Sharing an Idea

Here's something we did as a family last year for Lent, and the boys got so into it that we are doing again this year.

I printed out black & white drawings of the Stations of the Cross, mounted them on black paper, and taped them across our mantle. Above each station I placed a votive candle.

During family prayer time, each person reads a station, then walks to the mantle and blows out the corresponding candle. At the last station, when the last candle is blown out, we sit in darkness for a couple of minutes in silent contemplation.

On Easter Sunday, we read the 15th station and, instead of blowing out a candle, we light a decorated Easter candle to symbolize Jesus' resurrection and the joy and celebration of the Easter season.

I found that praying the Stations this way encourages active participation; that by lighting candles and then blowing them out we become part of a ritual as old as time itself.

And in case you're wondering where to get those Stations . . . why, click here.