Posts Tagged ‘Lent’

An Act of Contrition

March 14, 2010

This month’s memory verse for grades 3-6 is likely to be very familiar to your kids.  No matter where you prepared for the sacrament of Reconciliation, learning an Act of Contrition was part of the program.
When you get to the part of confession where you pray an Act of Contrition, the Rite of Penance says:

“The [...]

Why is Lent 40 days long?

February 17, 2010

Forty is a significant number in Scripture – a number of preparation.

Noah and his family were on the ark for while it rained for 40 days as God prepared the earth for a fresh start.
Jonah gave the Ninevites 40 days to repent.
Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days before God gave him the Ten [...]

A little Ash Wednesday Trivia

February 16, 2010

Did you know:

Many parishes (including the Church of Saint Paul) collect palms from last year’s Palm Sunday celebration for use on Ash Wednesday.   Ashes from burned palms are used to trace that cross on your forehead during the Ash Wednesday liturgy.  This offers you a proper and respectful way to dispose of a your [...]

Why do we do that?

February 15, 2010

Why do we get ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday?
It seems like an odd custom, but it’s not uncommon to see more Catholics at church on Ash Wednesday than you will at an average Sunday Mass.  I’ve heard it explained that the biggest crowds show up for the free stuff  (offered on Ash Wednesday and [...]

Why do we do that?

February 15, 2010

Why don’t we say “Alleluia” during Lent?
It may have gone unnoticed at Mass today, but this was the last Sunday we’ll be singing or saying the word “Alleluia” until Easter Vigil.   Alleluia is the song sung by the angels in heaven, but before Christ’s saving work was accomplished on the cross, it was not possible [...]

Children’s Stations of the Cross

February 3, 2010

On March 12th, Family Formation is sponsoring the Stations of the Cross featuring some of our 6th graders leading the prayers.  We will be using the meditations from the Step Up Close to Jesus booklet, included in this month’s Family Formation packet.

All are invited to come.  The readings are short and easy for kids to [...]