Eastertide Prayer Series: Introduction and The Mass

Welcome to my Eastertide Prayer Series.

During Lent, the Church asks us to turn towards God by Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.  During Eastertide, we are to rejoice that the Lord is truly risen. However, any progress that we may have made during our Lenten effort should not be abandoned. Eastertide is a great time to consolidate our Lenten effort but with joy filled attitude.
In this series 'Eastertide Prayer Series', I wish to focus on 6 different types of prayer, all of which we can use during the year, but may concentrate upon during this time of rejoicing.  The types of prayer are as follows:

1. The Mass
2. Eucharistic Adoration.
3. Stations of the Cross
4. Prayer in the style of Taize.
5. Scripture Meditation
6. Divine Mercy Devotions.

What is the purpose of Devotions? Is not the Mass and the Sacraments enough?  

The purpose of devotions is to help us nurture our relationship with God- Father, Son and Spirit.  In Lent, as we endeavour to spend more time in prayer, we turn our minds towards God and turn away from sin.  In the process, we become strengthened for the journey towards Holy Week and experience the joy of Easter renewed.Now that Eastertide has begun, we can relish the joy of the Easter season and continue to be focused on improving our spiritual growth.

At the heart of all devotions is the Mass.  Obviously so much can be said about the Mass.  If you wish to gain an understanding of the Mass and its structure, you may wish to visit my series 'About the Mass'.During Lent especially many people choose to make the effort to go to daily Mass (or as many times as possible). Perhaps during Eastertide, you may wish to make the effort to attend Mass as often as possible to gain a greater appreciation for the wonderment of the resurrection and the Easter season.  Attending and participating in Mass in body, mind and spirit is the most effective devotion- we hear the Word of God proclaimed and we are able to receive Christ in the Eucharist. The Mass therefore is a prayer from its beginning to its end. The beauty of the Mass is capped off with our lives because we have the opportunity to live it out during the week in our lives, so it is an ongoing prayer.


Whatever devotion or extra prayer that we may embark on, it is important that we remind ourselves what Jesus said about the right attitude towards prayer in the scriptures.  Matthew's Chapter 6 vs 1-6 stated

"Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in  heaven.
Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received  their reward.
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward  you.

So as we embark on either continuing our chosen Lenten penance or choosing something special for Eastertide let us endeavour to do what Jesus asks of us. 

Let us grab God's attention. by keep our minds and hearts focused on Him.