What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands … we proclaim to you now (1 John 1,1).

God has written through us a wonderful sacred story, a love story. The events of this story are not just historical events, that happened once and then are only read about later. The history of salvation is made present and real every time the Church celebrates it.

In Advent, we wait again and again for Christ.

At Christmas, we share again in the graces, joy and blessing from the awesome truth that God became man and was born of the Virgin Mary, to set us free. His birth is our new beginning, the sign of an overwhelming hope, and an invitation to take on the child-like simplicity that is the mark of a true saint.

In Lent, we bring our love and sacrifices for forty days as we prepare for the greatest Christian celebration of the year at Easter.

The Triduum are the three days celebrating the Paschal Mystery of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection.

Easter celebrates when the tomb was found empty because Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and is alive in the Church.

At Pentecost, we pray with Mary and the Apostles in the upper room and wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. He comes to the Church again and again in tongues of fire and in the storm-wind. When the Holy Spirit comes he takes away our half-heartedness, he helps us understand the Gospel of Jesus and he gives us the encouragement and companionship of the Apostles and Martyrs.

What you can do as a family

During the different seasons of the Church’s year, you could decorate the house with something that reflects the particular time of year. For example, in Advent, you could make a wreath of five candles: four purple ones for the Sundays of Advent, and one white one for the miracle of the holy night. Put up a Christmas tree and put together the nativity scene to remind the family and visitors of the Incarnation. In Lent, bring your resolutions as signs of love. At Easter, you might bring to yours home flowers and an Easter candle – signs of new life in Jesus Christ.