I composed this litany to help families and parish leaders plan Lent/Easter as one season. Though they have disciplines and devotions that are unique there is a solidarity in the mystery of faith celebrated in this one season. Lent is like the preparation for a wedding. Easter is celebrating the wedding for 50 days. And the wedding is the love affair between God and creation.

At the Holy Thursday supper--------------------------------Call us to service.
At the Good Friday cross-------------------------------------Collect our tears.
At the Easter Sunday tomb----------------------------------Free us from fear.

In our 40 days of fasting--------------------------------------Empty us, O Lord.
In our 40 days of charity--------------------------------------Empty us, O Lord.
In our 40 days of penance------------------------------------Empty us, O Lord.
In our 40 days of quieting demons--------------------------Empty us, O Lord.
In our 40 days of preparing to renounce Satan-----------Empty us, O Lord.
In our 40 days of preparing to profess faith in God-----Empty us, O Lord.

In the three days of preparing to renew baptism promises

- Rejoice with us, O Lord.

In the three days of being anointed with the oils of gladness

- Rejoice with us, O Lord.

In the three days of feasting at the holy table

- Rejoice with us, O Lord.

In the 50 days of the rites of passage for the neophytes----------------------Alleluia.
In the 50 days of rebirth through death to life in Christ---------------------Alleluia.
In the 50 days of embracing the glory of the cross----------------------------Alleluia.
In the 50 days of celebrating the conquering dying and rising of Jesus---Alleluia.
In the 50 days of journeying to the wonder of Pentecost---------------------Alleluia.
In the ongoing renewal of faith and life beyond Eastertime-----------------Alleluia.

Let us pray,
God of our inner passages, a journey that begins with devotion and intensity in Lent ends 90 days later in the Easter glory of spiritual renewal and blessed joy. Front the desert to Emmaus, from forgiveness of old sins to the Spirit's breath of new peace, your people are renewed in this season of grace like the first disciples. Use our fasting and re-initiation into Christ as the energy that inspires us to be witnesses to the resurrection by revealing Christ to the world We pray as the Church, forever reborn by the spirit poured upon by your risen son, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.