One of the best ways to celebrate Holy Week is to attend as many Masses as possible. During this week, you can practically live at church: Palm Sunday, with the reading of The Passion, Chrism Mass, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, not to mention Stations of the Cross and extra hours for Reconciliation. These liturgies and extra events are beautiful, and I highly recommend attending as many as you possibly can.
But to really help your children (and you!) appreciate all of the nuances of this holiest of weeks, it’s important to supplement the liturgies with lessons geared to their age levels. Here are some ideas for how to do this in your home.
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What is Passover?
As soon as the kids got home from school, the festivities began. We started by watching The Prince of Egypt. We hear all week at Mass that The Last Supper occurred when Jesus and his disciples were celebrating the Passover. But what is that? What is this important feast that caused everyone to gather in Jerusalem?
Watching The Prince of Egypt helps us understand the important history of the Jewish people in the time of Moses.
Tell the whole community of Israel: On the tenth of this month every family must procure for itself a lamb, one apiece for each household. Your lamb must be a year-old male and without blemish. They will consume its meat that same night, eating it roasted with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you will eat it in a hurry. It is the Lord’s Passover. This day will be a day of remembrance for you, which your future generations will celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord; you will celebrate it as a statute forever.
Exodus 12:3, 5, 8, 11, 14
The movie ends with the parting of the Red Sea, which we will hear more about on Saturday at the Easter Vigil. The many, many readings heard at this longest Mass of the year explain salvation history. When hear the reading from Exodus 14:15-15:1, it will be much more engaging for the kids having just watched it in action a few days before.
Our Holy Thursday Meal
Before Mass, we ate a simple meal that, while not exactly what Jesus and the disciples ate, still helps us feel that tonight is different. This year, we had pita crackers with hummus (garlic flavored, of course!), cheese, carrots, grapes, and salami. To drink: sparkling grape juice. I realized too late that I should have gotten red grape juice instead of white, but we still enjoyed it. And at least we had red grapes.
Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:27-28
This meal is just about as kid-friendly as you can get! Maybe one year I’ll get adventurous and try some Holy Thursday lamb. But nevertheless, this meal gave us the opportunity to discuss the new covenant that Jesus instituted at the Last Supper, replacing the celebration of the Passover.
Washing of the Feet
I don’t know about your kids, but mine love to get their feet washed at Holy Thursday Mass. Of course, they can’t wash everyone’s feet, so you may want to do this at home. This act of service is beautiful, and it can be easily be done at home with a small tub of water, something to pour it with, and a towel.
So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s fee. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
John 13:14-17
The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
A perfect way to end the evening is by praying the Sorrowful Mysteries as a family. This way, we move from the Last Supper directly to The Agony in the Garden.
We like to follow along while listening to the Scriptural Rosary app. It weaves the bible verses for each Mystery between the Hail Marys to allow us to meditate on the stories of The Agony in the Garden, The Scourging at the Pillar, The Crowning with Thorns, The Carrying of the Cross, and The Crucifixion of Jesus.
More ideas for Holy Week:
5 Movies to Watch During Holy Week
Palm Sunday: Welcoming and Learning about Jesus
Spy Wednesday: The Betrayal of Judas and an At-Home Tenebrae Service
3 Ways to Meditate on the Stations of the Cross at Home
Vinegar, Salt, and the Gospel: A Holy Saturday Activity
