Lent is 1 week away! Have you started planning for this season? The Catholic church teaches us to practice the three pillars of Lent which are prayer, fasting and almsgiving during Lent. While some families have their own unique Lenten traditions, often planning for lent starts with only thinking about "giving up" something for the season. Here are a few ways to shift the focus from "giving up" to adding something more.
1. Prayer : Lent can be the perfect time to spend more time in prayer. Finding a new person or intention to pray for everyday, learning to pray a new litany, spending time in front of the blessed sacrament and praying the short way of the cross are some of the ways to increase time in personal prayer.
2. Fasting : In addition to giving up a favorite food or activity, consider adding an activity or habit. Practice good habits like helping with chores around the house or complimenting people especially when they are least expecting it.
3. Almsgiving : Make a donation box and start collecting loose change. Help out around the house and make money to add to the donation box during lent. Think about donating to food pantries and homeless shelters.
4. Reading Word of God : Read the word of God together with your family. Come up with doable goals like reading one of the gospels or completing the Book of Psalms.
5. Service : Service is nothing but an 'act of love'. Each member of the family can come up with ways they can help each other and others in their neighborhood or community. Sometimes even a small act of love can be so rewarding like bringing a surprise dessert to an elderly neighbor.
Click here to download a Lenten calendar with kids activities!
Click here to download a reading plan for the gospel of John during this Lent.
Here are some additional links that will be helpful for the season :
Printable stations of the cross
How to do the stations of the cross at home
It can be both fun and enriching to practice these Lenten traditions at home. Let's prayerfully plan for and embrace this season which will bring blessings into our souls and to our families!
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