Our Domestic Church

I sent an e-mail to friends in our homeschool group for family traditions and ideas for Lent and Easter.  I’ve received some great ideas and a couple really helpful websites.  I’d like to share them with you.

One family created there own Jesse Tree out of felt.  Each day they read scripture and work their way up to Jesus.

Another idea is to use jellybeans to keep track of prayer, almsgiving, and sacrifice throughout Lent.  Each color is assigned as something.  As the very large jar is filled, the children will see what they have done for Jesus.  On Easter day, then fill the rest of the jar with white jellybeans to signify the need for God’s grace to make up for our imperfection.

Also you can take those palms from last year.  Carefully burn them.  Place the ashes in a pot of dirt for Lent.  On Palm Sunday, add grass seed to the dirt.  By Easter Sunday the grass should have grown.  New Life.  Others have suggested planting Amarillis bulbs at the beginning of Lent.

I even received some great recipes:

Many people shared recipes for a Crown of Thorns.  In case you haven’t heard, it’s a piece of dough braided and formed into a crown.  Then toothpicks are stuck into the crown to signify our sins and the fact that Jesus bore them for us.  Place the crown on a purple cloth or paper.  As Lent goes on, family members that do good deeds or offer special sacrifices and prayers can pull out a ‘thorn’.  Some families then paint the crown gold, place it on a white cloth and cover it with flowers on Easter morning.  Hopefully it will no longer have thorns.

Resurrection Buns sound delicious.  They are hollow on the inside to remind us of the empty tomb.  They also taste like cinnamon buns.  Yum!

Easter Cookies are another favorite.  These are made the evening before Easter.  Each ingredient is compared to Jesus’ journey to the cross and finally burial in the tomb (oven).  On Easter morning, the cookies are decorated and enjoyed.

I’d like to thank Leslie, Julie, Jenny, Diane and Kerry for all the great ideas.

I also found some blogs and sites with ideas.

I like the prayer basket idea here:

http://totustuusfamily.blogspot.com/2009/02/lotsa-links-for-lent.html

The Catholic Bishops’ site is good:

http://www.usccb.org/lent/2007/

This site has good ideas for children’s prayer:

http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/child/lent/01.html

This parish site has many great family ideas:

http://www.sfaparish.com/lent_activities.htm

Now I have so many ideas to choose from for our family.  All I really want is to make Lent a time to grow closer to God and help those around us.  May this Lent season draw you and yours closer to God as well.

Lori

Crown of Thorns

Make sure to check out http://www.cuf.org/familyresources/saltdoughrecipe.asp  to read a wonderful explanation of what this means.  We will be making this on Ash Wednesday.  It has been suggested that as you put in the toothpicks, make the holes a little bigger so you can pull them out later.

Materials:
4 c. flour
1 c. salt
Water
Toothpicks

Directions:
Mix flour and salt. Mix enough water to make a stiff clay. (A little warmth helps dissolve the salt.) Knead until smooth to remove any air bubbles. Roll three long ropes and loosely braid them. Form braid into a circle and stick toothpicks loosely throughout the entire crown (If they are embedded too deeply they cannot be pulled out intact.) Bake at 350° F for an hour or until it is dry and light brown.

Resurrection Buns

Ingredients:
bread dough, for buns
1/4-1/2 cup melted butter, about
1 bag large marshmallows
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions:
1)Mix your cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl.
2)Take a small ball of raw bun dough (these are easily made if you
have leftover bread dough as well), and wrap it around a marshmallow,
sealing well.
3)Dip the ball into melted butter.
4)Dip the buttered ball into the cinnamon/sugar mix.
5)Place the ball onto a greased cookie pan, (use a pan with a lip,
because the marshmallow will melt out to make a nice gooey sauce, and
you wouldn’t want it all over the bottom of your oven!) Leave enough
space between balls to allow them to rise to double their size.
6)Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise for about 35 mins or
until doubled in size.
7)Pre-heat oven to 375.
8)Bake the Resurrection Buns in the oven for 18-20 mins or until
lightly browned.

Easter Story Cookies
To be made the evening before Easter

1 cup whole pecans (we use peanuts)
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
I cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with wooden spoons to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

- READ John 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put I teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, he was given vinegar to drink,

- READ John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life.

- READ John 10:10-111

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers and the bitterness of our own sin.

- READ Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add I cup sugar. Explain that the sweetness part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know and belong to him.

- READ Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat the mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

- READ Isaiah 1: 18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.

- READ Matthew 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet I the oven. Close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape to seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.

- READ Matthew 27:65-66

Go to bed! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

- READ John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

As we approach the Season of Lent I am trying to find ways to make it more meaningful for my family.  It seems we have all these things reminding us of the Christmas Season.  We also seem to have so many traditions linked with Christmas.  Easter is much more important.  I am going to try to make it so.

I’ve been looking up ideas for the season and I’ve also asked friends what they do as families.  I thought I’d share some of these ideas.

Fat Tuesday:  eat up all the sweets in the house, have King Cake, have a party, make and eat paczkies (a polish donut), each member of the family writes down something they’d like to work on during Lent and places in a special container to look again at when Easter arrives, create a Lenten paper chain with things to do to prepare for Easter

Ash Wednesday:  attend Mass, receive ashes, day of fasting and abstain from meat, start lenten sacrifice, start work on relationship with God and start improving relationship with others, plant seeds that will bloom by Easter

Throughout Lent:  Pray, try to get rid of things and actions that distract us from God, clear out house, sacrifice favorites such as foods and entertainments, give alms, give more time to others, focus more on God, pray the Stations of the Cross, attend Adoration, attend 1-2 more weekly masses, celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, keep home plain, make and eat pretzels or hot cross buns for dessert, add Works of Mercy to your daily life

Fridays: abstain from meat

Maundy Thursday:  attend Mass, share a Passover meal

Good Friday:  pray the Stations of the Cross, attend services, my husbands’ family makes homemade Polish sausage and colors Easter eggs

Holy Saturday:  attend the Easter Vigil, get Easter baskets filled with food for Easter and colored eggs blessed

Easter Sunday:  attend Mass, decorate home with flowers and signs of spring, hide Easter eggs, hide Easter eggs, prepare and eat a full beautiful Easter morning brunch or dinner using food blessed on Saturday, Lamb cake, Lamb butter

These are just a couple of things I have come across or we already do.  I think the whole point is to clear our lives of distractions from God.  Does anyone else have ideas on how to make the Reason for the Lenten Season Jesus?   Please share.

I really need help seeing God in everyone.  Right now there is this woman who is causing great strife in my sons’ boy scout troop.  She has decided it is her job to teach the troop about being trustworthy.  Her crusade, to find 1 chld who made a mistake, is poisening the whole atmosphere of the troop.  Her self-righteous indignation and controlling personality won’t let it go until, either the whole group of boys is punished or the culprit steps up.  The leaders decided to punish all the boys last night.  I’m really trying to see God but right now I’m furious with her and all the other adults following along behind.  Pray for us.

Today, while I was saying my morning prayers, I came across the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.  I made these, my prayers for the morning.  I will try to do the ones I can with a patient and loving heart.  Here are my thoughts on how to do this.

Feed the Hungry – boys are always hungry, so I have that one covered

Give drink to the Thirsty – see above

Clothe the Naked – I have lots of laundry to do

Visit the Captive – If we have any time-outs today, I’ll make certain to go give the child a hug at the end

Shelter the Homeless – I will clean my home

Admonish the Sinners – I’ll correct bad behaviour quickly and with patience

Instruct the Ignorant – We’re homeschooling today, so this is easy to fit in

Counsel the Doubtful – I’ll pay attention to when my children may need and want some advice on how to deal with something in their lives

Comfort the Sorrowful – Hugs are always available

To Bear Wrongs Patiently – If no one is listening to me (trust me it happens a lot), I’ll patiently remind them what I said.  This one will be hard.

To Forgive all Injuries – Mostly I’ll try to not take the above personally.

To Pray for the Living and the Dead – in my morning prayers, evening prayers and throughout the day

I do many of these every day but sometimes I resent having to.  I need mostly to change my attitude.  Today, I will live my normal life happily for my family and for God.

Children always seem to be the best examples.  Almost every day while we’re doing our school work, my 8 year old son stops, jumps up and says he forgot to pray.  He then kneels in front of our crucifix and says a short prayer.  He comes back and finishes his work as if nothing is out of the ordinary.  He came up with this all on his own and does it without prompting.  I think he will lead our family to heaven by example.  Didn’t Jesus say we should be as a child?

I’ve recently finished reading The Politically Incorrect Guide to Science and watching Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.  I found both to be very thought provoking.  I realize that like every other thing written and created, they are biased.  But then so are all the websites bashing them.  Here are some of my thoughts.

First, everything having to do with the human race is interconnected.  History, Science, Art, Music, Religion, Philosophy, even Politics.  What is happening during a certain time historically, scientifically, religiously and politically will effect the art being made.  New scientific discoveries and economic philosophies will change the discussion in the political arena.  These interconnections and more like them are just common sense.

So why do people get so upset when they think religion is stepping outside of it’s walls lately.  What a person believes will effect how they approach any subject.  You can’t separate the two.  Obviously, I am a person of faith.  Nothing will change that and my faith will effect my view of everything I read, hear, learn, see and do.  Lately it seems there seems to be a lot of complaint about faith trying to interfere with science.  What a person believes (or doesn’t) will change their theories and their approach to proving them.  Why can’t scientists who believe in God and Intelligent Design try their theories and share them without ridicule.

Everything has it’s own set of rules to apply.  Artists learn about theory, form and color.  There are ways to create beautiful art that artists have learned over the years.  There are certain ways to learn about history.  Archeologists have to follow certain rules during a dig.

There are also ways to study Science.  Science uses the scientific process to control what is being studied.  A theory is developed and analyzed.  This process should be respected and used.  But it does seem that many times unpopular theories are knocked down before they are studied. It seems to be true that only certain theories are encouraged because they are the popular ones and the government is paying for them.

I agree with this from the movie and book;  the government and media have way too much control over the science that is done in this country.  Unpopular ideas are brushed aside, ridiculed and never given a chance to be explored.  I think it’s too hard for the government to admit they have been paying for the wrong path.  We need science and scientists to be able to imagine and explore new thoughts.  Is it possible to do that when it’s all controlled by a bureaucracy?

I believe science is our way of explaining the world around us.  Will we ever fully understand it all?  We should be able to question the theories that are taken for granted and try to understand them more.

I don’t understand the idea that we can’t question Darwin.  Yes, it seems life can change and evolve.  But is it scientifically sound to apply the changes seen recently (last couple 100 years) to the beginning of life?  Where is the scientific proof?  Explain it to me.  I’ve heard the jumps to conclusions and comparisons but I haven’t seen the proven link.  Until that exists, isn’t Darwinism still a theory?

Yes, it’s very hard to prove Intelligent Design scientifically.  But it should be a valid theory people can try to prove.  I think the best scientists should explore many theories.  Just like Micheal Jordan and missing baskets, they will fail to prove most of them but think of the surprises they will find if they let their minds run free.   We shouldn’t stifle scientific creativity.  The best ideas come from wild thoughts.  Then do the work to see if it’s true.

Our Lady of Lourdes – February 11

Our Lady, Mary the Mother of God, appeared near Lourdes in southern France in the year 1858.  She came to a young peasant girl named Bernadette Soubirous 18 times.  During these visits St. Bernadette prayed her Rosary with Our Lady and listened to what She had to say.  Mary revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception and asked Bernadette to pray for the conversion of sinners.  When she asked Bernadette to dig a fountain in dry dirt, a spring began to flow.  The water, that still flows from this spot, has shown remarkable healing power to this day.  Over the years over 5,000 cures have taken place.  Sixty-five of these have been designated Miracles.

As a family, pray a Rosary for the conversion of sinners on February 11.

Read more about Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette Soubirous at the following sites.

http://www.catholic.org/clife/mary/

http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/lourdes.htm#LOURDES

My youngest son will celebrate his First Reconciliation this evening.  Celebrate my seem like the wrong word when I think about the fact that we share our sins with the priest and God.  But celebrate is the word to use.  I like this definition from the Faith and Life Series by Ignatius Press:  “The act of re-establishing friendship between two or more persons…”  Who wouldn’t want to do this?  It’s also healthy to admit our mistakes, our sins, and seek to make up for them.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the sacraments of healing.  We can start of heal the relationship with God we hurt through sin.  This sacrament is the perfect chance to start with a clean slate and become the person we know we should be.  I’m trying to teach my children to look forward to Reconciliation.  Seek it out on their own. Celebrate it.

Check out the following websites.  They will tell you all you need to know about the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/sacraments/reconciliation.asp

Have you heard of FOCA?  We must make certain the bill does not pass Congress.  There are so many things wrong with this bill but I think the postcard my local diocese created says it all.

“At this time of serious national challenges, Americans should unite to serve the good of all, born and unborn.  The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), the most radical and divisive pro-abortion bill ever introduced in Congress, would create a ‘fundamental right’ to abortion that government could not limit but would have to support.  FOCA would overturn many existing widely-supported policies, including laws protecting parental involvement and conscience rights and those preventing partial-birth abortion and taxpayer funding of abortion.

Please oppose FOCA or any similar measure, and retain laws against federal funding and promotion of abortion.  As your constituent, I would appreciate a written response telling me how you would vote on these matter.”

I understand there are people who aren’t Pro-Life.  I urge these people to look at FOCA yourself.  Look into the laws it will override.  These laws it will negate, directly effect the emotional and physical health of the mother as well.  Laws set in place to protect her will be abolished.  The bill is too broad and sweeping to protect anyone.

Please send your representative and senators a note voicing your concern today.

We must stop the passage of this bill now.