For forty days, we wandered the desert of Lent. We fasted. We prayed. We gave up sugar, scrolling, and other small comforts.
Lent prepared our hearts to walk with Jesus to Calvary, to unite our sufferings with His, and to remain at the foot of the Cross with our Lady, Saint John, and Saint Mary Magdalene.
Now it's Easter! And it’s time to celebrate the glory of Jesus’ Resurrection—for fifty days.
Yes, the Church gives us a longer season than Lent to live as people transformed by the Risen Christ: to notice signs of new life, to pray, to rest, and to grow in faith as we await the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
But with so many days of celebration ahead of us, we may wonder: How are we actually meant to live them?
Living Lent vs. Living Easter
As Catholics, we know how to do Lent. Prayer and fasting are dependable guidelines. We can measure our spiritual progress and start again through the Sacrament of Confession when needed.
But what guidelines exist for a fifty-day celebration? How do we spend the weeks between now and Pentecost in a way that draws us closer to the Risen Christ? How do we keep Easter feeling like Easter after the lilies fade and the chocolate disappears?
Why Easter Is Longer Than Lent
According to sacred tradition, Easter is the pinnacle of the liturgical year, “the summit of the Mystery of the sacred Liturgy” (Dom Prosper Guéranger). All other seasons prepare us for Easter:
The holy longings of Advent, the sweet joys of Christmas, the severe truths of Septuagesima, the contrition and penance of Lent, the heartrending sight of the Passion—all were given us as preliminaries, as paths, to the sublime and glorious Pasch, which is now ours.”
Jesus’ Resurrection promises a joy that far outlasts any suffering. Romans 8:18 reminds us: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.”
While we spend forty days learning to die to self and unite our sufferings with Christ, the Church gives us fifty to learn how to live as He is risen, indeed, for all eternity!
“The holy Fathers bid us look on these fifty days of Easter as the image of our eternal happiness.”
Eastertide: A Resurrection Season
Eastertide spans seven weeks of rejoicing, culminating in Pentecost. Early Christians celebrated all fifty days as one continuous feast, reaching its fullness when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Church. Thus, the Resurrection is not the end of the story—it is the beginning of the Church’s life in the Holy Spirit.
The first eight days, the Easter Octave, feature key Resurrection accounts in the liturgy of Holy Mass:
- Sunday // Varies, depending on Mass time
- Monday // Matthew 28:8-15 (Jesus meets the women on their way to telling the Apostles about the empty tomb)
- Tuesday // John 20:11-18 (Mary Magdalene meets Jesus in the garden)
- Wednesday // Luke 24:13-35 (Jesus appears to the disciples on the road to Emmaus)
- Thursday // Luke 24:35-48 (Jesus appears to the Apostles in the Upper Room)
- Friday // John 21:1-14 (Jesus eats breakfast with His Apostles)
- Saturday // Mark 16:9-15 (summary of Resurrection appearances)
- Sunday // John 20:19-31 (Jesus reveals Himself to Saint Thomas)
The Octave symbolizes creation’s fulfillment and the beginning of eternal life, marking the renewal of all things.
Living Easter
The Church offers guidance for intentionality during Easter, just as in Lent. Here are five ways to keep Resurrection joy alive throughout the fifty days:
1. Keep Signs of Joy Visible
As the Church is clothed in white, our homes can echo Her joy. Even after the Easter baskets are empty, leave one Easter decoration on display. Keep white flowers on the table. Light candles at Sunday dinner to mark the Sabbath as holy. Small, visible signs of joy can form invisible faith.
2. Pray Like You’re Standing at the Empty Tomb
During Easter, pray the Regina Caeli instead of the Angelus, rejoicing with Mary in her Son’s victory. Play praise and worship music in your car or kitchen. Invite the Holy Spirit—Come, Holy Spirit!—into your work, conversations, and routines.
3. Read the Resurrection Narratives Slowly
Revisit the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ Resurrection (see above). Notice how gently Jesus meets fear, how patiently He restores Peter, and how tenderly He calls Mary by name. Sit with these scenes. Where do you see yourself in them? Let these stories shape your understanding of the Risen Jesus in your life.
4. Step Into Nature
Easter coincides beautifully with spring, “when even Nature herself seems to rise from the grave” (Dom Prosper Guéranger). Take an Emmaus walk, pray on the front porch, plant flowers, or simply notice the world coming alive, as creation itself participates in the Resurrection.
5. Rest in Joy—and Let It Overflow
Easter joy is peaceful, not frantic. Find ways to slow down and soak in the season: Rest on Sundays, savor meals, pick up a hobby, or watch a funny movie.
Then, let your Easter joy reach outward—from Resurrection to mission. The women at the tomb did not stay in the garden; they ran to tell the others. And the disciples left their locked rooms to boldly proclaim the Risen Christ. Pray the first Novena from Ascension Thursday to Pentecost Sunday, asking: Where are You asking me to speak up, Lord? What fear keeps me behind locked doors? What would boldness look like in this season of my life?
Alleluia is Our Song
Lent teaches us how to follow Christ to the Cross. Easter teaches us how to live with Him after the tomb is empty.
These fifty days are a gift, meant to reshape the way we live and remind us that “we are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song” (Saints Pope John Paul II and Augustine).
So keep celebrating. Keep noticing signs of new life. Keep listening for the voice that calls you by name.
The tomb is empty. Let us live the joy of Jesus’ Resurrection all season long.
Sarah Damm is the blog manager and a writer for Blessed Is She. She also is a frequent contributor to other faith-based platforms. Residing in Minnesota with her husband and six children, Sarah was a stay-at-home mom for 21 years, until she returned to the workforce in 2023. Sarah enjoys attending her kids' volleyball, football, basketball, or baseball games (depending on the season). She loves her faith, coffee, walks with her husband, and good books. Read Sarah's posts here. You can find out more about her here.
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