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Fr. Michal Rosa, Parocial Vicar of Sacred Heart, St. Anthony, and St. Mary's Shumway, will host a Blessing of the Easter Baskets on Holy Saturday, April 15, at 10:30am in the Sacred Heart Parish Center. 

The blessing of the Easter Baskets has been a cherished Catholic ritual for centuries among families of Eastern European origin. On Holy Saturday, families would prepare their Easter Baskets to be blessed at church. After Easter Sunday'sResurrection Mass, the family and guests would share this blessed fare and exchange good wishes. This richly symbolic custom has been adopted by people of all ethnic backgrounds and continues to be celebrated each Easter.

The Christian significance of Easter is symbolized in the foods used for the Holiday feast. Baskets are lined with a white cloth and decorated with ribbons and greenery to symbolize Spring, renewal, and the Resurrection. Traditionally, the baskets would include: decorated hardboiled eggs (representing Christ’s Resurrection), lamb-shaped butter or sugar (representing Christ as the “Lamb of God”), bread (symbolic of Jesus as the “Bread of Life”), ham (symbolic of great joy and abundance), sausage (symbolic of God's favor and generosity), smoked bacon (symbolic of the overabundance of God's mercy), some prefer lamb (representing Christ as the “Lamb of God”), salt (symbolic of prosperity and justice and to remind us “You are the salt of the earth”), cheese (symbolizes the moderation Christians should have at all times), horseradish & pepper (symbolic of the Passion of Christ and the bitter herbs of the Passover). A white candle is often inserted into the basket to represent Christ as the “Light of the World.” Lastly, the basket is cover with linen

symbolizing the covering of Christ's shroud. 

This deeply rooted tradition is as richly symbolic as it is heart-warming. Children are eager to help prepare and decorate the family basket and later, proudly carry it into church on Holy Saturday for the blessing. Some families with small children have their "little ones" carry their very ow decorated basket filled with fruits, a chocolate bunny or some other treat to be blessed. The foods included within any basket can be easily personalized. 

All faiths are invited to bring their unique baskets for a 20-minutes blessing on Holy Saturday at 10:30am, in the Sacred Heart Parish Center, as we share this beautiful tradition. Contact Fr. Michal at the parish office at 347-7177 if you have questions.