Lent

Lent is traditionally a time of penance and reconciliation.

Even children who are not old enough to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation can benefit from seeing their parents and older siblings do so. 

It makes a strong impression on children to see their parents and other adults go to confession, and this is one of the few times they can actually see it in action. Seeing mom and dad acknowledge their own shortcomings and God’s place in their lives is a powerful sign that there really is a God and that all of us are called to follow him.

Families can also make Lent a season to practice a spirit of reconciliation in the family. Are there wrongs that need to be discussed and forgiven? Parents are encouraged to model forgiveness for their children and encourage them to forgive those who have hurt them or seek forgiveness from those they have hurt.

Lent is a time of prayer, penance and sacrifice, a time for the entire family to be more attentive to the words of Jesus and to each other. It is a time to try harder to put Christ’s teachings into practice. It is a 40-day journey with Jesus. Lent means doing something as well as giving up something.

Where do these three pillars (or acts of righteousness) come from? Straight from the Bible! Read the Gospel of Matthew 6:1-6, 16:18, which is the Gospel reading on Ash Wednesday.

Prayer

• Set aside the same time each day to build the habit of praying together as a family. This could be prayer before meals, bedtime prayers, or when driving to school/daycare together.
• Take time for each member to say their prayer intention for the day; which could be praying for a grandparent, a sick friend, or doing well on a test.
• Learn and pray the 5 Finger Prayer!

Almsgiving

The following explanations of each day are taken from Hallow, except the exerpt titled 'Triduum,' which is taken from the USCCB..

Palm Sunday

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, a distinct liturgy that begins with a Gospel reading of Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem at the entrance of the worship space. Palm Sunday is the first time we hear the Lord’s Passion in the liturgical calendar.

Monday through Wednesday of Holy Week

Daily Mass takes place like normal during these three days of Holy Week. While some Catholics refer to these days as “Holy Monday,” “Holy Tuesday” and “Holy Wednesday,” these names are less prominent than those given to other days that compose Holy Week. The USCCB simply refers to these days as “Monday of Holy Week,” “Tuesday of Holy Week” and “Wednesday of Holy Week.” 

Triduum

The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ's Paschal Mystery.

The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season, and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.

The liturgical services that take place during the Triduum are:

• Mass of the Lord's Supper
• Good Friday of the Lord's Passion
• Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday begins the Easter Triduum–the three days leading up to Jesus’ Resurrection. This liturgy includes the reception of the Holy Oils, in which the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Holy Chrism are processed through the church, to be used for the rest of the year. Also notable at the Holy Thursday service is the washing of the feet, in which the priest washes the feet of 12 parishioners. Jesus did this to demonstrate to his disciples how they are to serve others through selfless love.

At the end of Mass, consecrated hosts remain on the altar while everything else is stripped away. As incense fills the church, the priest, donning a special garb called a humeral veil, takes the Blessed Sacrament and processes out of the church to a chapel or other area for adoration.

Good Friday

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion, commonly known as Good Friday, is the only day in the entire year in which no Mass is celebrated.

It’s a solemn day that calls for fasting and abstinence. 

Stations of the Cross are popular on Good Friday. The main service on Good Friday features no procession. The Passion is read and the Eucharist (consecrated on Thursday) is distributed. Veneration of the Cross and solemn intercessions–a set of shared prayer intentions offered universally on this day–are other unique elements to the Good Friday service.

Holy Saturday

The Mass on Holy Saturday is the Easter Vigil. This is the most unique and most important liturgy of the year. The Easter Vigil ends the Triduum and begins Easter celebrations.

The service can only begin once the sun has set.

• Outside the church, a fire lights the Paschal candle, and the flame is shared throughout the church to individual handheld candles.
• The Liturgy of the Word, which normally includes nine readings, begins in darkness. The readings demonstrate the connection between the Old and New Testaments and how Jesus fulfilled Scripture and achieved salvation for all humanity.
• The Liturgy of Baptism, which follows the Gospel and homily, marks the culmination of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program. Catechumens, who have been preparing to enter the Church, are baptized, confirmed, and later receive their first Holy Communion.

The Easter Vigil is a joyous, celebratory liturgy, filled with rich songs. Although the services ends late at night, churches typically have a reception afterward to continue the celebration.

Easter Sunday

Compared to other Holy Week services, Easter Sunday Masses are most similar to those that occur during Ordinary Time. The festive atmosphere continues from the Easter Vigil, with the worship space decorated with beautiful flowers, especially white lilies.