Salvaging Lent by Keeping the *Holy* in Holy Week

By Jennifer Gregory Miller ( bio - articles - email ) | Apr 14, 2019 | In The Liturgical Year

I’m not ready for Holy Week. I admit it. It’s been a busier Lent than I prefer. We’ve been juggling sports, with ending and beginning seasons, both practices and games, extra preparation for a First Communion, a short family trip to South Carolina and Tuesday practice round at the Masters, and just dealing with extra sickness this Lent through the whole family.

All this translates in trying to salvage the final days of Lent and the Triduum, giving it a final push. I want to be practical and try to make the most of Holy Week with a minimum of energy and time. I know I won’t be able to do all my traditions that I have mentioned in my past posts such as Holy Week in the Home. So what are the main ways we can keep Holy Week holy?

1) Attend all the Triduum Liturgies:

2) Add a little extra push in prayer:

3) Reduce Unnecessary Distractions and Social Events

  • Reduce the use of smart phones and computers
  • No extra TV time, except religious movies portraying Jesus’ Passion.

4) Prioritize Family Traditions

  • We definitely will have our Holy Thursday Meal, maybe not as fancy as usual.
  • On Good Friday we will do the 3 hours at church, ending with the Celebration of the Passion.
  • As I’m still under the weather, I won’t be baking, so I’ll be looking for store-bought options.
  • We will still decorate eggs, but not make as many.
  • Decorating Pysanky might not happen until Easter Week.
  • Easter celebration with egg hunts and family gathering will be simple, but happy to be with my parents and 4 of my siblings and their families.
  • I need to squeeze in time to for grocery shopping, doctors’ appointments and prepping all the clothes. Shopping for new clothes isn’t in the schedule. Our oldest son will be serving for the whole Triduum which reduces the pressure for nice new clothes.
  • I also need to find some time (and energy) for some housecleaning.

That’s my plan for salvaging Lent and keeping the holy in Holy Week. I’m trying to make sure there isn’t too much busyness planned so we have time for quiet and contemplation. No matter how much I have failed this Lent, there is always room for redemption and mercy. As in Palm Sunday’s Passion Gospel from Luke, we can be the Good Thief, asking Jesus to remember us when He comes into His kingdom. May you have a holy and blessed Holy Week.

Here’s a list of previous posts and plans for Holy Week both here and on my personal blog:

Holy Week and General:

Holy Thursday:

Good Friday:

Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil:

EASTER

Easter Reflections:

Easter Eggs

Jennifer Gregory Miller is a wife, mother, homemaker, CGS catechist, and Montessori teacher. Specializing in living the liturgical year, or liturgical living, she is the primary developer of CatholicCulture.org’s liturgical year section. See full bio.

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