Easter is Coming

                        Resurrection Of Jesus Christ  By Noel Coypel

  What is Easter and what is it all about in the Catholic Church. No it's not about the Easter Bunny or Chocolate. It is about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mainly it is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the most important feast in the Catholic Church as with other Christian religions as well. The night before Easter Sunday we celebrate Holy Saturday with the Easter Vigil. We are celebrating the death of Jesus, because we know and wait for his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Here is a link to and explanation of what happens https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=1043 .


                                               
                      Easter Vigil Mass

  I have heard certain individuals say that Easter is really a pagan holiday. They will say that is why we have Easter bunnies made of chocolate and we color Easter eggs. I have heard that it has to due with a pagan celebration of fertility. No we are not celebrating any pagan holiday or I should say festival. It is just merely a coincidence that Easter falls at the same time as certain pagan festivals. I suggest that if you want further information make sure you read what Catholics say and not what other religions say. I have always heard the truth about various things, become twisted and confused. This may be intentional in some circumstances and in others it is just from misinformation. Here is a link to the Catholic Encyclopedia about Easter http://www.newadvent.org .

 Easter Eggs By Toelstede

  So exactly what does the Easter Egg symbolize in the Catholic Church. No it does not symbolize the pagan fertility festival. It actually symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The hard shell on the egg symbolizes the tomb of Jesus Christ. In other words it would be the sealed tomb where Jesus was laid to rest.  The small baby chick coming out of the egg represents his resurrection.There were even times in early Christianity when people would paint the eggs. They would put christian symbols on them. In the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches the eggs were dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ.  It is known through history that Christians would not eat any eggs during lent. This is still being followed by some Orthodox Christians today.

Preparing Christs Tomb Vittore Carpaccio

  Okay so what about the Easter Bunny you might ask. What does the Easter Bunny have to do with Jesus Christ. Yes the pagans did see the rabbit as a sign of fertility. Remember that the pagans were around before Christianity. So in the 16th century in Germany the rabbit appeared as a symbol of Easter or new life. Since the egg was a symbol of new life they both became associated with new life in Easter. The Pennsylvania Dutch actually introduced the Easter Bunny to America in the 18th century.

Early 20th Century Easter Bunny Card By ItsLassieTime

  So basically what was happening was that pagans did not want to give up their ways when they gave up their Gods. So when Christians were converting them they found a clever way to use the teachings of the church and would adjust their practices to allow them to see the light so to speak. This would have made it much easier for them to gradually convert to Christianity is an easier more comfortable way. In my opinion I believe that God was using the Holy Spirit to show the pagans the true way of life towards God.

Jesus Christ Resurrection  Hans Rottenhammer

  I believe that when anyone teaches their children they should always bring God in to the situation. I know growing up that we had Easter bunnies, Colored Eggs, but we were taught and knew that the real meaning of Easter was about the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is what I have taught my children and I know they will continue this with their children.
  Well that is all for know so have a Happy Easter and God Bless.