Today is Monday of Holy Week. You can make this Crown of Thorns with your children or grandchildren and display it through the rest of the week until Holy Saturday. There are different ways of making a Crown of Thorns with children. This one involves flour, water, and salt. The recipe and steps for fashioning the wreath are given below. Some Crown of Thorn activities involve making thorns that can be removed by the children after they do a good deed. The thorns in this crown are permanent and cannot be removed without damaging the crown. That is why this activity is called a Lenten devotional. It shows us what Jesus suffered out of love for us and reminds us to show him deeds of love in return. The finished crown may be placed in some visible spot in your home to remind the family of the great love of Jesus for us. At the end of this post there is the song composed by St. Bernard of Clairvoux, O Sacred Head Surrounded and a picture of Jesus crowned with thorns.
Bread Dough Crown of Thorns Recipe
Bread Dough Crown of Thorns Recipe
PREP: 20 minutes
BAKE: 325 1 hour or until hard and dry
INGREDIENTS
4 cups of flour
1 ½ cups of warm water
1 cup of salt
Toothpicks, round head is preferable
EQUIPMENT
Large mixing bowl,
Floured board
Baking Sheet
Large mixing spoon
DIRECTIONS: YIELD: 1 large or 4 mini-Crowns of Thorns
1. Combine flour and salt in bowl. Mix thoroughly.
2. Make a well in center of flour/salt mixture.
3. Pour 1 cup water into flour mixture and stir.
4. Add more water until flour is moist but not wet.* Continue mixing. May use hands.
5. Knead dough 5 minutes on floured board or in bowl until smooth.
6. Turn oven on to 325 degrees.
7. Take the lump of kneaded dough and roll between hands making a rope of about 18 inches in length and 1 inch in width. Repeat. Attach ends to one another making a fairly smooth seam by using a small amount of water to work dough together. (For smaller crowns divide the dough into four or six lumps. Follow preceding directions. Rope will be shorter.) I always get my rope too wide, so for a more authentic looking Crown of Thorns a narrower width is better. Place toothpicks in to look like sharp thorns.
8. Place on an ungreased baking sheet.
9. Bake for 1 hour or until very hard. Let cool thoroughly before painting.
*Be careful not to use too much water or bread dough will not harden but instead puff out!
Below is an example of a Crown of Thorns that you may find useful as a pattern.
We use acrylic paints to paint our Crown of Thorns. With children I always make sure they wear an old shirt or apron when using acrylic paints since they do not wash out. You may seal it with a clear, spray or acrylic sealer if you wish. Washable paints can be used if you prefer. The Crown of Thorns will store well after the Lenten season, You can store it in a plastic gallon bag in a cool, dry place. It will last for years.
O Sacred Head Surrounded
Credits: Latin, attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvoux, 1091-1153, translated by
Henry Williams Baker, 1821-1877
O Sacred Head Surrounded by crown of piercing thorn!
O Bleeding Head, so wounded, Reviled and put to scorn!
Death's pallid hue comes o'er thee, The glow of life decays,
Yet angel hosts adore thee, And tremble as they gaze.
I see thy strength and vigor All fading in the strife,
And death with cruel rigor Bereaving thee of life:
O agony and dying! O love to sinners free!
Jesus, all grace supplying, O turn thy face on me
In this, thy bitter Passion, Good Shepherd, think of me,
With thy most sweet compassion, Unworthy though I be;
Beneath thy Cross abiding For ever would I rest,
In thy dear love confiding, And with thy presence blest.
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