Good morning, Favorite Families!

Last night during class it was brought to my attention that there will be some construction along Floresta Drive beginning Monday, January 16, 2023, and continuing through August 4, 2023.

To clarify, construction will be along Floresta Drive (from PSL Blvd. to Thornhill Dr.) to expand a small bridge along that stretch. PSL Blvd. will not be closed, nor will any bridges on PSL Blvd. be closed. For details view this Facebook post or read this article.

I know how difficult it is being a parent on the Treasure Coast. Getting one child to his or her activities is stressful; getting multiple kids to multiple activities can be a nightmare, even on a good day with no traffic on the streets. What we're going to do is the best we can do. I want you to know that I know there are potential traffic slowdowns for you in the remaining months of the program. While accurate and factual attendance records must still be kept (recording present on time, tardy, or absent), I understand you are doing the best you can. We will continue with our soft start at 5:15 in the church with attendance taken at 5:30 at the start of class. Please do not drop your children off earlier than 5:10.

And for each and every one of you: I know that you and your family have prioritized your faith by  seeking out our program and enrolling your kids in it year after year. Father Tri and the Program staff recognize and acknowledge that. We pray for you, and particularly for your driving safety at this time.

See you in class next week, in the midst of the Holy Spirit,
Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education
337-4313

PS: Keep going to Mass! 😊

Work of Mercy Project #1, Faith Formation Levels
Twice a year, we would like to work on a “Work of Mercy” or “social action” project with our Faith Formation students. The works we perform will change annually and will be directly related to the works defined by the Holy Catholic Church. All works will be interpreted and tasks will be age appropriate. This portion of our program is described in the Faith Formation Parent Handbook with the white cover as well as in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2447.
Corporal Works of Mercy:

• Feed the hungry.
• Give drink to the thirsty.
• Clothe the naked.
• Shelter the homeless.
• Visit the sick.
• Visit the imprisoned.
• Bury the dead.

Spiritual Works of Mercy:

• Counsel the doubtful.
• Instruct the ignorant.
• Admonish sinners.
• Comfort the afflicted.
• Forgive offenses.
• Bear wrongs patiently.
• Pray for the living and the dead.

Catholic Social Teaching (social action):

• Life and dignity of the human person
• Option for the poor and vulnerable
• Rights and responsibilities—all things required for human decency and a healthy society (family and community building)

This fall, the staff, volunteers, and families in our program will minister to the families of the victims of the May 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. We will send a perpetual Mass intention to each of the families. This act alone encompasses bury the dead (for the victims); pray for the living and the dead (for the victims and their loved ones); and visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and comfort the afflicted (for the families and friends of the victims). It is an act of love to show respect for the bodies of the dead, since during life, they were temples of the Holy Spirit and received the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion.
We will need to raise money in order to pay for the intentions; any excess money will be sent to
Sacred Heart Church: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/30/us/uvalde-church-sacred-heart.html
Catholic Extension: https://give.catholicextension.org/page/43130/donate/1?en_txn6=2207DGDDPR1&en_txn7=PR&utm_medium=PR&utm_source=app&utm_campaign=2208uva
First State Bank of Uvalde: https://texasaflcio.org/who-we-are/resources-support-uvalde-community
See also: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251417/eleven-funerals-to-take-place-at-uvaldes-catholic-church-in-coming-weeks
Parents’ Role in this Project
How do we explain school shootings to our kids?  Jane Ripperger-Suhler, a child psychiatrist at Seton’s Texas Child Study Center, Gary Steck, the chief executive officer and a marriage and family therapist at Wellmore Behavioral Health, and Julia Hoke, a psychologist and the former director of psychological services at Austin Child Guidance Center, had this advice for parents about how much we should say about a mass shooting:
Check in with yourself, and prepare your talk and your answers
Not all parents are able to have a conversation on this topic with their kids, and that’s ok. If they need, parents can talk with a friend, pastor or mental health professional before talking with children. Parents will want to not only discover their own thoughts and feelings but will also be ready to express them with precise language that kids will understand.
Be ready to talk but be ready for your child not wanting to talk. Don’t force them to talk about it.
Remember that many kids already will know what is happening because schools will be talking about it, their friends will be talking about it, and they have access to social media. They are looking to their parents and teachers to reassure them. Your goal in talking to your child is making sure they are feeling safe.
Start the conversation
First, check your emotions before you talk to them. Remind yourself of the facts and how you will state them.
The conversation can start by asking the child what they already know and gently correcting any misinformation. You can ask things like: “What do you think about this?” “What questions do you have?” Gauge if they want to talk about it, knowing that they might not want to talk about it. Don’t force them to talk about it.
If your child does want to talk, listen to what a child has to say and be attentive to their concerns.
It may be easier for young children to have a tough conversation if they’re doing something they enjoy such as playing outside, taking a walk, or coloring, while they are talking.
Let your children know that there are many people who love and care for them.
Let them ask questions
Children may have questions about what happened in Texas. Experts say you should answer those factually, honestly, directly, clearly, and simply. The amount of information a child needs to know will vary based on their age and even between children of the same age. An example of what you could say is: “A kid walked into a school and shot students.”
Kids don’t need to know every detail of a tragedy, particularly if they don’t ask about it. Don’t go into graphic or gory details. Even with older kids, you don’t want to overshare.
Very young kids might not need you to say much of anything.
Make sure children know they can ask questions later.
Reassure them
Remind your children again that they are loved and that the adults in their lives are doing everything they can to keep them safe, every day. Depending on your child’s age and level of understanding, some specifics about safety measures, such as door monitors (here at Holy Family we call ours “the God Squad”) and police officers at school, door locks, catechist and teacher skill and expertise, and practice drills might help reassure some children.
Most importantly, remind your kids that you—as their mom and dad-- will keep them safe.
Remind them that, as a family and as a parish community, we stick together.
Remind them that if they see something strange/odd/unusual with one of their friends or classmates or are concerned about one of their classmates, they should tell an adult immediately. We have to work together to stay safe.
Be a role model
Parents can tell their children how they’re feeling using age-appropriate language and in age-appropriate ways. You can model that it’s OK to have certain feelings (sad, scared, angry, etc.).
You can focus on how you are feeling, that you’re upset and that you also don’t understand why this happened, but be careful about how you are reacting.
Stay calm when you talk; don’t become worked up and frantic. You want to be authentic and genuine, but you have to put up a wall and not show them the true depths of your own fear or anxiety.
Watch for long-term effects
Kids might react to the shooting at different times and in different ways, so parents should keep communicating and monitor their kids for long-term mental health effects. Some of those symptoms include changes in appetite, sleep, behavior, moodiness, or excessive worry. In young children, symptoms may manifest in persistent headaches or stomach aches. Early on, those symptoms aren’t likely a cause for concern, but if they’re having continual symptoms over a longer period of time, parents should seek professional mental health help.
Sources
https://www.statesman.com/story/news/healthcare/2022/05/24/texas-school-shooting-uvalde-robb-elementary-school-talking-to-kids/9916475002/
https://ctmirror.org/2022/05/25/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-the-texas-school-shooting/

Hello New Religious Education Families!

We are so happy that you have joined our Religious Education Program here at Holy Family. We are excited about our start -- in about one month!

I just want to take a moment to remind everyone that your children are not to receive Communion. Your children are preparing for this beautiful privilege, but they are not to receive right now.

1-When you approach the Blessed Sacrament, please have your children walk and stand in front of you.

2-Their arms should be crossed over their chest in a position we call "pretzel arms." It looks like this:

3-The kids will receive a special blessing. The Ordinary or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion will likely hover his or her right hand over the child's head and whisper a very short blessing. Some may touch your child's head or forehead; some will hover over the head. Your children do not have to respond, but they can say, "Amen" if they want to. The blessing will look like this:

Hello Favorite Families!

This program year has gotten off to a strong start despite all of the uncertainty. I want to thank you for following the mask policy. We continue to keep class sizes quite small for the space while utilizing the air purifiers and air conditioning in every room. We've had a higher number of absences this semester, but it's because we are all following the "out-of-an-abundance-of-caution" mindset. No one has been out due to COVID-19, thanks be to God. For those who are approaching 3 absences already, catechists will be sending home assignments to help your kids keep God at the forefront of their minds, building the habit of trying to see God in the events of their day.

Speaking of habits... kids are challenged to remember appropriate classroom behavior both in the schools and here in our parish program. Home-life and school-life can be so different! We've had to institute a cell phone use policy, effective immediately. Please review this with your children who bring phones to class.

1-Volume on phones will be turned to off so that we cannot hear any notification sounds between 5:10 and 6:30pm. 
2-During class, phones will be kept in pockets or purses-- out of sight.

• If anyone in the class looks at his or her phone without permission, the entire class will take out their phones and place them upside down, an arm's distance away, on the table that the child is using as a desk.
  
• If anyone attempts to use or uses a phone that is on the table, the entire class will place their phones on a table at the front of the classroom, within sight, but out of reach.
  
• Students will pick up their phones at dismissal, after the closing prayer. 

3-Please do not call or text your children while they are in their 1.25-hour class.

• If you have urgent news to share, you should either call our office or come to the Parish Hall and sign your child out of class early.

This has never been a real problem before; I'm sure it's just part of the transition from pandemic school-at-home to post-pandemic school-in-classrooms. Thank you for encouraging your children in this self-discipline.

Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education

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 Fifth Sorrowful Mystery, The Crucifixion. For three hours our dear Lord hung on the cross. He was taking on Himself the punishment for our sins. After some time, He knew that God had forgiven our sins. Once more, we had the right to enter Heaven. So He dropped His head and died. ​God, His Father, allowed this punishment. We praise and thank Jesus and God our heavenly Father for the glorious victory the Christ gained for us through His death and resurrection: Father, although this glorious triumph was completed more than 2000 years ago, it is still as potent and powerful in the lives of believers today as it was when the angels declared, "He is not here - He is risen." Keep me ever looking to Jesus, knowing that this glorious victory has not lost any of its ancient power, but is the single means of overcoming the world, the flesh and the devil. I pray that I will run the race that is set before me looking to Jesus, and that I may finish the course that You have given to me, as I yield through word and deed to the working of the Holy Spirit within. This I ask in Jesus' name, Amen. (Source)
​
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!

Dear holy families,

Through your meditations of the Sorrowful Mysteries over the past five weeks, you have encountered the Passion in the Scriptures several times. On Palm Sunday, we will participate in the Gospel reading that recounts the events of the Passion, Mark 14: 1 through Mark 15: 47.

Starting with Mark 15: 34, we are told that Jesus speaks while He hangs on the Cross. I invite you to use this resource to meditate on the Seven Last Words of Christ, words of great meaning that I want you to know. This devotion may be spread out over a week, commemorating one of the Seven Last Words each day (different links are available for each day), or you may pray it as a whole devotion in a single day. As always, you choose what is best for your family, but I encourage you to participate fully.

Please, bless your Lent with prayer and meditation.

​In Christ's Love,
Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education

There are two figures that really pop out of this scene because they are so bright. Can you point to them? One is a man, the other is a woman. Can you tell me their names?

Read the title of this painting. Do you know what is happening here? I'm sure you remember the story we've been reading the past few weeks: Jesus was in Jerusalem celebrating the Jewish holy day of Passover with His friends. On Holy Thursday, He knew that the time had come to fulfill His purpose. While He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was arrested. He was brought to many places and accused of many things; while He was there, He was beaten in many ways.

Pontius Pilate, the Roman authority in the Holy Land, presented Jesus to the crowd and asked them, "Should I free Jesus, or should I free Barabbas?" Barabbas had committed horrible crimes; Jesus committed no crime. It didn't matter to the people in the crowd. They shouted that they wanted Barabbas to be set free.

This painting shows the moment when the soldier broke the crowd apart to make room for Jesus to walk forward to pick up His Cross. 

There are so many people in this crowd. It would take us a long time to count them all! But we could do it if we wanted to. I would count pretty slowly because I would want to look carefully at each person. Can you see how each one is so distinct, so set apart from the rest of the crowd? Each one is his or her own individual, reacting to the judgment of Jesus in his or her own unique way. There's also a lot of moving: running, falling, talking, jostling. Take a minute to just look at the people. Talk about some of the people you see. Who are they? How do you know? What are they doing? Can you see their faces? How do you think all of these people feel?

I see a man holding the cross. How do you know that he's not Jesus? Who is walking with Jesus? How do you know who he is?

The only calm faces in this emotional scene are those of Our Redeemer and His Blessed Mother. This surprises us because they are the ones who are suffering the most here-- they should be the ones crying out, pushing to escape! But they don't because they have complete faith in this work of God. Jesus and Mary look noble, dignified, and perfect.

Do you remember how we talked about Jesus' glow when we studied our Advent art? Jesus is glowing here, too, isn't He? Jesus' body seems unusually long to me. The artist may have chosen to draw Jesus this way to emphasize Jesus' supernatural and divine quality.  

​Let's look at a statue now.

I enjoy sculpture even more than I enjoy painting because I find it so amazing that artists can turn a solid slab of hard, cold stone into something that looks lifelike, soft, warm, and human, so I am really excited about sharing this one with you! Look at the hands and fingers, hair, and muscles that the artist Michelangelo was able to carve! It all looks so real! Everything looks so respectful of God's creation!

Two weeks ago I told you about the symbol for St. Mark's Gospel. Do you remember what it is and why? The lion, because it is powerful and noble. Jesus looks powerful, noble, and perfect here. This statue shows Christ carrying the cross, but there is no evidence of the wounds Our Savior suffered at the scourging or crowning. Both Michelangelo and Doré, who painted the work above, chose to show Jesus without wounds because they wanted to focus on Christ's nobility, dignity, and perfection as well as His perfect sacrificial offering of Himself so that we could be redeemed (or saved) from our sins.

Jesus is not only carrying the Cross in this depiction; He hugs it, reminding us that He was happy to do this for us. How grateful we need to be for that! We must show our gratitude and love by improving ourselves every day and by participating in all of the sacraments of the Church: being baptized into God's family, going to Confession and receiving Communion as often as we can, being confirmed, being married in the Church-- or maybe becoming a deacon, priest, or religious-- and asking for God's healing oils when we are sick or dying.

If you look carefully, you will see a rope wrapped around a staff. The rope indicates that the devil is now bound and under the feet of the risen Christ. The wooden staff that you see the Good Shepherd holding originally had a cloth banner attached to it: Jesus rose from the dead and is the King of the Universe!

Jesus was arrested, then He was questioned over and over by different authorities. A judgment was made: everyone then knew that He would be crucified. Behind the scenes, the torture continued. Do you know where we are now? Here He is, in a prison, being made fun of with a crown of thorns.

This painting is dark, isn't it? I wouldn't be surprised if you needed to step a little closer if you were in the Museum-- or zoom in here on your phone or computer-- to see all the details. But wait. Let's look from a distance first. I see seven people with Jesus. All of them look really worked up. Despite that agitation, the dark colors that the artist Anthony van Dyck uses cause a very quiet pause. We hear nothing, we might feel our souls reaching out, as we reverently look at our exhausted Jesus, Whose Heavenly Father bathes Him in light. That light isn't coming from the window, is it? Look out the window; it's still twilight outside. God is always with Him, and us.

Let's lean in.

Jesus is surrounded by five men. They are probably soldiers who just finished scourging Him. Now they are jeering Him; they are making fun of Him.

Do you remember the Jusepe de Ribera painting called The Adoration of the Shepherds painting that we looked at during Advent? One of the shepherds was genuflecting as he recognized God in the Holy Infant. His hands are held in prayer, and his knees and feet are respectfully placed.

The man who helped torture Jesus is genuflecting in front of Him, too, in the same exact position and the same exact placement on the canvas as that shepherd, but this genuflect is not sincere. He is in bare feet, and one of those dirty soles is shown directly to us. This was a common technique Renaissance and Baroque artists used to show rudeness and disrespect. ​How different their attitudes are! The man makes fun of Jesus while he hands Jesus a pretend scepter before he yells, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

o Jesus.... He is so weak from the scourging. Through it must be painful beyond imagination, He does not scream, groan, or even show pain on His Face. He just sits there as the soldier dressed in a suit of black armor places the crown of thorns upon His divine Head. We can see how painful the thorns must be because the soldier is wearing iron and heavy leather gloves rather than using his bare hands to drive the thorns into Christ's Head. 

Soldiers living in the Holy Land during Jesus' lifetime did not wear suits of armor. So why is this soldier wearing something that was invented a thousand years after Good Friday? There are several possibilities why the artist chose to include this anachronism. Sometimes artists include contemporary items to remind us that we are a part of the ancient Christian scene. Sometimes artists include objects that viewers are familiar with to express an abstract idea; here, van Dyck may have wanted to remind us of the constant fight between good (symbolized by the innocent, loving, accepting Jesus) and evil (symbolized by the cold, hard, unyielding armor). The battle axe held by the man behind Jesus is also an anachronism. In religious art the battle axe is used as a symbol of martyrdom.

Hello to all families who are walking with me this Lent! ​

Speaking of walking ... What about the Stations of the Cross?

The Stations of the Cross, also known as Via Crucis, Via Dolorosa, and Way of the Cross, is a devotion that began in the 1600s to commemorate the Christ's last day on Earth as a man. It mimics the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that many modern-day Catholics walk nowadays. That pilgrimage was reverently mapped under the Emperor Constantine and has been walked by pious Catholics since the earliest times. Catholic Pilgrims stop at 14 places where 14 significant events happened to Jesus on Good Friday while they walk the same path that Jesus walked from the praetorium to Calvary.

Local Catholic parishes have made the Via Dolorosa accessible to their parishioners by creating a path on parish property with 14 stops along the way. While the original Via stops at 14 buildings and gates, parishes have some form of art depicting each scene from that day. Most churches have plaques, but some have statues or paintings. Participants move from artpiece to artpiece. They stop at each one and say a series of prayers; as they walk to the next artpiece, they sing the "Stabat Mater" hymn (linked below). The stations are most commonly prayed during Lent on Wednesdays and Fridays, and especially on Good Friday, the day of the year upon which the events actually occurred. 

At Holy Family, we have Stations plaques inside the main church, inside the chapel, and outside near the gazebo. You may pray these with our community; times are on the website, and you'll receive a little booklet of prayers on your way in.

Alternatively, you can pray these on your own time with just your family. If you don't have a Stations booklet, you could use these Stations of the Cross written for families.

Kids and grown-ups of all ages are able to pray this devotion. I encourage you to be creative and active with your prayers!

​Blessings,
Mary Acevedo, Director of Religious Education

Sing this ancient hymn as you walk between plaques. In this video, it is sung in Latin first followed by English. Lyrics are on the screen, and you only need to choose just one to sing:

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.

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.

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!

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.

Older children and tweens will understand the scenario in this video; some will be ready to take the step in maturity:

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:  

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.