Holy Week - Page 2

[xekomaya]

Originally Posted by spero

Too early, actually! The sun won't set until 7:33 PM on the East coast that night.

Reading this thread makes me wonder just how many churches are ignoring this mandate?

Funny I wouldn't have taken you as a stickler for the rules

[spero]

Originally Posted by xekomaya

Funny I wouldn't have taken you as a stickler for the rules

Only the ones that actually make some sense.

[DiannaK]

Originally Posted by xekomaya

Anyone know what you do with babies during Communion at the rail? Hold them? Just don't receive Communion?

hmmm ... I've never received Communion at the rail. I started receiving on the tongue when the boys were born, and it's become such a habit, even when they are not with me!

[BMG580]

This Holy Week is special for me, I will be confirmed in the Church during the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening! :::

I will attend Mass on Holy Thursday, service on Good Friday, then the Vigil on Saturday evening (my children will be baptized and I will be confirmed and earlier that morning my marriage will be convalidated!) and then attend Mass again as a full member of the Catholic body of Christ on Easter Sunday.

[BMG580]

Originally Posted by NicaG

It's an Episcopal church. It's odd, beacause I know the're baptizing babies at Easter Vigil. I love that service, but I think we're going to skip it if we can't go as a family.

That is strange that the church would specifically ask you to not bring your children.

My kids are very little - 3 and 1 - so they will be taken home by their babysitter after their baptisms at the Vigil. Their usual bedtime is 7 p.m. and the service doesn't even start until then, so best case scenario they will be home by 8:30 and that is quite late for them. I made this decision, not at the bequest of my parish but because I am their mother and I know they do better following their usual daily rhythm, and 8:30 is pushing that as far as it will go - especially for my baby.

We will all be able to participate more fully with them home and sleeping while the remainder of the service takes place. Is there any way you could take them to just a portion of the service and have someone else take them home?

[TzippityDoulah]

I'm not doing a whole lot this time around... I'm in prodromal labour. My sciatic nerve is really messed up and I can't put much weight on it so I'm housebond mostly for the time being. we also haven't found a church yet to share this with... so we're just kinda being low key right now. I'm a little bummed about it... but I don't have the energy I wish I did. Next year we plan on having more festivities and remembrances. I really especially enjoy Holy Friday as 2 years ago I renewed my heart to God in a very special way. I treasure that day!

I'm trying not to be bummed and to remember in our own ways at home. I'm just really tired right now and a little emotional from all this labouring hehe

[moonshoes]

I am so looking forward to attending services tonight. We start at 7:00 P.M. with a procession of candles to be blessed in memory of our loved ones. We'll sit in the back pew in case DS (Asperger's syndrome) can't handle it and we have to leave.

I'm not sure about Good Friday. We have the Stations of the Cross at 6:00 p.m., but DH has to work and I don't think I can handle DS alone.

At any rate, Easter Vigil is at 7:30 p.m. and will be quite long as have many catechumens being baptized that night, along with some older children who have to be baptized in order to receive their First Communion in May. So again, in the back row, but happy to be there! Then we will attend 9 a.m. mass on Sunday.

[moonshoes]

Originally Posted by Charbeau

This Holy Week is special for me, I will be confirmed in the Church during the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening! :::

I will attend Mass on Holy Thursday, service on Good Friday, then the Vigil on Saturday evening (my children will be baptized and I will be confirmed and earlier that morning my marriage will be convalidated!) and then attend Mass again as a full member of the Catholic body of Christ on Easter Sunday.

Congratulations! I am so happy for you and your family!

[Bluegoat]

Originally Posted by xekomaya

Oh I forgot to post our Holy Week plans..

Holy Thursday - 7pm Mass of the Lord's Supper
Good Friday - 3pm - Liturgy of the Passion - Trying to decide between my Church or going next door to the Latin service at the same time.

Anyone know what you do with babies during Communion at the rail? Hold them? Just don't receive Communion?

Holy Saturday - Blessing of the Easter food!!! This is my first year as a member of a Polish parish that does this. I'm very excited :-D

We have a 7pm Vigil also which is a little early but I'm glad to be able to put ds to bed at a reasonable time.
Easter - 10am Tridentine Mass.

Then I'm going to see my family - DH may or may not come with us, possibly go for dinner with his parents separately. They do secular Easter which just doesn't sit right for me so we're not going.

I've always just held them if I had a baby. Usually the priest gave them a blessing. If you would rather, I bet you could find a lady to hold the baby for you.

[spero]

What's the issue with going to the Communion rail with a babe? How is it different that just receiving Eucharist with a babe in arms?

(We don't have a rail, so forgive me if that's a dumb question - but I would just kneel at the rail with the baby and not worry over it.)

[miss_sonja]

My older DD will be baptized, have first communion and be confirmed at the EAster Vigil this year, so it's quite special for us.

Tonight, attend Holy/Maundy Thursday mass (DD will have her feet washed), tomorrow attend Good Friday service, Saturday Dh will take the kids to the local egg hunt while I go to the information session for those having children baptized at the Vigil mass.

Just taking it in a day at a time...

[xekomaya]

Originally Posted by spero

What's the issue with going to the Communion rail with a babe? How is it different that just receiving Eucharist with a babe in arms?

(We don't have a rail, so forgive me if that's a dumb question - but I would just kneel at the rail with the baby and not worry over it.)

Oh just that I'm not sure I can physically walk up the steps to the rail (~4) and kneel at it while keeping ds from grabbing someone else, attempting to jump the rail, trying to climb the stairs himself, us falling over backwards, etc. Its a trickier maneuver is all.

[spero]

Originally Posted by xekomaya

Oh just that I'm not sure I can physically walk up the steps to the rail (~4) and kneel at it while keeping ds from grabbing someone else, attempting to jump the rail, trying to climb the stairs himself, us falling over backwards, etc. Its a trickier maneuver is all.

Oh, I see. The churches I know of that still have Communion rails don't have steps, you just go forward to the Altar and kneel at the rail.

Is your guy small enough for a Mei Tei, or can you do a back carry in another sling?

[lilyka]

Originally Posted by Charbeau

my children will be baptized and I will be confirmed and earlier that morning my marriage will be convalidated!

Oh my goodness. That is going to be one momentous day!!!

[philia]

Orthodox mamas

What do you tell your kids about Western Easter? I am just saying it is when the bunny comes and that Palm Sunday is when the bunny is coming this year. We are invited to a lot of egg hunts and what not. My kids are 2 and 3. I am looking forward to Holy Week. I think Lent is one of the best things we all have. I am sick of all the commercial bunny stuff also.

[lilyka]

Mine are old enough to understand our church is different (we are the only parish for miles) my oldest one gets that we calulate our holidays differentlyt. it is further complicate though by being divorced and my xh takes them to a protestant church. they wanted to wear their Pascha dresses this weekend with him (we each get them for our respective celebrations and on the years they overlap we alternate or work it out. for now he goes to a church that meets in the evenings so I get them saturday night he gets them from sunday afternoon and they line up an abnormal amount of times in the next 10 freaking years) and I said no. So I had to explain to them why ours was a much bigger deal and such.

[BMG580]

Originally Posted by lilyka

Oh my goodness. That is going to be one momentous day!!!

It was! It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. Our family celebrated 4 sacraments yesterday - convalidation of my marriage, the children's baptisms and my confirmation and first communion. : Our priest had me enter the baptismal font with the children to hold my 3 year old's hand and hold my baby during their baptisms and my 3 year old was so excited that she just hopped right in and put her head down. My baby clapped afterwards.

[xekomaya]

Oh that's so exciting Charbeau!! I've been thinking about and praying for your family all week.