Under Her Starry Mantle: jesus tree

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Ash Wednesday and the Jesus Tree

Today is Ash Wednesday and we have begun our Lenten journey with receiving the ashes at Mass this morning. It is so lovely that no matter the age, everyone comes up to receive those ashes, my little 6 and 3 year olds come back so proud to have received them!

At home we bring out our purple lenten cloths that I had bought cheaply at a discount fabric store last year. A heavy, purple cloth for the main altar and a beautiful, sheer material to cover our statues. I've placed our lenten books, the main rosary candle and large crucifix outside the sheer cloth. The large candle is placed on a tall candlebra, because the sheer material is a large piece I can tuck it under the candle, to hide the candlebra.

I also covered my St Anne altar.

We dusted off our large Jesus Tree and set it up. We made this a few years ago thanks to the inspiration of Jessica at Shower of Roses. My children are so excited to see this again! So am I.

Here is my 'Ambrose' placing the first symbol for Ash Wednesday...the two turtle doves from the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple...so we begin our journey with these humble turtledoves that represent the humility and poverty of the Holy Family and it will lead us finally to the open tomb at the base of the tree...to the victory of the grave and eternal life.

Here is a photo of our Jesus Tree all made up from a few years ago.

Below is the symbols for this first week of Lent, it is thanks to Jessica at Shower of Roses for the matching bible reading and colouring in activity that you see below.

WEEK ONE

DAY ONE ~ THE PRESENTATION