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

Symbol: Two Doves

Reading: Luke 2: 22-38

New Catholic Picture Bible: Page 103 The Pesentation of Jesus in the Temple

Colouring Page: The Presentation HT: sjtbre

DAY TWO ~ JESUS IN THE TEMPLE/HIDDEN LIFE

Symbol: Carpenter's Saw
Reading: Luke 4: 41-52

New Catholic Picture Bible: Page 109 Jesus is Found in the Temple

& Page 111 The Hidden Life of Jesus

Colouring Page: Finding of Jesus in the Temple HT: sjtbre

DAY THREE ~ THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

Symbol: Dove over the Water

Reading: Matthew 3: 11-17 & Mark 1: 6-11 & Luke 3: 21-22
New Catholic Picture Bible: Page 113 The Baptism of Jesus

Colouring Page: Baptism of Jesus HT: sjtbre
Crossword Page: Baptism of Jesus HT: Catholicmom

DAY FOUR ~ JESUS TEMPTED IN THE DESERT

Symbol: Desert Stones

Reading: Matthew 4: 1-11 & Mark 1: 12-13 & Luke 4: 1-13

New Catholic Picture Bible: Page 115 The Temptation of Jesus in the Desert

Colouring Page: Jesus is Tempted HT: sdraisa

DAY FIVE ~ JESUS' MIRACLE AT CANA

Symbol: Wine Jar

Reading: John 2: 1-11

New Catholic Picture Bible: Page 116 The Marriage at Cana
Colouring Page: The Wedding at Cana HT: sjtbre