AnneMarie Miller presents 3 simple ways for the Catholic laity to celebrate Christ’s Resurrection in the days following Easter Sunday.
Alleluia! Christ is risen from the dead!
Easter is the “Feast of feasts" (see Catechism #1169), but it can be hard to celebrate when our communities have ended their celebrations. Easter decorations are being removed, the stores are clearing out plastic eggs and chocolate, and as we get sucked back into the routines of everyday life, we may even find ourselves forgetting the solemnity of this season. How can we rejoice in Christ’s Resurrection when we find ourselves stuck in the stress of the office or household duties?
There are many wonderful liturgical living resources out there which can guide as we celebrate this season. However, I sometimes find the sheer number of crafts, foods, and activities overwhelming. I crave a simple approach to the liturgical year, so here are three easy ways to celebrate Easter this year:
When I think about “living the liturgical year,” my mind immediately goes to recipes, crafts, and picture books. However, while all of these things are good, I’ve come to realize that nothing can replace the profoundly important practice of liturgical prayer. While we may not be able to regularly attend daily Mass, the Easter season is a great time to attend an extra Mass each week if possible. If we can’t do this, then another way we can join in the Liturgy is through the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours, in which “the mystery of Christ, his Incarnation and Passover, which we celebrate in the Eucharist especially at the Sunday assembly, permeates and transfigures the time of each day” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1174). I find that even if I can only pray one or two psalms from the Liturgy of the Hours (as children crawl all over me and/or ask endless questions), I am much more attune to the seasons and celebrations of the Church.
Who says that egg hunts have to end with Easter Sunday? Instead of cramming all of our Easter traditions into a weekend, we can spread them out over the Octave (which we are currently in) as well as the entire season. Pentecost is not celebrated until May 23 this year, so we have plenty of time in which to eat treats, dye eggs, and celebrate with our families. One year, my kids enjoyed refilling and re-hunting plastic eggs all season long!
At the Easter Vigil, catechumens receive the Sacrament of Baptism, and we renew our own Baptismal promises. Yet, I’ve found it easy to simply respond “I do” and not think about what living my Baptism means in daily life. How often do we talk about our share in Christ’s threefold office? How often do we think about the gifts that we have received through Baptism? Easter is a great time to learn more about Baptism (see CCC #1213-1284) and ask God to help us cooperate with the graces we have received.
Easter is a season of hope, and even when “normal life” brings stress, worry, and sorrow, we can find much comfort in contemplating our risen Lord. Even though our communities may not look very festive right now, let’s rejoice and wholeheartedly dive into this glorious season!
Copyright 2021 AnneMarie Miller
A bibliophile, wife, mother of young children, and lover of the Liturgy, AnneMarie Miller enjoys exploring the manifold—and quirky—ways in which God speaks. She can often be found reading books to her kids, burrowing her toes in the red Oklahoma dirt, or sipping black coffee. Her reflections on Catholicism, literature, and hope can be found on her blog, Sacrifice of Love.
