Friday mornings #1
Nine things that caught my eye
Bear with me as I try out a new format this week, aiming to publish something similar every Friday morning . . . hence my clever title. Nine quick items heading into the weekend, mostly focused on celebrating the Triduum:
Observing Good Friday with little kids — it’s my first Lent with a baby, and this has put some new constraints on observing the liturgical season. But one thing that’s staying the same: When I was a child, my family would go to church between noon and 3 p.m. on Good Friday to pray, and we’ll do the same this afternoon. I remember being very struck by the empty tabernacle and the sanctuary lamp being dark. If you can’t make it to a full service today, that’s one simple idea for introducing your kids to what Good Friday means.
My husband and I had an interesting conversation about what sticks with kids about growing up Catholic. For me, it isn’t any particular teaching that I learned (although I know my parents imparted or attempted to impart a lot, and some of it did stick!). What I mostly remember are the unusual little things we did to mark each season or each feast: seeing the dark tabernacle lamp on Good Friday, putting pieces of yarn in the Nativity scene manger for each good deed done during Advent, making crosses out of blessed palms during Holy Week, having breakfast for dinner on Fat Tuesday, the procession our homeschool group put on for All Saints Day. These are the pillars that formed the foundation of my faith before I learned what makes up the rest of the building.
For any aspiring birders among you: The Armchair Birder by John Yow has been a delightful companion lately. I’m enjoying his observations about birds because he’s an amateur like myself. (The word amateur, by the way, comes from the Latin root for the word meaning “to love.”)
The Divine Mercy novena starts today, for anyone who might want to join in.
One of those little Triduum memories that sticks with me after all these years: A family friend made a lamb-shaped cake for us each Easter. She would deliver it a few days early, and we’d stare longingly at it on the counter while we waited for Easter morning. I haven’t yet attempted one myself, but this recipe looks promising. (Unlike this recipe though, the one our friend made had a chocolate base covered in green frosting, which delighted those of us who prefer chocolate cake. She also stuck coconut flakes on the outside of the lamb. She was not cutting corners!)
I made this for dinner last night and was reminded of why it’s a weeknight staple around here — not too expensive, pretty easy if you don’t mind making a quick marinade the night before or earlier in the day, and usually leaves plenty of leftovers. (I like to use those for sandwiches or dressing up potato hash.)
I’ve been revisiting one of my favorite books, A Severe Mercy, by Sheldon Vanauken. It’s been years since I read it, and it’s even better than I remembered. I especially love the letters from C. S. Lewis throughout, but Vanauken’s writing is incredible.
Some Good Friday reading: an excerpt from Fr. Richard John Neuhaus’s book Death on a Friday Afternoon: Meditations on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross, courtesy of Kathryn Jean Lopez.
But I’ll leave you with Easter joy: “O God Beyond All Praising,” sung exquisitely by The Tabernacle Choir.
Thanks for reading. Wishing a blessed Triduum and Easter to all who celebrate. I’d love to hear from you anytime: