March On...!

Living Lent (and Loving Lent), with two children in college and one child in middle-school, has been a very interesting and a very self-revealing journey.

My motivation is stemming from another place, I am finding a different path to His grace.  I would not say that it is easier, in fact, it feels harder to keep to the traditions of the past.  Silence is always a good start.

"Speak, for your servant is listening."  1 Samuel 3:10

March is a month that is sometimes solemn, not in a grim or dour way, but in a ceremonious way.  March is a month of sincere preparation.  

I love decorating my home for all the seasons and for all the major feast days.  It is a cue to remind me and my family what we should be celebrating, and what we should be focusing on.

This coming Easter will be extra special.  We are celebrating two very important events.  Preparing for the big day is exciting and joyous.

But First...we enter into the Easter Triduum, with whole-hearted faith.

However you may prepare, always remember to Keep Love in Lent.

May your Holy Week be filled with His Love, Mercy and Grace.

~ Valerie

Good Friday

GOOD FRIDAY:

Bitter Lamentations

The Liturgy of the Word

The Solemn Intercessions

Adoration of the Holy Cross

Holy Communion

Chaplet of Divine Mercy

A very good Friday.

Mandatum

{pretty}

The Latin word for "commandment", is mandatum.

Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment...

"Love one another, as I have loved you."  

~ John 13:34

The Holy Triduum begins on Holy Thursday.  At the Holy Mass of the Lord's Supper, the Washing of the Feet takes place.  The priest will humbly wash and kiss the feet of twelve selected men; these men are representing the twelve disciples.  (I don't know why, but I tear every time I see this...it is so humbling and beautiful and I can just imagine Jesus and His disciples and everything...It is powerful.)

We have just celebrated three pillars of the Church:

1.  The Sacrament of Holy Communion
2.  The Priesthood
3.  The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday ends with the removal of the Body of Christ from the main tabernacle within the church.  The Sacred Host (Communion Hosts) are placed in the Altar of Repose until the Mass of the Pre-sanctified, on Good Friday.  There is no Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Good Friday.  Anywhere.

The Altar is stripped bare.  The bells are now silent.

{real}

Until the Easter Vigil, on Holy Saturday...

Thursday is also when I visit Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

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Today is also the quasi-anniversary date of my little blog.  The actual date is April 21st, but it was on a Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday that I wrote my first post...four years ago.

I re-dedicate this blog to Our Mother, Mary and her Son.  May she guide us and protect us always, and may Christ, Our Savior, be glorified now and forever.

A Blessed & Joyful Easter to All!

~ Welcome Home ~

~ Welcome ~

To my Catholic Family Journal...and journey.

On Saturday, at the Easter Vigil, several men and women will be received into the Church.  This is such an exciting and sacred time - The Easter Triduum.  

We have been preparing for Easter, during this Lenten season.

Today, Good Friday, is the only day we do not celebrate the Holy Mass.  This is a sobering thought.  No Holy Mass.  {{{I shiver}}}.  

Additionally, this time is special to me, because on April 21st, I will celebrate the 3rd Anniversary of my little cyber-journal.  My blog.  Which was dedicated to Our Mother, Mary.  And to Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer.  

As my children and I look back on our posts, we are reminded of all the joys we share together - as a family, and through our Faith.  

For the first year or so, I kept this blog private.  Very private.  I still do...But, after much prayer & time, I opened the door to our little world.  

Sharing a peek into our Catholic home.  I am happy that I have guests that visit us here.  It is not my goal to try and capture hundreds or even thousands of readers.  It is my goal to share my love...my family and my Faith.  As imperfect as we are.

Sharing the Catholic Faith.  The Catholic Church is such a gift.  No one can really explain....It is something that needs to be experienced.  Because even the pain and suffering is all for a greater glory.

I am so thankful for the gift that my parents gave me...The Catholic Faith.  So rich.  So full.  So home...thank you for your visit.  You are welcome to come over...anytime!

WELCOME HOME

Welcome Home - Click Here

Sharing with Catholic Bloggers Network

~ Triduum Sacrum ~ Part Three: Vigil Mass

~ Joining the Catholic Bloggers Link-up Blitz, here. ~

Each part of the Easter Triduum is beautiful, beginning with Holy Thursday (Part I) and Good Friday (Part II).

The Vigil Mass is a very important Liturgy.  New members are brought into the Church.
It is the beginning of Easter.

We gather outside the church...where a fire has been prepared. 

After the blessing of the fire, the Paschal Candle is prepared:

Christ yesterday and today

 

the Beginning and the end

 

Alpha and Omega

 

all time belongs to him and all the ages to him be glory and power through every age for ever.  Amen.

Father lights the Paschal Candle using the new fire.  Then, we process back into the (dark) church with the (lit) Paschal Candle...singing Lumen Christi.  With the very same flame from the Paschal candle, each of our candles are lit...until the entire church it filled with candlelight.  The Vigil Mass is so glorious!

Visit more bloggers at the Catholic Bloggers Link-up Blitz, here.

~ Preparing for the Easter Triduum ~

Palm Sunday is THIS Sunday...

At our parish, all the statues, art, and crucifixes are covered in purple cloth.  It's a sobering atmosphere.


At our home, we have slowed down on all the extra outings and have tried to take in what is about to happen during the Easter Triduum.  It's been an exciting and joyful week with the election of our new pope...Pope Francis, and then the feast days of St. Patrick & St. Joseph.

My First Communion Class/children have received their Sacrament of Confession...Reminding me that it's a good time to do a deeper Examination of Conscience.

Candles waiting to be lit...

Candles lit from flame of last years Paschal Candle,
after each child makes their First Confession

I love all the traditions within the days of Holy Thursday and Good Friday - the somberness is taken to a new level as the 40 days of Lent comes to its climax.  Easter Sunday can be celebrated with so much more Faith, Hope and Love. 

Which reminds me of this picture from CatholicVote

 

The Light of Christ...go forth!