The term “Domestic Church” refers to the family, the smallest body of gathered believers in Christ. Though recovered only recently, the term dates all the way back to the first century AD. The Greek word ecclesiola referred to “little church.” Our Early Church Fathers understood that the home was fertile ground for discipleship, sanctification and holiness.
Now God, more than never is asking each one of us, our families, to be that Domestic Church, to bring our families together in prayer with Jesus Christ as never before. Its amazing how even though we can’t go outside we can still be very distracted with all the media around us. I really believe that the enemy wants us to get distracted, anxious, discouraged and much more… For Him taking away the sacraments is not enough, he truly want us to be divided… For example, for me just trying to find out where in Facebook or on TV can I follow Mass, meditations… and when I find some, then trying to decide which one is best…, so many videos, messages, websites…seeing what activities I can do with my kids and family, see what others are doing, comparing myself to all that I see … , anxious about what is going to happen in the future, all the bad news going on, my heart hurts seeing the Priest celebrating Mass without their sheep…,the pain of the Church…, so many distractions... Don’t get me wrong, they are many wonderful things out there in the media for us to follow, thank God for them- without live stream we will not have the Holy Mass…However, we can get caught up in all those exterior things and forget the essential: To Be with Jesus our Savior who suffered and died for us. He has allowed all this to happen and is giving us the greatest opportunity to detach ourselves from all and only to stay with Him- we have no where to go physically, so let our mind and soul be with Our Creator.
We need to be in silence, from the bottom of our hearts to the exterior. He is inviting each family to unite in prayer to be able to meditate on his passion, death and resurrection. I got many pictures from friends that have made one of their rooms a special sacred place to pray (a praying or altar room ). I loved the idea that I did it as well and you have no idea how much it has helped my family. Since we got married my husband and I always wanted to have a praying room, but because we do not have much space we have never done it, we always had a small family prayer table, but not the whole room. We finally did it , we added Gregorian chants and all my kids, even the 4 year old stays quiet kneeling down and praying (when she gets tired she can get up and color or do another quiet activity that has to do with Holy Week). As we have 5 young kids I cannot expect a quiet house all the time (that is my dream- but not God’s will for me now), so we have made silence time during some periods of the day where they can pray… and it is amazing how the whole family is with God praying in silence. My younger kids have done beautiful pictures of Christ during those moments that inspire my soul. My kids are even asking for that time. I can picture millions of houses like this- turning their house in a praying environment. Imagine how God sees us all from above- our houses turn into that Domestic Church that He has always called us to be. We, the parents, are the ones called to bring this Holy Week live to our children the best way we can. We cannot be scared as there is no wrong way of doing it. God is giving us the graces we need as He know what is happening, we must TRUST in Him.
I don’t want to be just another blog or person to suggest what to do this Holy Week 2020. I just felt the need to share with you as a mom of 5 young kids the importance of not falling into all the distractions and to only do what is best for your family. The most important part is to PRAY and BE with Jesus Christ who wants to reveal himself to us everyday. Do not to let the enemy lie to us. Jesus Christ is with us no matter what the circumstances are. He is right there at your house. He is only asking you to stay home with HIM as he suffers and dies for each one of us. What are we going to do for Christ this Holy Week? Lets be with Him and do His Holy Will. God won the battle, He resurrected on Easter and He will take care of all of you and your family. I imagine Him carrying each one of us. We were made for the purpose to go to our final home- Heaven- that starts right here on earth. Let’s go forward and suffer with Jesus Christ, accompanying Him as never before.
The whole world is carrying the same cross in a different way…but it depends how and with who we carry it. While we were doing the last Station of the Cross as a family, my 4yr old at the end said,“ I love you Jesus, Thank you for Easter.” God can reveal Himself in that little child of yours… they see the LOVE and JOY of all in a simple way.
I invite each parent to make sure you have your private time to pray so God can transform you first and then you can give it to your family. It is like at an airplane emergency. For example, when the oxygen airbags come out parents are requested to put them on first in order to help the child. Well, here is the same way, we parents are the first to give the example and be able to give it to the children.
So here are some practical aspects that could help your family:
Parents time to pray in silence.
Make a sacred place in your house to pray (attached is a picture of ours- it is very simple. Remember, whatever you can do, there is no wrong or right way to do it- we did it with what we had). There, I set some Bibles, Rosaries, Lent meditations for kids…)
Decide what liturgical stream you will use to do you schedule. This website can help out. https://mass-online.org/daily-holy-mass-live-online/
Silent time (you decide how long) in your house to pray. As I have young kids I like to break it in 2x a day: one in the morning (morning prayers and meditation of the day), and one at night (doing the family Rosary and then quiet time to pray individually). In the afternoon, we do the “via crucis” using the stations of the cross my kids did or we pray it outside if weather permits it. As well, we watch Mass in the morning (streamed).
During meals this Holy Week listen to meditations of Holy Week for the first 20 min and then discuss them as a family. This is a great activity as the kids get to ask many question and learn with their own reflections by asking. If you have kids that do not like to ask questions, you can ask them interesting questions.
From Holy Thursday to Holy Saturday, act out the Gospel passage with your kids any way you can.
You can read the scripture of the day and move the material you made for that passage. For example: my 12 yr old build a small Jerusalem with blocks (picture below)so when we read the scriptures during Holy Week we can move the materials appropriately showing what happened. In the Catechism of the Good Shepherd website you can find the map of Jerusalem as well as many great ideas of how to help live in prayer with your kids. https://www.cgsusa.org/homepage/covid-19-response/://www.cgsusa.org/homepage/covid-19-response/
8. Every day, I leave out activity pages for age appropriated regarding that liturgical day.
9. Easter Day, make it extremely special: dress up, decorate house, make a special meal (if you can afford
it -order food from a local restaurant to support them). Have an Easter hunt with your kids in the house
or backyard.
10. Your kids and family can make Easter Cards and little Easter basket gifts to their friends, neighbors,
nurses, doctors… to take to them during the Octave of Easter to the porches of their houses (of
course, always follow your diocese, country, state and city’s orders.)
However, remember just do what you can, no-one is testing you. The only thing that God asks of you and your family is to FOCUS on JESUS.
PS: Please take pictures and/or small videos of this Holy Week or anything you want to share with us of God’s amazing blessings during this quarantine. A.R.T. Domine! will pick as many of these pictures and videos as possible to produce a video of Hope.
Please send it to: family@artdomine.com - do not get distracted now so please send it after Holy Week.
Let's give Strength, Faith, Hope and Love to many families…
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