By Brea Cannon
Liturgical Rhythm of Life
Now that my children are getting older, ages seven, six and four, this time of the year my husband and I start asking them questions about Lent and begin to prepare them for the next liturgical season. At the beginning of February, we start to put away the winter and Christmas decorations in our home. My children love to start making decorations for St. Valentine’s day, and I love finding sweet love notes hidden around our home. As we begin to turn our minds to the upcoming Lenten season, we can prepare ourselves here in ordinary time with some simple liturgical and spiritual devotions that we can practice forming habits during our Lenten journey.
The Catholic Church, for centuries, has dedicated the days of the week to specific devotions and opportunities for prayer. In the Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs, Society of Jesus Father Francis X. Weiser tells the origins of the devotions for the days of the week. From the earliest Christians commemorating and fasting from Wednesday through Sunday in observance of the Lord’s Passions to the Middle Ages when the Apostles, Angels and St. Joseph were added to the week’s devotions, the faithful have lived the liturgy by participating in daily devotions. In more recent history, Friday and Saturday were given the designated Sacred and Immaculate Hearts devotions.
Sunday: Resurrection and Holy Trinity
Monday: Holy Souls
Tuesday: Angels
Wednesday: St. Joseph and the Apostles
Thursday: Eucharist and Priesthood
Friday: The Lord’s Passion and his Sacred Heart
Saturday: The Blessed Mother and her Immaculate Heart
Habits form in us — both good and bad. Living the liturgy allows us to live in a rhythm that fosters prayer, devotion and Church tradition into our daily lives. Forming our days and weeks around these daily devotions will foster in us good habits. We can plan to practice these devotions throughout this upcoming Lenten season — and hopefully continue once we joyfully celebrate in the resurrection on Easter. Lent begins on Wednesday, Feb. 18. As you and your household begin to think about Lent, consider practicing these devotions as a Lenten spiritual opportunity.
Lent is also a time in the church for a shift in the Mass. The priest will be wearing purple vestments with rose vestments on Laetare Sunday, and you will also notice the Alleluia is not sung in the liturgy. As we see shifts in the Mass, we too can make shifts in our homes.
With the Christmas decorations put away, we refrain from putting out too many Spring or Easter decorations until Easter Sunday. We put out some artificial cactus and “desert” themed decor to remind us of Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. We also cover our dinner table with a simple brown table cloth. We recognize at each meal that we are in a season of repentance and fasting. It can be just a few simple decorations or lack of decorations that help us to live daily in each liturgical season.
One other tradition that can be practiced at home in sync with the Mass is to “bury the Alleluia.” It is a tradition that dates back to Pope Alexander II in the 11th century. To bury the Alleluia is a simple act of taking a plaque or a handwritten Alleluia sign and physically burying it outside in a garden area or placing it in a secure place in your home for all of Lent (I urge you to write down or inform a family member of the secure place because 40+ days is a long time to remember where you placed something for safe keeping – I learned that lesson last year.). This Lenten tradition is meant to help live in a longing state of the joy that is in the Resurrection.
As you begin this month and start to prepare yourself for Lent, consider looking to the devotions of each day of the week and might the Mass inspire your home along the journey. This Lent, know of my prayers for you on your journey to the Resurrection — may your Lent be a time to foster a rhythm of prayer, devotion and Church tradition.