The life of the Church follows two cycles: in the Temporal cycle, the life of Christ is relived in liturgical time; in the Sanctoral cycle, the emphasis is on Mary, the Mother of God and then the saints and martyrs of the Church. The year is divided in season: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter (finishing after the Octave of Pentecost) and Ordinary Time.
Following the seasons of the Church and the Temporal and Sanctoral cycle is a great way to enrich life and faith in the domestic church. The life of the domestic church should not be limited to the great Feasts of Christmas and Easter! Actually, by living each season well, we will appreciate them with even more depth.
We are right now in Ordinary Time, the longest season, the season of growth and maturity, symbolised by the color green. Basking in the Glory of the Resurrection, strenghtened by the Holy Spirit, we are ready to grow in holiness. It is then a wonderful time to practice the truths of the Faith in daily life.
Here are some suggestions to live Ordinary Time in your home:
- I love to put candles on the table at dinner time and I choose the color according to the season, to honor a Our Lady or a saint. Right now the color is green. Children really like changing the colored candles with the season or a special feast.
- It is a great time to establish a regular pattern of prayer in personal and family life and persevere in it.
- Celebrate the solemnity or feast day of the saints and Our Lady, for they are bountiful during the summer. In July: St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Maria Goretti, St. Benedict, Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. James, St. Bridget,....
- Meditate on the Luminous Mysteries when saying the Rosary.
- There is more leasure time during summer, so why not start a good spiritual book, Sacramentum caritatis for example (the cover is green, so you can keep the color scheme going).
- Planting a garden and having the little ones help is a wonderful way to introduce them to the first chapters of Genesis as well as having fresh food for the summer.
3 comments:
+JMJ+
These are such beautiful ideas! I particularly like the idea of using candles all year round. Dinner in December is so lovely because of the Advent wreath, but I never thought that we could extend the devotion. :)
Thank you! If you enjoy the Advent wreath, why not make one for Ordinary time? Where does the name Enbrethiliel comes from, it is lovely?
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