For breakfast we had the hot cross buns I made yesterday. We kept the frosting off of them for now, but what we didn't eat this morning will be frosted for Easter brunch.
Here's Bean enjoying one. In front of her is the back of the Last Supper craft she made yesterday. The disciples have been eating with us ever since.
throughout these next few days to act out the stories of our Lord's death and resurrection. When we prayed the stations at noon today (using our stations box) the kids put Jesus on the cross...
and then after we came home from the passion service we took him down and laid Him in the tomb...
I bet you can guess what will happen on Easter Sunday!
After the passion service, in keeping with the tradition of many churches, we shrouded the images of Jesus in our home with purple cloth. This serves to remind us that we have entered into a solemn time as we await the resurrection of our Lord. The kids love this tradition of going on a "Jesus hunt". We will uncover all of the images on Easter morning with great joy!
We also made our traditional chocolate crown of thorns. The challenge is to not lick any chocolate off your fingers! On Easter we will fill the crown with eggs and turn it into a nest, symbolizing new life, and then thoroughly enjoy the treat. It's just pretzel sticks and chocolate almond bark, 2 squares does the trick.
Finally, today begins the Divine Mercy Novena. This is a particularly special year to take part in this devotion as Pope John Paul II will become a Blessed on Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter), which he officially instituted!
Unlike other novenas this one is not said for a personal intention, but for the intention of others. The prayer and novena intentions were given to St. Faustina from Jesus himself. He said to her "On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls." You can find the prayers and intentions here at EWTN.
