The St. Louis Buyles: Holy Week Through The Kids' Eyes

Celebrating the holiest week of the year is quite different when you have little ones around. No more watching The Passion of Christ movie, attending the lengthy Easter Vigil, staying late for Tenebrae, or spending extra time in Adoration. Although I really miss these aspects of the Triduum, being a parent teaches us to see our faith through the eyes of our children, which can increase our faith as well! Here is a quick view of some of the ways we celebrated the Triduum and Easter this year.

For Good Friday, we did an activity of hammering nails into the cross with some friends.

Then at home that evening, we made a tomb for Jesus out of a shoe box. Then we started the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Novena. While we prayed, Raymond colored a picture of Jesus on the cross. Next, we helped him cut Jesus out, "taking him down from the cross." Raymond then wrapped his picture of Jesus in a cloth- and placed him in the tomb and closed the door with a large (cardboard, really) stone. We went to church that evening and venerated the cross.

Saturday was one of the first days Kenny got a break from work in a LONG while, so he got a few errands done, including replacing the brakes on his truck. Raymond got to help him, of course.

Then Sunday, the kids woke up Easter morning and found that Jesus was no longer in the tomb, but that He is Risen! They found the door to the tomb they made open and there were some Easter goodies inside! Our friend Amanda joined us for the whole day, so that was a special treat, too. After mass,we were able to spend the day relaxing, cooking, and enjoying the beautiful day outside!

Here is the tomb with the door open and the Easter baskets. Inside, they found: some saint dolls, some laminated holy cards on key rings, a duck and bunny, some toys from Granddaddy Bill, some school workbooks for Mond, some Religious worksheets to trace and color, some bubbles in an egg shape to enjoy outside in the new Spring weather. and a piece of chocolate!