In almost every preschool and kindergarten curriculum we find an emphasis on the seasons of the year. Spring, summer, winter, and fall influence décor, songs, art and science projects, and even television programming for the younger set. This is why we take such pains to emphasize the Liturgical seasons of our Church at Making Music Praying Twice. Everything from song selections to the color of our book and CD covers are influenced by Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter and Pentecost.
Years and years ago, the culture also revolved around our faith. Liturgical seasons dominated life tying into the agricultural timelines of the year. The Liturgy of the Hours controlled the Church Bells that dictated the daily schedule of most people. Now, we have to make the effort to keep faith central in our lives and our family’s life. Holidays become secularized and candy eggs are on sale before the Lenten Season has begun. While I enjoy getting Christmas shopping out of the way early so I can focus on Advent, the constant commercial presence of Santa and the tree from September to December 24th is more than a secularization of the Incarnation, but throws our Liturgical timeline off-kilter.
With the exception of the extra “fish sandwich” commercials on television and fish stick sales at the grocery store, the seasons of repentance, Advent and Lent are the hardest to find in our mainstream culture, and so, the responsibility falls on us to emphasize these seasons at home. Elmo won’t discuss sacrifice and almsgiving with your children. We aren’t getting that kind of backup in the mainstream society when it comes to these tough subjects. We must turn to Church, find a faithful community, and make a serious effort to let our home reflect the seasons of the Church.
When my oldest was young, we were fortunate to have a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program nearby. This is a lovely Montessori Catechism program and one emphasis is on the meaning, colors, and traditions of the Liturgical Seasons. At Lent, most parishes provide prayer booklets and Operation Rice Bowl collection boxes which are good to use with slightly older children.
Even if these resources aren’t available, we can point out the colors of the priest’s vestments, the altar cloths and decorations at Mass. Reflect on the music of the season and sing the songs at home. Come up with a seasonal bedtime song or prayer, like the Agnus Dei, the Act of Contrition, or Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Use a little purple around the house. Shroud your crosses and crucifixes in purple. We have a new activity on the website for making wooden crosses with seasonal shrouds.
Take on the challenge and make the seasons of your family life more centered on Christmas, Lent and Easter than on snowmen, flowers, and swimming. Then, share your ideas with others!
God bless your family,
Kate
