Easter Joy

Lent—with its intensified practices of prayer, self-denial, and almsgiving—provides us with the opportunity to “wash away the negligence of other times.” But it is not a time to be dour and downcast. As Christians, we must keep in mind that Jesus was raised once and for all. St. Benedict reflects this point of view when he writes that while engaging in our Lenten practices, we should “look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing” and “with the joy of the Holy Spirit.” The ageless wisdom of Benedict presented in this eBook will assist you in making your own Lenten practices less about “giving up” something, and more about “taking up” the good that God offers us in becoming more fully children of the Resurrection.

Celebrate the joy of Easter with Precious Moments! This delightful picture book captures all the fun and excitement of Easter, from finding Easter eggs and the basket, to eating yummy treats and celebrating with the family! With its touching message, [this book] will help young readers discover the magic and blessings of the Easter season.

The Lent-Easter seasons cover one-fourth of the year, or 25 percent of the liturgical year. One of the many things we do as Roman Catholics is sing Lenten and Easter hymns. During Lent, we express our sorrow for sin as we pray, fast, and give alms. During Easter, we shout Alleluias at the end of many hymns to express our praise of God for having raised Christ from the dead. Thus, those who observe Lent and Easter sing religious hymns written for each season. The sounds of Lenten hymns in minor keys give way to Easter hymns in major ones. This book presents an exercise for every day of Lent and Easter that combines the daily Scripture texts from the Lectionary for Mass with religious hymns sung during Lent and Easter. It is designed to be used by individuals for private prayer or by families for public prayer. A six-part exercise is offered for every one of the 135 entries: (1) the liturgical day, (2) the daily Scripture texts, (3) a verse from a traditional hymn, (4) a reflection, (5) a question for personal meditation, and (6) a concluding prayer.