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Lent Resources

To the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit!

Lent is a season of repentance. It is a specific time in the Liturgical Year to focus on our personal relationship with Christ. We can always strengthen that relationship and the Lenten practices of Fasting, Prayer, and Almsgiving help us to do that. They are encouraged to bring us closer to the Lord as we unite ourselves to Him in His suffering. The resources on this page are some of the same we have used in our family and parish ministry over the last decade or so. Feel free to use them in your family and any ministry setting you care to.

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Fasting – For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.- USCCB.org

Prayer – Our prayer practices during Lent should be increased and focused on Jesus’ Passion and Death in preparation for His Glorious Resurrection at Easter. His sacrifice for the remission of our sins should increase our desire to serve Him more. A true repentance for our sins and any attachment to sin is the goal of our prayer practices. Making a good Confession is a particularly efficacious practice during Lent (and anytime!).

Almsgiving – An increased sharing of our time, talent, and treasure in order to make room for others and their needs in our lives. By sharing our gifts with the poor and suffering we unite in Christ’s mission to redeem ALL people. We need reminding that there are others less fortunate than ourselves, Lent does that.

Downloadable Resources

A Mardi Gras Prayer

Our Lenten Sacrifices sign – Print out on 11 X 17 paper. These can be hung in a classroom or at home, have everyone write down their sacrifices and fold them over, staple or tape them closed and put their names on the outside, or use small envelopes. Attach them to the poster or hang them on the wall below or around the posters. At each faith formation session, remind everyone of what they are doing to grow closer to Jesus this Lent.

Stations of the Cross for young children – Perfect for preschoolers and easy to to with them either at home or in a chapel or church. At our parish, we set up images of the Stations of the Cross in the Faith Formation hallway that were at child level, so the classes could walk around to each and pray these prayers together. The catechists loved the simplicity and the children always enjoyed them. You can also use them at home in a similar way.

My Lenten Prayer – From Brother Francis, a coloring page and Lenten reminder in one!

MCA Lenten Prayer Service – A simple prayer service to remind us of the great need around the world.

Lent Prayer Chain Craft – this is a simple way to add prayer to your Lenten practices, and includes a visual reminder to children who need that!

Lenten Family Calendar – print and put on the refrigerator or at the dinner table, where it can be discussed and practiced each day.

Goodbye for Lent  – put away those toys or items children are giving up for Lent, put this sign on the box and put the box where it can be seen, but not displayed in the open (maybe on a shelf in a closet). This way children are reminded of what they are giving up, and can remember why – to grow closer to Jesus.

Faith-and-Fabric-Printable-Lenten-Prayer-Stained-Glass

Faith-and-Fabric-Lent-Promise-Card – You can use these as directed in the activity or you can fold them up and use them in conjunction with our Ash Wednesday TWFT or with Our Lenten Sacrifices Signs.

What if I’m asked about Lent?

Lent Mobile Craft – This takes a while to do, give yourself and your class plenty of time. Possibly two class times. If you are doing it with your children at home, you may consider breaking up the activity into several sessions. Printing this on different shades of purple paper is a fun way to incorporate the Liturgical Seasonal Color.

Children’s Confession Guide – Including an examination of conscience, how to go to confession, and an Act of Contrition.

Renewal of Baptismal Promises

Palm Sunday Gospel Coloring Book

Holy Week Wheel

Palm Sunday is the topic of this episode, with the iconic cover of Beth and Kristofer walking toward a Catholic Church, seeing them from behind with the Church rising before them, and the title of the podcast and episode information in text on the image.

Palm Sunday- Episode 90

Palm Sunday is an important day in the liturgical year, but what is it?

Mom and Dad explain the historical context for Palm Sunday; they explain why the Pharisees and the high priests of Jerusalem got mad at Jesus.

They tell us why the people would go from laying palm branches before Jesus to screaming “Crucify him! Crucify him!” over the course of a mere 5 days.

And they share how we can all better prepare for Easter by making this a truly Holy Week.

The Woman Caught in Adultery is the topic of this episode, with the iconic cover of Beth and Kristofer walking toward a Catholic Church, seeing them from behind with the Church rising before them, and the title of the podcast and episode information in text on the image.

The Woman Caught in Adultery- Episode 89

Jesus tells parables, stumping the great thinkers of Judea, but wait!

They finally have a real-life chance to stump Him by bringing forth the woman caught in adultery.

His answer is profound, just, merciful, and totally his style.

Jesus’ answer to stoning the woman is something that we all need to think about, the answer written in the sand is profound, and an answer that follows the Golden Rule.

The Prodigal Son is the topic of this episode, with the iconic cover of Beth and Kristofer walking toward a Catholic Church, seeing them from behind with the Church rising before them, and the title of the podcast and episode information in text on the image.

The Prodigal Son- Episode 88

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is perhaps the most famous of Jesus’ teachings, and Mama and Daddy take a different look at it this time.

What is the meaning of this Parable? What can we learn from it? And what is the sin of the older brother?

As Mom says, we commit this sin of ingratitude and pride.

We, as baptized Christians, are the older brother in this lesson.

How should we respond to the Prodigal Son’s Homecoming?

The Burning Bush is the topic of this episode, with the iconic cover of Beth and Kristofer walking toward a Catholic Church, seeing them from behind with the Church rising before them, and the title of the podcast and episode information in text on the image.

The Burning Bush- Episode 87

God appearing to Moses in the Burning Bush is a wonderful example of him calling us.

In this episode, Mama and Daddy explore this, with a lot of soul-searching.

Moses, who is one of the most detailed figures in the Bible, is being called by a burning bush to lead God’s people out of slavery and into the Promised Land of milk and honey.

This is all sorts of weird!

If we were approached by God while He was in the form of a Burning Bush, what would we do?

Well guess what? God is not just calling Moses.

Who are we to lead others out of slavery to sin – or even ourselves?

The Transfiguration of Jesus is the topic of this episode, with the iconic cover of Beth and Kristofer walking toward a Catholic Church, seeing them from behind with the Church rising before them, and the title of the podcast and episode information in text on the image.

The Transfiguration – Episode 86

The Transfiguration of Jesus is a fascinating event that sometimes gets lost in Peter’s response to it.

But what a wonderfully perfect response!

What does this event reveal to us, and about us?

And why was it kept secret from all of the other Apostles?

In this episode discussing the Gospel reading in this coming Sunday’s Mass, we explore things we do not typically hear in a homily, but experience regularly.

But should we share those experiences? That’s not entirely up to us…

Jesus In The Desert is the topic of this episode, with the iconic cover of Beth and Kristofer walking toward a Catholic Church, seeing them from behind with the Church rising before them, and the title of the podcast and episode information in text on the image.

Jesus In The Desert – Episode 85

Jesus In The Desert is what we talk about as we charge into Lent.

It happens to be the topic of the Gospel Reading this weekend coming up, too.

What does Jesus’ 40 days in the desert mean to us, to you?

It’s a great question and a different answer for everybody – but a singular theme each of us can relate to.

Welcome to Lent!

Almsgiving During Lent is the topic of this episode, with the iconic cover of Beth and Kristofer walking toward a Catholic Church, seeing them from behind with the Church rising before them, and the title of the podcast and episode information in text on the image.

Almsgiving During Lent – Episode 84

Almsgiving during Lent is our third and final Lenten topic as we prepare for the season.

Almsgiving is another pillar of Lent.

It’s different from Almsgiving during the rest of the year; different than our routine, daily Almsgiving.

We talk about how to do Almsgiving during Lent, and what it’s meaning, purpose, and origin is.

Prayer During Lent is the topic of this episode, with the iconic cover of Beth and Kristofer walking toward a Catholic Church, seeing them from behind with the Church rising before them, and the title of the podcast and episode information in text on the image.

Prayer During Lent – Episode 83

Prayer during Lent is our second Lenten topic as we prepare for the season.

Prayer is another pillar of Lent. It’s different than prayer during the rest of the year; different than our routine, daily prayer.

We talk about how to do prayer during Lent, and what it’s meaning, purpose, and origin is.

Fasting During Lent is the topic of this episode, with the iconic cover of Beth and Kristofer walking toward a Catholic Church, seeing them from behind with the Church rising before them, and the title of the podcast and episode information in text on the image.

Fasting During Lent – Episode 82

Fasting during Lent is often not considered until someone asks us what we are giving up.

Then, suddenly, without having thought of it prior, we say something like, “Chocolate” or “My favorite TV show.”

In this episode presented a month before having to start fasting, we explore what it all means, to help make the discernment of what to give up more focused and meaningful.

And Beth gives a great prayer inspired by the Holy Spirit to help you out. So inspired, we drop the mic.

What Is Lent? is the topic of this episode, with the iconic cover of Beth and Kristofer walking toward a Catholic Church, seeing them from behind with the Church rising before them, and the title of the podcast and episode information in text on the image.

What Is Lent – Episode 81

What is Lent?

Lent is a liturgical season of fasting, prayer, almsgiving, preparation, and enlightenment.

Okay – what does that mean?

Why do we celebrate and observe it?

How do we do all that?

So many questions – and we give an overview during these short twenty minutes, as an introduction to the next three weeks as we prepare for Lent.