February or March and realize, “Today is Ash Wednesday?!” and I haven’t prepared, I always feel behind schedule. I never really feel caught up when I’m not ready for Ash Wednesday, and I never feel my Lent season is experienced well when I’m not ready.

I repeated that thought of “not ready,” did you notice that?​ Lent is a period of preparation. It requires reflection and action. It’s hard for me to follow through if I’m not prepared for my preparing. I know that sounds a bit controlling, but the change I strive for during Lent seems to happen at a better quality when I have the time to prep for it.

Let’s take some steps back and look at the bigger picture.

How long is Lent?
Lent is a period of serious reflection before the joyous celebration of Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday is the day that Jesus rose from the dead: Resurrection Day. If you counted the days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, you’d count 46 days, yet we are taught that Lent is just 40 days. Why? Because every Sunday is a celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection, so the Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday are not Lenten days.

The calendar is … what?!

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on the Wednesday before Holy Thursday.

Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday are called the Triduum (pronounced as 3 syllables: “Trid-do-um”). Holy Thursday commemorates the day Jesus and the 12 Apostles celebrated their Passover meal, followed by time in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest and trials, and the start of Jesus’ torture.

Good Friday remembers Jesus’ torture, judgment, death, and entombment.

Holy Saturday is a day of meditation and quiet, as the Blessed Virgin, Apostles, and friends mourned; this is the time Jesus descended to hell to gather those in the Bosom of Abraham and delivered them to Heaven.

Easter Sunday commemorates the day that Jesus appeared to His Mother and friends, having risen from death.

Mardi Gras is French, and it means Fat Tuesday in English. It is the day before Ash Wednesday. Traditionally, Christians cleaned all indulgent foods from their pantries, which is why it’s called Fat or Gras. In many cultures (Brazilian, Italian, and Creole from New Orleans in Louisiana, USA) developed community celebrations based on this cleaning out; carnivals and parades have become common. Some faith traditions call Mardi Gras Shrove Tuesday. Shrove means to confess your sins. Traditionally, we are called to be introspective and examine ourselves at the start of Lent in order to determine what we need to work on during Lent to bring ourselves into a closer relationship with our Lord. We are invited to spend a substantial amount of time during Lent reflecting God’s holiness and all of the ways we turn away from our call to be holy. It is a time of awareness and promise. By recognizing our sinfulness, we are led to repentance (which is the turning away from sin) and real change.
What does this mean for me and my family? What should we do during Lent?

The simple answer is this: Stop doing one thing that separates you from God. Choose one sin, especially one that you commit all the time, and focus your energy on just stopping.

And this: At the same time, you should start doing something that is guaranteed to bring you closer to God. Choose one holy activity and focus your energy on starting it.


​Most Catholics adopt the Three Disciplines of Lent, which are fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. Together, these three disciplines help us draw closer to God, which is the true purpose of the Lenten season.
Picture
Fasting

Probably the first thing Catholics equate with Lent is fasting. But did you know that the Church calls us to fast only on two days?
  • Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the only days we are asked to fast.
  • During the Fridays of Lent, and in fact every Friday of the year, and on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics are asked to abstain from meat.
  • Remember that Sundays are free from fasting and abstinence, so you are allowed to eat meat as well as desserts on Sundays during Lent.​
For Catholics, fasting does not mean starving yourself and eating nothing. Fasting means that we eat three very small meals. We eat simple, whole, and humble foods. We drink only water or something with nutrition (broth, pureed soups, milk, etc.). There should be no sugar consumption (no sodas, no desserts, no junk).

Remember that you fast only two days a year--you can do this! When we fast, we practice self-denial and learn to lead a life of moderation and generosity. When we learn to not take for ourselves, we deepen our compassion for people who are in need, and that leads us to develop a deeper hunger and thirst for God.

Fasting applies to:
  • Children (anyone younger than 18) are not required to fast.
  • Adults 18 and older are required to fast, with exceptions:
    • The Catholic Church does not want pregnant or breast-feeding moms to fast.
    • Adults with a health condition that will be negatively impacted by fasting should not fast.
  • Adults 60 years and older are not required to fast.
 
About abstinence:

The Church asks us to abstain on Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday. Abstinence means not eating meat, including poultry, pork, beef, and other types of red meat (lamb, veal, buffalo, venison, etc.). Dairy products are discouraged (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.). On the other hand, fish and seafood is allowed. Fasting and abstaining from meat reminds us of our reliance on God, who is the source of all abundance and nourishment. When my children were preschoolers, I started training them in abstaining from meat and from indulgent foods like treats. 

Supporting your parish at least once during Lent by going to the Friday Fish Fries makes a fun family tradition. At home, try to keep your seafood dishes simple; we are fasting and abstaining from extravagance, not simply from certain animals. If your family members do not like any kind of fish, legumes (lentils, black beans, white beans, etc.) are a good source of protein, too. 
​
Picture
Prayer

On Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday, spend some time thinking about how your prayer life can improve. Also spend time finding ways to make sure your prayer life improves.

​Do-able ideas:


A lot of people respond well to daily calendar reminders. Others really like receiving early morning texts with links to a prayer book with meditations already chosen for them. Bishop Robert Barron and Dynamic Catholic are two popular resources.
Another prayer habit you could engage during Lent is actually praying for the people you tell on social media, “I’ll pray for you.” Take out a calendar and, on each of the days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, write the name of one family member, friend, coworker, neighbor, acquaintance, … or even someone you don’t really like. As each day arrives, offer your prayers and petitions, frustrations, joys, and sufferings for that person’s intention. If you wanted, you can tell that person that you are praying for him or her on that day and ask him or her if he or she has any specific intentions he or she wants you to pray for. Knowing their struggles, their hopes, spiritual life, family relations, health, and whatever else brings you into closer communion.
​
A Prayer Table in a prominent place in your home will help highlight that “in this family, we pray.” You can practice the prayers we ask your kids to memorize, or you can start your own prayer devotion there, or you can complete the Family Liturgy there, or you can even have the kids do their Religious Education Program homework in that area—in any case, it signifies a quiet, meditative place. Your prayer table could be an end table or coffee/cocktail table in your living room, a section of your kitchen counter or dining table, or a piece of furniture you buy just for this purpose. You can make this a permanent place in your home, a sacred space that will change with the seasons and with time, as the members of your family grow and change.  Basics that should always be on your Prayer Table are
  1. a placemat, cloth napkin, or tablecloth,
  2. a candle,
  3. a crucifix,
  4. a Bible,
  5. an empty bowl or other container to collect prayer requests
  6. slips of paper and pens to write prayer requests
Optional items include:
  1. statues of a patron saint, or a saint whose feast day is coming up (St. Patrick and St. Joseph are celebrated during Lent),
  2. vase and bouquet of flowers,
  3. prayer books and/or poetry books and/or a hymnal (or a Kindle or old smart phone that can access resources from the web),
  4. storybooks for children,
  5. postcards or print-outs of sacred art relevant to the season,
  6. a beautiful container for your family’s Rosaries,
For Lent and Advent, purple will be the main color (tablecloth, candles, and/or flowers).

Gather your family around the table on a certain day at a certain time. While lighting the candle, say something like, “We light a candle to remind us that God is with us in this place, at this time.”

Some good storybooks for Lent include  The Tale of Three Trees, The Donkey that No One Could Ride, and The Colt and the King.

You should also choose a good Stations of the Cross book. An electronic format is useful if you come to our parish parking lot and pray the Stations together as a family, outside. Or you can join other parishioners inside (materials will be provided). Times are listed on our parish's homepage.
Picture
Almsgiving

Donate your Time: ​Send Easter cards to people with whom you usually do not correspond – especially the lonely, widowed, homebound, and grieving.
Donate your Money: You had the option of taking the Operation Rice Bowl, sponsored by Catholic Relief Services, the last time you came to classes. You might donate goods or money to Holy Family’s St. Vincent de Paul. If money is tight in your family, you can always buy the supermarket “BOGO” and give your free one away. You might also ask each family member to find three to five high-quality, useful items in their bedrooms, family room, or kitchen that would be appreciated by those who are less fortunate. Donate the items to the Holy Family Thrift Shoppe, GoodWill, or the Salvation Army. After you donate the items, pray together at your prayer table for those who will receive them.

​Donate your Talent: Become involved in a parish activity that ministers to others. Children and teens can join Altar Servers, Ushers, and Young People’s Choir among other youth ministries. Moms and Dads can always use your talents and time here in the Religious Education Program. We would love to work with you!
Picture

Do you want to celebrate the different days in the Lenten season? Here are some ideas:

Mardi Gras: Clear your pantry. Get rid of foods and beverages that do not honor the body that God designed for you. Instead of gorging on them, consider donating unopened packages and bottles to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry here in our parish. Your body is God’s gift to you. How well are you treating it—with foods and with other choices? How are you abusing your body (your intellect, your physical body, your emotions and your psychology, etc.)? Are you using your body  to abuse others (yes, this is a question of morality)? How? These unhealthy choices and habits are also things you want to clear out and get rid of. It’s ok to feast today. Say this grace before your meal. 

Ash Wednesday: Today is not a Holy Day of Obligation, but many Catholics happily choose to start the Lenten season by going to Mass and then receiving ashes on their foreheads. I feel going to Mass and receiving ashes is important for our children, who respond well to physical expressions and rituals. This resource provides details on the Ash Wednesday tradition. Our Mass schedule is here.

St. Patrick's Day (March 17), St. Joseph's Day (March 19), and the Annunciation (March 25): Everyone likes to claim that they are Irish on St. Patrick's Day and Italian on St. Joseph's Day. And why not? It's fun to celebrate these saints and their contributions to our faith Tradition. The secular party, though, might be more than what we should be doing during Lent, even if these days don't fall on a Friday. Go ahead and celebrate, but within reason. Take note, though: if St. Patrick's Day falls on a Friday, you are not permitted to eat meat unless the Bishop gives a dispensation, so check the Diocesan website. But if St. Joseph's Day or the Annunciation falls on a Friday, you may eat meat. What's the difference? Read this article to find out. 

Can preschoolers celebrate Lent?
​

YES! You probably can see children of all ages being able to participate in some way in all of the activities listed above. Children love to help, and teens want to “give back.”

Have a blessed Lent! We are here to support you in your Lenten efforts, so please let us know what you need!

Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education​
​
0 Comments

    Upcoming Family Events

    here in our program, here at our parish, and throughout our Diocese.

    Categories

    All
    2018 2019 Program Year
    2019 2020 Program Year
    2020 2021 Program Year
    2021 2022 Program Year
    Confirmation
    COVID 19
    Lent
    Reconciliation And Communion
    Rosary Joyful
    Rosary Sorrowful
    Summer Programming
    Youth Ministries

    Archives

    January 2023
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    November 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    February 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Welcome
    • About
    • Ministries >
      • Altar Servers
      • Black Catholic Ministry
      • Dementia and Alzheimer's Caregivers Support
      • Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
      • Filipino Ministry
      • Garden Ministry
      • Grief Support
      • Lectors
      • Men's Club
      • ministerio hispano
      • Ministers of Hospitality
      • Ministry of Mothers Sharing (MOMS)
      • Music
      • Prayer Groups >
        • Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy
        • Rosary Confraternity
        • Santo Nino
      • Religious Articles Store
      • Thrift Shoppe
    • Organizations >
      • CCW >
        • Trumpeter Archives
        • CCW Board Roster
        • Events and Projects
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Legion of Mary
      • Respect Life >
        • Upcoming Events
      • Society of St. Vincent de Paul
  • New Here?
    • New and Current Parishioners
    • Events
  • The Sacraments
    • baptism
    • reconciliation
    • eucharist
    • confirmation
    • matrimony
    • holy orders
    • anointing of the sick
  • Making Disciples
    • Ryan Center for Young Children Ministry >
      • Ryan Center Donors
    • Religious Education >
      • CY1
      • CY2
      • Donum Talenti
      • Theology of the Plate
      • Upcoming Family Activities! >
        • Special Celebrations
    • Youth Ministry >
      • Photo Galleries
    • Adult Formation >
      • Welcome Home
  • Contact Us
    • Fr. Tri's Missions
    • Hall Rental