"We can think of Lent as a time to eradicate evil or cultivate virtue, a time to pull up weeds or plant good seeds. Which is better is clear, for the Christian ideal is always positive rather than negative."
Ven. Fulton Sheen
Can you believe that Lent is less than one month away?
As much as I enjoyed the Christmas time, Lent, to me, is my favorite liturgical season. From the devotions, the lenten disciplines, the reflections, and traditions; It is a very fruitful time for the soul because it's when we set aside the mundane and evoke repentance and deep contemplation.
One of the most practiced devotions during Lent throughout the centuries has been the Stations of the Cross. It's a powerful way to meditate on the sorrowful way of Jesus to Calvary. This devotion consists of 14 stations commemorating the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus. Each of them portrays its own meditation and biblical reference.
Last year I decided to make these lovely shrines with the 14 stations of the cross to further aid our meditations at home.
I found these beautiful little houses in Target. Even though they were sold during Valentine's season, they worked perfectly for my stations of the cross-project! Sold in sets of 2, I only got 7 sets to complete the 14 I needed. The black and white background was perfect to display the colorful prints; they were also deep enough to hold a votive candle.
WHAT I USED:
Little houses from Target Dollar Spot
The printables I used were from this website HERE.
Scissors
Glue
For the crosses on top of the shrine, I used popsicle sticks and painted them purple to highlight the Lent season.
Rocks from the Dollar Store
Fake moss from the Dollar Store
Twine
Twigs
Yarn
Black and red markers
Votive candles
Hot glue
Linen ribbon
Cloves
Small glass bottles for crafts from the Dollar Store
Below are the symbols I used to portray each station and their meaning.
Station 1: Jesus is condemned to death: Whip to represent the tortures Jesus endured.
Station 2: Jesus carries his cross: Cross
Station 3: Jesus falls the first time: Cross and tunic
Station 4: Jesus meets his mother
Station 5: Simon helps Jesus carry his cross: Cross
Station 6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus: A piece of fabric with the image of Jesus to represent the sacred veil.
Station 7: Jesus falls the second time: Cross
Station 8: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Station 9: Jesus falls the third time: Cross
Station 10: Jesus is stripped of his garments: A long piece of linen ribbon to represent His robe.
Station 11: Jesus is nailed to the cross: Cloves to represent the nails they used to crucify Our Lord.
Station 12: Jesus dies on the cross: Elevated cross
Station 13: Jesus is taken from the cross: Robe and cross
Station 14: Jesus is laid in the tomb: Stones and glass bottles to represent the shroud and perfumes used for his burial.
Now let's take a closer look at all of them!
In addition to the shrines, I needed to have a banner! If you have been following me for a while, you already know I love banners for every occasion. This time my Lent banner idea came from Lacy at Catholic Icing. Her printables HERE were absolutely perfect!
I only had to print and laminate them before gluing them to the burlap banner
Another customary craft for Lent in our family has been the St. Therese's sacrificial beads also known as the "Good deeds beads". Each year my kids make a new set to start counting their small sacrifices or good deeds for Lent. Read more about how to make them step by step HERE
All I used was the following:
Colorful beads
Braiding cord from the Dollar Store
Favorite sain medal
Crucifix
You can prepare your home for Lent with any other symbolic elements throughout. I use lavender color items and inspirational quotes in places where I know we can be reminded of the season we are living in.
For example, centerpieces made with purple candles and rocks can add a touch of austerity and reflection! I'm even thinking about including a prayer board of some sort in a prominent spot in the house this year!
Basically, anything that can remind you of the 3 most important mottos of the Lent season:
Pray, Fast, and Give Alms!
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