Easter
Easter begins at the Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday and lasts through Pentecost Sunday as a liturgical season. Let it be remembered that as the Paschal mystery is the cause of our faith, Easter as an event never ends. The name Easter is derived from the word “Eostur” which means “the season of rising” while some other cultures call this Feast of Feasts “Pascha” based off of the word for Passover just like the title Paschal Lamb refers to Jesus, sacrificed for us. The name may come also from the fact that the sun rises from the East and refers to Jesus as the rising Son. Easter is considered the 8th day of the week and symbolizes a day of New Creation because Jesus by His rising has made all things new! Jesus rises on what is calculated as the third day to fulfill prophecy and biblical types and to signify the Trinity. From the time He spent in the grave on Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday morning (just before dawn) is the three day timeline that we measure by in our celebration.
Christ’s Resurrection (Clip) Note: Jesus telling Mary Magdalene “Touch me not” is because He was to take His relationship with Her as a disciple to new heights when He ascends to the Father. It’s also interesting to note Jesus appeared first to a woman and told her to share the Gospel contrary to the culture of the day.
Christ’s Victory According to Mystics
Christ Overcomes Death Seen by Mystics (Book 6, Ch 11)
Easter Week Marian Consecration
To be prayed at the beginning of each prayer below:
Leader: Let us commend ourselves and all people to the love and protection of the Mother of God.
All: Holy Mother of God, Mary ever Virgin, intercede for us with the Lord our God.
Leader: God who is mighty has done great things for us.
All: And holy is God's name.
Leader: Let us pray:
Sunday
Mary,
On this, the Lord's Day,
We celebrate with joy the fulfillment of the miracle
God began in your womb.
He became what we are
So that we might become what he is.
He is Risen, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
He reigns as Lord and God forever.
In your marveling at the great things the Mighty One worked in you,
We find our own awe at being chosen sons (and daughters) of God,
Of being empowered to become a nation of saints,
Of being commissioned to bear Christ to the world.
With you as our companion and model,
May God bring this good work to completion
And may our dedication to you of all that we have and are
Bring us to share in your blessedness.
Amen.
Monday
Mary,
God has worked a great wonder: Jesus is risen!
No longer are we caught in the cords of death,
For he has loosened our bonds.
No longer need we walk in fear,
For he has become our strong hope.
No longer are we alone and estranged,
For he has called us friends.
May your faith in the face of death–even death on the cross,
May your hope–almost buried with him in the tomb,
May your love–nearly staunched by the fear of his disciples,
May your joy in the Resurrected Savior be ours this day,
As we, in your name for your honor, live out our Easter mission
To go forth and teach all peoples.
Amen.
Tuesday
Mary,
We, your sons (and daughters)
Look to you as we treasure and ponder
The Rising of Jesus–your Son and our brother.
Teach us how that marvelous moment can topple the proud,
Elevate the lowly, feed the hungry,
And mission the rich–even today.
Confident in God's power and love,
Trusting in the Risen Lord,
Relying on the Promised Advocate,
The Spirit of Life and of Truth,
We dedicate our lives, in your name and for your honor
To the transforming power of Easter.
Amen.
Wednesday
Mary,
In the brilliant light of Easter,
Teach us, too, that nothing is impossible with God.
All our struggles with self and others,
All our disappointments and shames,
All our failures and sinfulness
Are as nothing in this healing, life-giving light.
Accept, then, our all.
May God look upon it,
As once did the Mighty One upon our lowliness,
So that we might be gifted with that blessedness
Promised to all sons and daughters of the Resurrection.
Amen.
Thursday
Mary,
We sing our Alleluias today, for Jesus is risen.
Our souls proclaim the greatness of God,
Our spirits rejoice in our Risen Savior.
May your song be sung in our lives
At every moment of this day so that God's power,
Which can do far more than we can ask or imagine,
May continue to call life from death and light from darkness,
Transforming our meager efforts
Into your Son's victory over death.
Amen.
Friday
Mary,
The cross of death has become the Tree of Life, and we rejoice.
God has sent forth the Spirit,
And the world quickens to life anew.
Jesus is risen!
Teach us no more to fear the sword of division and death;
Teach us to welcome Jesus, the sign of contradiction,
And to lay bare the thoughts of our hearts
To the healing light of Easter.
Then, in your name and for your honor,
We will live in the Paschal Mystery
Today and, with you, see it fulfilled
On the day of Resurrection.
Amen.
Saturday
Mary,
We ask for your powerful presence this day,
Just as you shared it
With the frightened disciples in the Upper Room.
Teach us, as you did them, to rely upon God's promises,
Upon our brother and Lord, Jesus, and
Upon the Advocate and Comforter,
The Spirit of Life and Love and Truth.
May we live as you did, in strong hope and invincible confidence.
And be transformed by the power of the Resurrection
Into true hearers and doers of God's will.
Amen.
[Source: Prayers of the Marianists]
💛💚💜💖Easter Colors: Represent spring and new life.
🐑Lambs: Jesus Christ, the Paschal Lamb. Lambs can be seen in the Easter sunrise and to see a lamb on Easter is to have good luck. For this purpose, Finland makes Lamb ornaments.
🐰Bunnies: Being born in spring are like most symbols of Easter, symbols of new life. Due to their fertility and ancient superstitions of them, bunnies were formerly symbols of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Bunnies are not toys and should not be given as pets just for the season. If You Encounter Wildlife
⚪️🌺Lilies:They symbolize purity as well as trumpets of glory which legend says bloomed at the foot of the Cross because of the drops of the Blood of Christ. The lily bows its head because it did so in solidarity with Christ as He passed them in Gethsemane. The red lily gets it's color because it blushed in shame that it did not bow because it pridefully thought it's beauty would comfort Christ.
Easter Flowers Symbolism
🦚Peacocks: Peacocks were thought to have incorruptible flesh, representing Christ’s conquering the corruption of the grave.
🐣Chicks: Newborn chicks hatching from the egg are symbolic of new life, given to us by Christ’s rising from the grave.
🥚Easter eggs: The egg symbolizes the tomb, the egg roll symbolizes the stone rolling away and the cracking of the egg symbolizes Jesus’ breaking forth from the tomb and breaking the chains of death. When jelly beans were first created they resembled eggs and thus the tradition of their association with Easter was born.
Pace egging, getting the word from pasch for Paschal (a term for Passover and Easter) this custom is similar to trick or treating but for eggs.
🪺Baskets: Made to replicate nests for the Easter bunny to lay eggs, they were once hidden due to his timidity.
🦋Butterflies: Just as caterpillars come from a cocoon as beautiful butterflies, so did Jesus come forth from the tomb in glory on Easter morning.
🐝Bees: A personal favorite of my husband and I, the bee symbolizes many things but at Easter they symbolize rebirth and fertility because of their assistance in pollination and the sweetness of Christ but their sting, His Passion.
🔔 Bells: Just as some countries have the Easter bunny as the gift bearer at Easter, other nations have Easter bells. As they are silenced after Holy Thursday, they return to share the Good News of Christ’s triumph over death and they bring gifts.
🥼New Clothes: New clothes represent new life in Christ as well as those who join the Church at Easter, putting on their baptismal garment. Due to the belief that the lack of new garments would be bad luck, the poor, particularly in Ireland would make ribbon crosses to wear. American superstition says 3 new items are lucky. In England, to send new Easter gloves is a proposal and to wear them is to accept.
🔥🦜Phoenix: Legend states that the Phoenix was the only animal who didn't eat from the tree in Eden so it was blessed with immortality. The phoenix is a symbol of resurrection.
🍓Pomegranates: As red seeds burst from the pomegranate, the blood of Jesus is the seed of salvation and Jesus bursts from the tomb.
⛲️Easter Water and Fountains: In Germany fountains are decorated during the Easter season. Fountains recall Baptism as well as the pierced side of Christ pouring fourth water on the Cross as a sign for Baptism which fulfils Ezekiel 47:1. Water is so blessed by God on Easter that all running water had such benefits that people would wash their face and lead their horses to it. When this water was collected it will continue to have healing. It is used to bless farms, Ireland says it grants protection from witches and in some cultures couples on the way to their wedding should sprinkle it on each other. To bathe in a river early on Easter morning is to reap good benefits. If water is collected without looking back, being seen or speaking, the reflection of one's love will be seen.
☀️Sun: To symbolize Jesus Christ, the Rising Son. This is the reason for the sunrise service. Some cultures say that if you place a bowl of water on an East facing window on Easter morn, you'll see the sun dance. If you stand in an East facing window and hold an elder branch, the sunrise will bring luck.
The Greening of the Cross: In some cultures a wooden cross (sometimes made from Christmas tree remnants) is made with space for flowers to commemorate that Jesus came from death to life.
In Florence a cart is pushed into the city decked out with fireworks, flint that is alleged from Christ's tomb will light the fireworks that are in a shape of a dove, loud noises will announce Jesus' Rising!
Pet Friendly Note: During this festal season, keep your pets safe from toxic plants, foods etc including but not limited to: lilies (even their pollen is toxic), chocolate and Easter grass as well as these flowers.
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