catholic family faith

Celebrate the Triduum with Pope Benedict XVI

Check out this website:  http://pope2you.net/

To hear the Triduum liturgies from the Vatican, click on the Celebrate Easter with the Pope icon.

Easter...Not Just the Resurrection Anymore?

"What do bunnies and eggs have to do with Easter and Jesus' Resurrection?" one of our first grade boys asked in religious education last week.  Good question!

Historically, Eastre (traditional spelling) is a pagan festival that existed even before Jesus walked the earth.  The Saxons of northern Europe celebrated the coming of spring in a festival devoted to Eostre, the goddess of dawn, spring and fertility.  Eostre was viewed as the Mother goddess, who existed in balance with the Father in the heavens.

As the Christians moved into northern Europe in the second century, they attempted to convert the peoples to Christianity.  As Christians have done throughout the centuries, these missionaries drew upon the existing pagan traditions and integrated them into Christian belief.  The celebration of Christ's Resurrection was celebrated around the same time as the Eastre celebration, so there was a natural blending of the two traditions.

Eastre's symbols were the hare, eggs, and newly hatched chicks, all signs of new life and fertility.  Since rabbits are more common than hares in most places around the world and rabbits are notably fertile, they came to replace the hare as an Easter symbol.

Eggs have been a symbol of rebirth since ancient times.  Egyptians and Greeks would bury eggs in the tombs of the dead to symbolize resurrection into the next life.  During the pagan festival of Eastre, the peoples would color and decorate eggs, a tradition that continues to this day.

So as your family participates in the traditions of egg hunts and stuffed bunnies this Easter, celebrate these symbols as signs of new life and rebirth rather than competition with the feast of Jesus' Resurrection.

Holy Week Pilgrimages - Walking in the Steps of Jesus

This week, Catholics and other Christians around the world are embarking on special journeys commemorating Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection. We call these special journeys "pilgrimages," as those who participate are pilgrims walking in the steps of Jesus.  Whether you take a physical journey or a spiritual journey of prayer, spend some time walking with Jesus during Holy Week.

VIA DOLOROSA - One of the most famous pilgrimages is the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrows, in Old City Jerusalem.  You can experience the Via Dolorosa on the Internet by visiting these websites: 

http://www.holylandnetwork.com/jerusalem/via_dolorosa/via_dolorosa.htm - offers photos of the   stations along the Via Dolorosa and prayers to pray in conjunction with the stations

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-via-dolorosa - I liked the photos and map on this website

EL SANTUARIO DE CHIMAYO - In the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, New Mexico, thousands of pilgrims visit El Santuario de Chimayo each year. This site, referred to as the Lourdes of America, is a simple adobe chapel, but is said to be a place of spiritual and physical healing.  On Good Friday, pilgrims walk from nearby villages to remember Jesus' sacrifice.  Many pilgrims begin a week-long journey on Palm Sunday, walking 100-miles from Albuquerque to Chimayo.

http://www.archdiocesesantafe.org/AboutASF/Chimayo.html - provides a basic introduction on El Santuario de Chimayo on the Archdiocese of Santa Fe website

http://holychimayo.us/ - the main website of El Santuario de Chimayo; click on "A Place of History" for the story behind the "holy dirt" of Chimayo

MOUNT ADAMS STEPS - In Cincinnati, Ohio, pilgrims "pray the steps" to Holy Cross-Immaculata Church.  This 150-year old tradition began with a promise to the Blessed Virgin Mary by John Purcell, the first archbishop of Cincinnati.  During a terrible storm at sea on a return voyage from Rome, Archbishop Purcell promised that, if he survived, he would build a church to honor Mary in Mt. Adams.  People pray in their individual ways as they climb the steps to the church.  Some say the Rosary, others read from prayer books, still others pray in their own words in conversation with God.  Children are encouraged to say a Hail Mary on each step and an Our Father on the landings.

http://mtadamssteps.com/mtadamssteps/index2.htm - offers a brief description of Mount Adams Steps

http://hciparish.org/ - the official website for Holy Cross-Immaculata Parish

PARISH STATIONS OF THE CROSS - Catholic parishes around the world pray the Stations of the Cross, especially on Good Friday.  This devotion includes reflections on the 14 Stations of Jesus' passion and death.

http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/child/stations/ - on-line Stations of the Cross, especially for children

http://www.usccb.org/nab/stations.htm - Stations of the Cross based on those celebrated by Pope John Paul II's on Good Friday in 1991

Are You Hungry?

It's Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, a day of fast.

Why is it that I can go every other day not eating between meals, sometimes even forgetting to eat meals (like working through lunch), but on Ash Wednesday, when I'm told to fast, all I can think about is food? 

Fasting, they say, is good for the soul.  The prophets fasted.  Saints through the centuries fasted.  Even Jesus fasted.  Fasting helps us to remember that we must be dependent on God.  All that we have is a result of God's love and goodness.  God blesses us with talents and abilities that allow us to work so that we can make money to buy food, clothing, and shelter for our families. 

No one ever said that fasting was easy.  It takes conscious effort not to eat those things that we want so badly.  We make this conscious effort so that we may live in solidarity with all those who fast every day because of lack of food.  We make this conscious effort to be united in Spirit with all those who have fasted before us and all those who are fasting around the world today.

I need to keep reminding myself of all of this as my stomach growls, my mouth waters at the thought of food, and I am tempted to just nibble on this one cookie. 

May our fasting be a prayer for all those who do not have food today or any other day.  May our fasting draw us closer to the God who loves us and provides for all our needs.

March for Life 2010

This past Friday, January 22nd, thousands of people (half of them under age 25) gathered in Washington, D.C., to mark the 37th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that legalized abortion.  Many more participated in the pro-life demonstration through a Virtual March for Life.  To join your voice with the thousands speaking out for the dignity of human life, follow this link:  http://www.virtualmarchforlife.com/.

A World on Its Knees, an E-Prayerbook for Our Brothers and Sisters in Haiti

As the world continues to respond to the devastation in Haiti, the Daughters of St. Paul are offering a free book of prayer for the victims.  Sr. Kathryn James Hermes, FSP (Franciscan Sister of Peace) has compiled a collection of prayers to pray with and for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

The website states:

Now, more than ever, we need to stand with our Haitian sisters and brothers,
both those in Haiti and their friends and relatives around the world
worried about their well-being.

This e-prayerbook is a useful way to focus intentions
and be in spirit with those who need us most.

Let's get this into the hands of millions of people around the world
who can't go to Haiti in person but can pray.
The Haitians are giving us an impressive example of faith and prayer.
Let us lift up their needs now that they will be able to
rebuild their lives, their church, and their nation.
 

Use the prayers in bulletins, prayer groups, parishes
or in the silence of your own heart.

 

To download this e-prayerbook, click this link:  http://www.pauline.org/FreeEbookofPrayersforHaiti/tabid/375/Default.aspx

 

Catholic Relief Services in Haiti

After the earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Catholic Relief Services and Caritas turned a golf course into one of the first camps for displaced people.  They have provided food, water, and medical assistance in the midst of the devastation.  For more on Catholic Relief Services' involvement in Haiti and to donate to CRS' efforts, visit http://crs.org/.

Vocation Awareness Week - January 10-16, 2010

Prayer for Vocations

Lord Jesus, as You once called the first disciples 

to make them fishers of men,

let your sweet invitation continue to resound: 

Come, follow Me! 

Give young men and women the grace of responding quickly to Your voice.

Support your bishops, priests and consecrated people in their apostolic labor. 

Grant perseverance to our seminarians and to all those

who are carrying out the ideal of a life totally consecrated to Your service. 

Awaken in our community a missionary eagerness. 

Lord, SEND WORKERS TO YOUR HARVEST 

and do not allow humanity to be lost for the lack of pastors,

missionaries and people dedicated to the cause of the Gospel. 

Mary, Mother of the Church, the model of every vocation, 

help us to say “Yes” to the Lord Who calls us to cooperate in the divine plan of salvation. 

We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

(Pope John Paul II)

Happy New Year!

Over the past 24 hours or so, people around the world rang in the New Year with parties and food, friends and family.  But this is just one New Year's celebration in our world, primarily a Western tradition.  Other cultures have different traditions.

The Church celebrated the new year on the first Sunday of Advent.  The traditions of Advent call us to recall our activities of the past year; to reflect on the present, especially Christ's presence in our lives; and to prepare for the future, Christ's coming.

The Jewish new year begins on Rosh Hashanah, at the beginning of their month, Tishri, which falls at the end of September of the Julian calendar.  Rosh Hashanah is a time for recollection, signalled by the blowing of the shofar (ram's horn.)

The Muslim new year, called Al-Hijra, begins with the month of Muharram, which is in May on the Julian calendar.  Al-Hijra commemorates the date of the Prophet's move from Makkah to Medina; hijra means "migration."

Southern Buddhists (in Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, and parts of India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh) spend three days of cleaning homes, washing statues of Buddha, and gathering in the streets as they celebrate a time of renewal and return after the spring equinox.

The Chinese New Year, a Taoist tradition, begins on the first day of the first lunar month, usually near the beginning of February.  At the new year, Taoists symbolically sweep away misfortune and mistakes from the past.  They hang protective charms in their homes, set off firecrackers to frighten away evil spirits, dine on festive foods, and exchange gifts as they prepare to welcome the good fortune of the new year.

Each culture celebrates their new year in different ways, but it seems that in any culture, the new year is a time to recollect, to recall the events of the past year, to renew spirits, and to prepare for new opportunities.  New Year's celebrations remind us of forgiveness and reconciliation and anticipating new possibilities.

For more on New Year's celebrations and other festivals around the world, check out these resources:

• Festivals of the World.  Breuilly, E. O'Brien, J. Palmer, M. eds.  (New York: Checkmark Books, 2002)  [Much of what I wrote was found in this book.)
• http://www.fathertimes.net/traditions.htm
• http://www.novareinna.com/festive/atw.html

What is your family's favorite New Year's tradition?

Winter Solstice

Today, December 21st, is the Winter Solstice, having the shortest daylight hours of the year.  The Winter Solstice is a turning point; from today forward, the hours of daylight will increase.

In ancient times, the Winter Solstice was a time of celebration.  During this time, which they called Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun, "the Romans celebrated their midwinter holiday, Saturnalia, which involved decorating the halls of houses with boughs of lauren and evergreen trees.  Lamps were kept burning to ward off the spirits of darkness.  Temples were decorated with evergreens symbolizing life's continuity, and processions of people with masked or blackened faces and colorful hats danced through the streets."  (http://www.shambhala.org/arts/fest/unconquered.html)

Around 350 C.E., December 25th was adopted as the feast of Christmas.  This allowed Christians to celebrate the birth of Christ at the same time as the celebrations of Saturnalia and Yule, so that they would "fit in" secular society better. 

On this day of less daylight, lights some candles in your home to remember that Christ, the Light of the World, dispels the darkness of winter and sometimes difficult lives.