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2007 Lent/ Easter
The Sign of the Cross
In the years since the Second Vatican Council
WWJWMTD? A Personal Easter Cycle Question
“Filling in the Blanks:” Liturgy, Story and Catechesis

Karen Berry, OSF

For the winter celebrations of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, I suggested that the magical season of journeying from darkness to light could include things like exploring our roots, modernizing the nativity story and focusing on the Magi’s quest. As we find ourselves now in the springtime season of Lent and Easter, a different kind of darkness-to-light theme calls us to teach, preach and celebrate our on-going journey with children through the liturgical year.

Season of Lent
It is good for children to learn the practice of self-denial and sacrifice. In our hurry-up world of instant gratification, opportunities for character building can come through celebrating Lent as a time to take the focus off our desires and place it on other people’s real needs. Children have generous hearts when they encounter pictures and stories of how others are suffering.

Begin the season of Lent by ritually “burying” the Alleluia. For example, print it on cardboard and tuck it into a purple cover. Explain the somber tone and purpose of a season dedicated to self-examination, spiritual growth, commemoration of Jesus’ sacrifice and the call to imitate his self-giving love. Give ample time to prayer experiences and provide ways for children to give to others as they deny “luxuries” for themselves. Through hands-on experiences and artwork, let them encounter, learn from and celebrate the symbols of this season like the crucifix, the color purple, ashes and palm branches. Teach the Way of the Cross as a devotion, but adapt the prayers to various age levels and find parallels in the way people are suffering today. Consider The Way of the Cross for Children resources by Christopher Walker and Daughter of Charity Sister Paule Freeburg (see right).

Season of Easter
“Resurrect” the Alleluia with great fanfare! After leading children through the explanations and rituals of Holy Week, celebrate Jesus’ victory over death in a noisy, joyful way. Sing “Alleluia,” carry the word-card in procession, place it on the prayer table and adorn it with flowers and colored streamers. Then talk about the kind of victory Jesus accomplished: love over hate, giving over selfishness, peace over fighting, life over death. Let children talk about the sacrifices they made during Lent. What did they learn? How do they feel? In what ways will they continue to help and give? What kinds of prayer did they like? What favorite Holy Week stories do they have?

Plan ways to continue celebrating the Easter event during the forty days until the feast of the Ascension. Emphasize “light and bright” by using the Paschal Candle, bright colors, flowers, alleluia songs, smiling faces and pictures of the resurrected Jesus.

Season of Pentecost
Continue the light theme by using the tongues of fire for Pentecost. This dramatic event tells the transformation story of the disciples of Jesus. Remind the children of their own transformation when they traveled the path of self-sacrifice during Lent and saw results of their unselfish giving at Easter time. Let them make tongues of fire and other Holy Spirit images like the blowing wind or the dove of peace. Talk about how the fire of enthusiasm, the wind of strong, good intentions and their efforts to make peace can all contribute to keeping them in the spirit of Easter.

Personalize the Holy Spirit as the spirit of Jesus who lives in people always. Continue to develop habits of prayer and teach the children to encounter the Spirit when they are alone and quiet and to respond to the Spirit by extending kindness to all.

Conclusion
Lent, Easter and Pentecost are powerful seasons at the heart of Christian life and liturgical celebration. Those who help children tune into these seasons, with all their symbols, meanings and emotions, can shape the practice of their faith for a lifetime.

Joliet Franciscan Sister Karen Berry is the director of a family program of religious education at St. Francis Parish in Tucson, AZ. She is a freelance writer for Catholic magazines and the Diocese of Tucson newspaper. Her new book Prayer Services for Parishes is published by St. Anthony Messenger Press (americancatholic.org).