Lent 2013

Lenten Wreath

February 23, 2013 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Crafts, Lent, Lent 2013 5 Comments

My door was in need of a pick-me-up for Lent. What does a 41 week pregnant mama on a twist-tie budget* do?

For starters, let me explain what a twist-tie budget is. It’s my newest favorite sentiment, copyrighted by Homemaker Ang.

Shoes strings cost money, twist ties are free in the produce dept.

I used what I had on hand and enlisted all able parties within arms reach.

My girls and I collected the necessary supplies from throughout the house, with Dad’s help, and the boy’s supervision. Everything is a family affair these days since we limit all outside commitments for Lent.

We all should get together and work toward the restoration of the meaning of Lent.

People nowadays see in it just a gloomy time full of "must nots." That is a great pity,

 because Lent is a solemn season rich in hidden mysteries. We must also keep in

mind that Lent is only a part of the great Easter season, that it is  for Easter what

Advent was for Christmas, and that Lent taken by itself would make no more sense

than Advent without Christmas at its end. Therefore, we should let Holy Mother

Church take us by the hand and lead us-not each soul alone, but the whole family

as a group--away from the noise of the world into a forty-day retreat…If we keep

the closed time as faithfully as our forefathers did--which means keeping away

from all noisy outside entertainment such as cocktail parties and dances--then we

shall find ample time for the imitation of Christ as it is outlined in every morning's Mass.

  ~Around the Year with the TRAPP FAMILY

~~~

Lenten Wreath

Supplies

existing wreath
burlap
purple felt
hot glue gun
elmer’s glue
foam core board (recycled from Walk for Life
moss

Steps:1. gather/recycle wreath2. cut burlap to desired width. 3. wrap the wreath tightly. secure as necessary.4. gather/recycle foam core board or poster board. 5. trace and cut a cross from the foam core board.6. adhere glue to cross cut-out. i used elmer’s glue for the first coverage. then I used hot glue gun for the second layer.7. adhere moss to the cross cut-out.8. assemble and decorate the wreath as desired.

~~~

Inspiration was found at Amanda Jane Brown and Family at the Foot of the Cross.

First Sunday in Lent ~ 2013

February 20, 2013 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Lent, Lent 2013, Pregnancy, Rosary 5 Comments

1st Sunday in Lent – February 17, 2013

Ist Sunday of Lent, I Class

So I attended what will probably be my last High Mass without another baby in tote.

I was thankful for such a glorious Mass and Father L’s sermon. He spoke about the necessity to be aware of the battle that is currently taking place, the need to live for Christ in everything we do, and practical ways to avoid hell. DEO GRATIAS!

My family waited in Church after the Mass so I could receive a Blessing for Mothers Before Childbirth. Fr. L blessed me with the traditional formula. My heart leaped with joy and my eyes filled with tears. It was beautiful. It was powerful. It was exactly what I needed. Praise God!

Father also blessed my newest rosary. It was a lovely gift from a fellow blogger, Lauren of Knit in My Womb.

We hit the road shortly after Sweetie’s chorister lesson.

Sparkles was certain to remind me that the day was a First Class feast. I hadn’t realized that she was privy to the ~~lecture~~ direction I received from Father B in regards to fasting on Sunday.

We had our regular family dinner at Papa’s & Nana’s.

Needless, to say we celebrated the glorious day – SUNDAY!

~~~

First Week in Lent Sunday ~ Meditations for Lent from St. Thomas Aquinas

IT WAS FITTING THAT CHRIST SHOULD BE TEMPTED Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. Matt. iv. i.

Christ willed to be tempted :

1. That he might assist us against our own temptations. St. Gregory says, " That our Redeemer, who had come on earth to be killed, should will to be tempted was not unworthy of him. It was indeed but just that he should overcome our temptations by his own, in the same way that he had come to overcome our death by his death."

2. To warn us that no man, however holy he be, should think himself safe and free from temptation. Whence again His choosing to be tempted after His baptism, about which St. Hilary says,

" The devil s wiles are especially directed to trap us at times when we have recently been made holy, because the devil desires no victory so much as a victory over the world of grace." Whence too, the scripture warns us, Son, when thou comestto the service of God, stand in justice and in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation (Ecclus. ii. i).

3. To give us an example how we should over come the temptations of the devil, St. Augustine says, " Christ gave himself to the devil to be tempted, that in the matter of our overcoming those same temptations He might be of service not only by his help but by his example too."

4. To fill and saturate our minds with confidence in His mercy. For we have not a high-priest who cannot have compassion on our infirmities, but one tempted in all things, like as we are, without sin (Heb. iv. 15). (3 4i i.)

First Week of Lent – 2013

February 20, 2013 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Ash Wednesday, Lent, Lent 2013, Shrove Tuesday 2 Comments

Shrove Tuesday – February 12, 2013

Seven Holy Servite Founders, Confessors, III Class

I had planned for a quite in-home celebration for Shrovetide since I was not fit to partake in our normal tradition of visiting the elderly. I was plum out of energy from RMGS bake sale & meeting, 39 weeks pregnant, and a bit apprehensive to expose myself (or family) to any illnesses. I was willing to offer it up and thought the rest of the family was on the same page.

Papi has a lovely internal liturgical radar and recalled this time of year – festivities before the desert. He specifically remembered that we usually go bowling around this time. He set the plans into action and we had an impromptu Shrovetide celebration.

It has to be experienced to be fully believed, but there is a great blessing on such a Carnival time, shared in a family. To have spent a good Carnival will finally prove to the greater honor and glory of God, in enabling us to spend a good Lent!

Ash Wednesday – February 13, 2013

Ash Wednesday, I Class

We attended a local parish for 7am Mass and distribution of Ashes.

The rest of the day was a bit somber. School was done in the newest learning room, my bedroom. The littles organized all of their Lenten supplements and enjoyed some quite learning at the foot of my bed.

Dinner was as penitential as I could get, curried cream of broccoli soup. I was actually craving it but I knew it wouldn’t be a favorite for some of the kids since they prefer our traditional cream of broccoli and cheese soup.

Now it is only right that, before we arrive at that glory of impassibility and immortality which began in Christ, and which was acquired for us through Christ, we should be shaped after the pattern of Christ s sufferings. It is then only right that Christ s liability to suffer should remain in us too for a time, as a means of our coming to the impassibility of glory in the way He himself came to it. ~ Meditations for Lent from St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Valentine’s Day – February 14, 2013

St. Valentine, Bishop & Martyr, III Class

Again, my plan was to keep our Lenten program since the day was only a 3rd class feast. Each of the kids were able to have one treat in the morning in honor of St. Valentine. Everything continued to go according to plan until the girls left for chorister lessons.

The boys opted for a snack, strawberries. The strawberry snack soon turned into chocolate dipped strawberries.

I was exhausted (it doesn’t take much these days). Plans for dinner were not looking good. I got the boys ready to venture out of the house for a date night with dad. We settled on In-N-Out.

We all enjoyed our special treat. It was nice to dine with just the boys. Papi had his usual, plain hamburger with fries. Dragonfly’s appetite was slightly less than a grown man. He had one and half servings of fries with pepper and salt.

We returned home to find that Nana (broke into the house) left a special treat for everyone.

We all had a night of relaxation. The boys got ready for bed early and we prayed our rosary. Then dad’s nesting bug kicked in, that’s what happens when mom lacks the energy to have her nesting kick in – GOD IS GOOD!

Dad rallied the troops. The two boys vacuumed the stairs with the shop vac while dad deep cleaned my room. Then the boys took turns vacuuming my room and hall way. It was a wonderful St. Valentine treat for me.

Friday after As Wednesday – February 15, 2013

Friday after Ash Wednesday, III Class

The morning was spent prepping for my in-home midwife appointment.

The kids worked on their Stations of the Cross projects.

We ate our lunch in the park since the weather was absolutely beautiful and I needed the exercise.

We ended the rather quite day with Stations of the Cross in my birthing suite. We used our DVD, Way of the Cross for Children and our Stations of the Cross Candles.

The times self-indicated for fasting are then those in which men are especially bound to free themselves from sin and to raise their minds to God in devotion. ~ Meditations for Lent from St. Thomas Aquinas

Saturday after As Wednesday – February 16, 2013

Saturday after Ash Wednesday, III Class

The day was spent at home with no outside commitments. Dad coordinated a Lenten clean-up around the house and allowed me to hibernate. I seem to be coveting any quite time that I’m presented with, hoping that I’ll have enough reserve once Baby G arrives.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ~ John 12:24

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