Sunday, April 12, 2009

Holy Saturday


When my parents were here a few weeks ago, they left some money to buy the kids Easter baskets. So I went and picked some things up for them. Madeline had been wanting a Barbie. And James love playing with a flashlight at Oma and Opa's house, so that was his big surprise!

Since Stephen would be at work Easter Sunday morning, we decided to give the kids their baskets on Saturday evening. As you can see they were thrilled!

The kids love the chipmunks, and this DVD was on sale at Target for $6.99!

James SUPER excited about his new flashlight! Penny checking it out too!

So glad something so simple brings so much joy to our son. :)


Stephen has to work on Easter Sunday so we decided to take the kids on Holy Saturday the the vigil Easter Mass. This vigil opened with the blessing of the new fire, the lighting of candles and of the paschal candle. Madeline did very well holding her candle. Today we remember Christ in the tomb, meditating on his suffering and death.

It was wonderful to see all of the catechumens coming into the Church this evening. Receiving God's grace through baptism and receiving the Eucharist for the first time. Stephen was received into the Church at Easter vigil 8 years ago. Some Early Church history on that is the vigil of Easter was especially devoted to the baptism of catechumens who, in the more important churches, were very numerous. On the Holy Saturday following the deposition of St. John Chrysostom from the See of Constantinople, there were 3000 catechumens in this church alone. Such numbers were, of course, only encountered in large cities; nevertheless, as Holy Saturday and the vigil of Pentecost were the only days on which baptism was administered, even in smaller churches there was always a goodly number of catechumens.


Mass got out pretty late, but Madeline was still up for posing for the camera with her Easter basket when we returned home.

We're tired but feeling very blessed!

1 comment:

Armilyn and David said...

What a beautiful day and what beautiful families ; )