40 Crosses for 40 Day: 33rd Cross - The "Lenten Promises" Cross

One of the Lent traditions we do at my parish each year is to invite all the children in our RE programs, as well as their parents and grandparents, to write down their Lenten Promises on small, paper crosses and hang them on the large, wooden cross shown in the photo below.

We ask them to think about the three pillars of Lent - fasting, praying and almsgiving - and then write down how they intend to participate in all three practices, in an age-appropriate, responsible way. Once they have decided, they each approach the wood cross and hang their own smaller cross upon it.

This practice serves as a visible, tangible way for everyone to see that they are walking with Jesus during these 40 days. Our own small sacrifices are little prayers and offerings to God, given in praise and supplication, as Jesus makes His way to Calvary, drawing strength for our own journey as well as supporting Jesus in His.

Today, the sixth Friday of Lent, is the last day that this cross will be adorned with the Lenten Promises of the children and their families. We will remove the paper crosses tomorrow and dress this same wooden cross with palms. It will be carried into our sanctuary on Palm Sunday and used in the Liturgy. The Lenten sacrifices will make way for the solitary journey Jesus undertakes during Holy Week.

The Lenten sacrifices make way for Jesus' solitary journey during Holy Week.

The Lenten Promises on the cross represent a community of all ages, as well as stages of faith, who are walking together during Lent. Here are a few examples of the Lenten Promises made this year:

• 
  read the Bible every night
• 
  give up chocolate
• 
  practice patience, especially with my kids
• 
  give up video games (except during Spring Break)
• 
  stop fighting with my sister
• 
  say the Our Father and three Hail Mary's every night
• 
  give $100 dollars to the Rice Bowl as a family
• 
  take the trash out without complaining or being asked
• 
  go to daily Mass
• 
  no t.v. during the week
• 
  give up watching Netflix
• 
  give up alcohol during Lent
• 
  feed and walk my dog without being asked
• 
  share my toys without complaining
• 
  give $5 a week to the Rice Bowl
• 
  pray every day

The wooden cross is up all of Lent, reminding people of their promises. Although we may forget or fail to keep our Lenten Promises perfectly, the cross reminds us to simply get up and try again. If Jesus Himself fell three times while carrying His cross, why would we think that we won't fail and fall, as well?

On Easter Sunday, this same cross will be placed back in this spot but dressed in Easter finery, in front of a garden scene overflowing with flowers and color, reminding us that it is only through dying with Jesus that we can rise to new life.

Let us pray: Holy Trinity, thank You for helping us walk our Lenten journey thus far. Give us the energy and resolution to walk it well, all the way to the end. And in all things, we give You praise. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.