A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week

This has been an incredible Holy Week so far. I have never in my life focused so much on the events and meaning of this week. Similar to my experience at Christmas, I have now actually learned to whole story of Jesus’s death and resurrection and the week leading up to these.

Tomorrow is Holy Saturday and I am so excited to finally and officially enter the Catholic Church. But for today I’m trying to stay focused on the crucifixion. So, I’m going to keep this short.

I wanted to do lots of things this week to help the girls (and myself) understand and focus on the events of Holy week. I got most of my ideas for the things we did this week from this post at Catholic All Year.

Tuesday we listened to our Stations of the Cross CD.

Wednesday the girls and I read Matthew 26:14-16 about Judas’s betrayal of Jesus. I hid 30 quarters for them to find and we talked about what Judas did. I went to confession for the first time. It was a difficult and amazing experience. I might write more about it later.

Yesterday I hid our Resurrection Eggs. After the girls found them we opened each one as we read the book Benjamin’s Box. I changed the reading of the book slightly on the page about the institution of the Eucharist, but otherwise it was a great book to help them understand the events of Holy Week.

After nap time they watched The Prince of Egypt while I cooked dinner. I made a somewhat Passover-ish dinner, with Lamb, asparagus, flat bread, and red grapes. Miss informed me, “Mom, they didn’t have asparagus at the Passover!” I guess next year I’ll feed them bitter greens.

We read the story of Jesus washing the disciples’  feet and had a family foot washing. The girls really got into this.

 

My husband and I went to Mass. It was beautiful.

Today we have a morning play date where we will have a special Story of the Passion snack with Super Friend and her family. We will do the Stations of the Cross again. I will go to Adoration. I am making this crown of thorns bread with our dinner.

I think my girls have really learned so much this week through all these different activities. And so have I.

I have had such an amazing experience of support and love from so many people this week with unexpected gifts, prayers, and words of welcome and encouragement. Thank you all.