An important purpose of the prayer of the domestic Church is to serve as the natural introduction for the children to the liturgical prayer of the whole Church, both in the sense of preparing for it and of extending it into personal, family and social life. (Familiaris Consortio, 61)
Mystagogy is the term which is used to describe the “interpretation of the mysteries” and the last period of instruction after the catechumens receive their sacraments of initiation at Easter. It is also the term we use, in general, to describe the mysteries of the faith. This year, due to the Corona virus, many of those “mysteries” will be more difficult to explain because we do not have the aid of liturgy – with all its signs and symbols to assist us.
The first step is for us to understand them ourselves. At the bottom of the page we have assembled a document that provides an explanation of many of the Holy Week symbols in a manner that makes it easy to explain to children of all ages. Print “Holy Week Symbols” to assist, you won’t be disappointed.
Therefore, we thought we would put together a few ideas to assist you at home which Mother Church rightly calls, the “domestic church” (Lumen Gentium, 11). Below are some principals and activities.
As always, we first suggest that you follow along with liturgies that will be live and may be found on your parish website Palm Sunday through Wednesday. For the Paschal Triduum (Holy Thursday through the Easter Vigil) join the Bishop’s celebrations virtually: https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/holyweek2020/
Principals to Celebrating Holy Week
- Read the gospel for the day which may be found here: https://bit.ly/2Xb0Krh
- Each day has an alternate name and its theme is set by the readings for the day
- Palm Sunday: Procession Sunday
- Holy Monday: Extravagant Monday
- Holy Tuesday: Compulsion to Completion Tuesday
- Holy Wednesday: Spy Wednesday/Day of Aloneness
- Holy Thursday: Maundy Thursday/Body Giving Thursday
- Holy Friday: Good Friday/Day of Lawlessness
- Holy Saturday: Day of Quiet
- Resurrection Sunday: Miracle Sunday
- Set aside a place in your house that will be a central place to gather, pray, and set up a holy still life – a sacred space or prayer corner
- If you have a place
- Move it – Shows that something is different and not the usual
- Make it central, even if it is in the way – it is so important that we must even walk around
- Prepare it: Crucifix (even take one down off the wall), Bible, Rosary, a place to put things, pad of paper for intentions
- If you don’t have a place
- Small table, re-appropriate a coffee table, bay window, mantle, be creative
- Tablecloth or even a cloth napkin to decorate it – if possible, red or purple
- If you have a place
- Daily Readings may be found here (just click on the day): https://bit.ly/2Xb0Krh
- Listen to the Scriptural Overview of Holy Week provided by Dcn. Marques Silva: https://bit.ly/39QH0Mj
- Some activities require a little more preparation including:
- Making your own paschal candle (See Holy Saturday)
- Making your own empty tabernacle (See Holy Thursday)
- Preparing your Easter basket for the blessing (See Holy Saturday)
To jump to the specific day just click on the specific day found below:
Palm Sunday Holy Monday Holy Tuesday Holy Wednesday Holy Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday
Easter Sunday