Easter is a Season, Not a Day
Stop! Don’t pack up those resurrection gardens, bunnies, or eggs just yet!! You’ve fasted and abstained for 40 days, and now it’s time to celebrate… for 50 days! That’s right, the Easter season, or Eastertide, lasts until Pentecost so let's keep the party going!
The Easter feast proper, known as the Octave begins on Easter Sunday and ends on Divine Mercy Sunday. Each of the eight days within the octave are solemnities, another “little Easter.” Easter Friday is one of just a few Fridays during the year that is not a day of abstinence (Can. 1251). In addition to the Octave of Christmas, the Easter Octave is the second principle feast in the Church’s liturgical calendar. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Easter Octave is the greatest and highest week of the year. There are many special additions during this week in the Liturgy but one of my favorites is the Easter sequence that can be said or sung before the Gospel:
Christians, to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems;
Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended
in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of Life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring
What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
Bright angels attesting,
The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
To Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen,
our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia!
In her infinite wisdom, the Church understands that man needs rhythm. Our liturgical calendar is unique and beautiful in the way that it gives us time for penance and preparation followed by great feasts and celebration. There is a time for everything just as we hear in Ecclesiastes Chapter 3. This pattern brings peace and comfort to our souls. It is important for us to celebrate longer than we prepared.
You might be exhausted at the thought. Fasting and abstaining might have been tough this year. Maybe you hosted a feast with a house full of family and friends on Easter Sunday which has left you down right exhausted. Take a deep breath and have no fear. I’m not suggesting we create a five course meal everyday for the next 50. Here are some simple and practical ways to keep the Easter spirit alive in your heart and in your home:
Daily Bible Reading - Do the daily readings or pick a book and read from start to finish. If you have a long commute and prefer to listen, give Fr. Mike a try on Bible in a Year.
An Easter themed devotional - My current favorite is Risen: 50 Ways to Live Easter by Blessed is She.
Daily Mass - It may not be possible to make it to Mass every day but why not try adding one weekday Mass to your calendar in honor of Eastertide.
Cards - Send Easter cards to friends and family in celebration of this most glorious time of year. Get the kids involved and make them handcrafted for a special touch.
Flowers - Keep fresh flowers in the house during these 50 days to remind yourself and family of the new life Christ has given us in His resurrection.
White - When you take down the purple and burlap from Lent, replace it with white fabric draped around your crucifixes and sacred images. I understand white is not always a kid friendly color but add touches around your house as much as you can, maybe up high, out of the reach of chocolate fingers… which brings me to my next tip.
Enjoy some extra treats, especially on Sundays - This is a time of celebration. Enjoy that Easter candy, go out for ice cream, or make special desserts after Sunday supper.
Get outside - Hopefully it is feeling like Spring where you are so get outside and enjoy fresh air with hikes, preparing a garden, or a bike ride every now and then. Immerse yourself in God’s beautiful creation and imagine how much more glorious Heaven will be.
Plan a little extra family time each week - Unfortunately our secular world will not give you 50 days of holiday vacation for Eastertide but take some time when you can to enjoy more intentional time with family during this season.
Pick some special days for extra celebration - Divine Mercy Sunday (April 24), saint feast days (St. Mark the Evangelist April 25, St. Gianna Molla April 28, Sts. Philip and James May 3, and St. Joan of Arc May 30 just to name a few), May crowning (May 1), the Ascension (May 26), and Pentecost (June 5). Invite over a priest or some friends and plan a special themed meal.
Replace the Stations of the Cross with the Stations of the Resurrection. Download my printable HERE.
~Talitha Koum~