Fresh from the pen is this year's lovely Lenten calendar, illustrated for us by Lydia Grace!
Lydia added a beautiful pelican image this year, a Christological symbol of redemption and atonement. The pelican is seen piercing its own breast so to feed its young with its own blood.
St. Thomas Aquinas references this image of Christ in his hymn, Adόro te devόte:
Pie pelicáne, Jesu Dόmine, Me immúndum munda tuo Sánguine: Cujus una stilla salvum fácere; Totum mundum quit ab omni scélere.
Pelican of mercy, Jesus, Lord and God, Cleanse me, wretched sinner, in Thy precious Blood: Blood whereof one drop for humankind outpoured; Might from all transgression have the world restored.
We usually mount it on a piece of purple construction paper, and the young ones color one space each day as we make our way through Lent. They can color the spaces to match the liturgical color of the day - usually purple but white for feasts and rose on Laetare Sunday. A visual like this is helpful for all to see our progress on our Lenten journey as we move closer to commemorating Our Lord's passion, and finally His triumphant and glorious Resurrection. I know some grown-ups enjoy it for the visual encouragement as well.
Download Lent 2015 LGK 2015-02-14 (C)
Print from Adobe Reader: Selectand check the box,
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Thank you so much Lydia! May God reward you.