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Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts

Preparing a Family Easter Candle


Hello everyone!
During the Lenten Season, my family prays together using a purple book entitled "The Lenten Prayer Guide for the Family". I don't know if you can still find that in Christian bookstores in the country so I will share with you a special section on preparing and blessing an Easter candle as well as blessing the Easter family meal.
Wishing you a meaningful and spirit-filled Holy Week.

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One of the special and important elements of the Easter Liturgy is preparing and lighting the Easter candle, a symbol that Christ is the light and the center of our world-

“I am the light of the world; anyone who follows Me will not be walking in the dark; he will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Each home can have its own paschal candle, made and decorated by the family on the evening of Holy Saturday. This is to be left on the dining table, and lit on Easter Sunday during a family meal.

Materials:
A tall vigil candle ( to represent Christ)
5 thumb tacks or drawing pins ( to represent His five wounds)
Greek Letters Α (Alpha) put on top of the Cross and Ω (Omega) placed
below the cross.

Prayer: (to be recited as the thumb tacks or drawing pins are inserted into the candle, one at a time, in the for of a Cross)

1. By His holy
2. and glorious wounds
3. may Christ our Lord
4. guard us
5. and keep us. Amen.

Put your Family Easter Candle on the dining table, and light it on Easter Sunday during a family meal.

Blessing of the Easter Family Meal

Leader: O Lord, bless this food created by You, that it may be a means of nourishment and festivity for us as we rejoice over the Easter victory of Your Son. May each of us who partake of this food be renewed in body, mind and spirit. And may we be strengthened to share the good news of Easter with others. This we ask through Jesus Christ, risen, now and forever.

All: Amen.

LET THERE BE PEACE

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be
With God as our Father, brothers all are we
Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now
With ev’ry step I take , let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth , and let it begin with me.

Continue lighting your family Easter candle daily at meals during the 50-day period of rejoicing of Easter . ( Easter ends on the day before Pentecost) The following prayer may be said as you light your candle.

Leader: Father, You give us food to share that we might be nourished and strengthened. Above all, You have given us Your Son, Jesus, who gave His life and continue to give His life as food to many. May our gratitude for this food give You praise, through Jesus, the Bread of Life.

All: Amen.
(from the "Lenten Prayer Guide for the Family")

Blessing of the Family Easter Candle

When all have gathered for the Easter family meal, light the Easter candle which you prepared last night, and make the sign of the cross.

Leader: Christ our Light!
All: Thanks be to God.
Leader: Blessed are You, God, Father of all nations. You are the God of light. In You
There is no darkness. As we gather to rejoice in the risen life of Your Son Jesus Christ, may our home be bright with laughter and warm with love. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
All: Amen.

Reading: Luke 24:1-6

Leader: Christ our Lord has been raised:
All: He is truly risen!
Leader: Death no longer has a hold over Him:
All: He is truly risen!
Leader: He lives a new life:
All: He is truly risen !
Leader: Alleluia, Alleluia
All: He is truly risen!
Leader: Praise to You, Lord of Life:
All: He is truly risen!
Leader: Peace be to you:
All: He is truly Risen
Leader: May the Light to Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and
Minds.

Heavenly Father,
Accept this Easter candle, a flame divided but undimmed, a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God. Let it mingle with the lights of heaven and continue bravely burning to dispel the darkness of the night! May the Morning Star which never sets find flame still burning. Christ that Morning Star who came back from the dead
And may He shed His light of peace on all mankind, Your Son, who lives and reigns forever and ever.

All: Amen.



(from the "Lenten Prayer Guide for the Family")