Catholic | Lent activities | Daily Family Prayer
As we move through the mid-point of Lent towards the finish line of Easter, we’ve gathered a plethora of inspiring ideas from the CatholicMom.com treasury on how to persevere in our Lenten disciples and devotions!
For those struggling to maintain Lenten penances, Tina Mayeux offers ideas about how to refocus and get back on track.
An excellent first step would be to go to Eucharistic Adoration and ask the Lord to guide us in how to continue with our Lenten practices. In prayer before the Blessed Sacrament is the most perfect place to speak to Jesus about our intentions and ask for His help in carrying them out. In the silence of Adoration, we are better able to hear the voice of Christ in our hearts and receive the graces we need.
Jump-Start Your Lent: Recommitting to Lenten Practice (catholicmom.com)
Anne DeSantis details three ways to grow closer to Jesus in the Eucharist during the season of Lent and beyond.
Lent is a time of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. It is a time to grow closer to Jesus through our own self-denial and out of love for Him. Right now, there is a Eucharistic Revival going on throughout the world, centering on love and devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Here are three ways to focus on Jesus and His presence in the Eucharist during Lent and beyond.
Lent and the Eucharist (catholicmom.com)
Sheri Wohlfert explains why Lent shouldn't be a sad experience.
Every act of sacrifice we make during Lent can be thought of as a gentle kiss on the cheek of the Savior we love. We aren’t expected to take the torture; He already did that for us. He is simply asking us to remove those things that separate us from Him. I thought as we began to think of Lent as a time of joyful preparation, I’d offer just a few new things to “give up” during Lent. Pope Francis once tweeted: “Don’t give up booze, chocolate and carbs again, do something merciful and powerful!”
Carmen Lappe reflects on the spirit of Lent and whether we should focus our efforts on giving, receiving, or both.
The headline “getting more” out of Lent struck me in a particular way, like a billboard or commercial blaring across the TV attempting to appeal to the modern consumer. But anything related to “getting more” within the life of our faith requires a bit of nuance and reflection. Whether it’s Mass, personal prayer, acts of service, or our Lenten practices, our efforts will bear even greater fruit when ordered out of love for God and neighbor. The goal isn’t to GET something out of it, but rather to GIVE glory to the Lord and model His love to others.
Yet, as I continue to pray and reflect, I wonder: what if it’s both/and? Any effort to “get more” out of our faith, no matter where we fall in the liturgical calendar, can bring about a deeper conversion of the heart when met with “giving more”. Indeed, we can only give that which we have received! When we keep our gaze fixed on Jesus and continually strive after Him, this deepening connection is what inspires our prayer, service, or sacrifice. Maybe “getting more” out of this relationship means more peace, more joy, more compassion, more trust, more love, and more inspiration to give of ourselves in the service of others out of love for Christ.
Lent: Giving or Receiving? (catholicmom.com)
Jane Korvemaker reflects on the challenge of Lenten practices when life gives you unexpected penances.
Perhaps this year my penance is to accept certain defeats but still find a way to praise God in the midst. To realize that I am incapable of meeting my own expectations at this time, but to trust that God has foreseen this and chooses to allow this to happen, believing that in some way this will bring him glory. I feel I am in good company as I look to Mary and see how the depth and darkness of her suffering could not be anticipated. But her hope and trust in God remained true. So this is my Lent now: even in the midst of the “long dark of Moria” to sing God’s praises still:
I believe that I shall see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:13-14)
Moria and the Lenten Journey (catholicmom.com)
Monica Portogallo examines the possible pitfalls of some of the secondary effects of our Lenten practices.
If we do find that our motives were more selfish or our practices were inconsiderate, there are several options to improve the situation, including:
- If your fast was really an effort to lose weight, add another practice that has purely spiritual motives.
- If your sacrifice was more an effort to save money, give some of that money saved to the Church, a charity, or someone in need.
- If you received some kind of personal benefit from your almsgiving, spend time in prayer for those in need or donate an additional amount equivalent to the monetary value of that benefit.
- If you are imposing your sacrifice in some way on those around you, find a way to impact those around you less, either by modifying your sacrifice or choosing something different altogether.
Granted, God can still change our hearts even if our motives are less than pure, but it’s best to remove any hindrance to His grace.
Let’s remember: there’s no “I” in Lent. Let’s go out there and allow God to work in and through us this Lent!
Lenten Side Effects (catholicmom.com)
Caitlan Rangel invites us to consider how cooking from scratch can help us grow in intentionality, simplicity, and virtue this Lent.
I’d like to suggest one way we can tap into an intentional, simplifying, virtue-building Lent. A Lent that brings us away from immediate gratification and grounds us in obedience to the present. It begins in the kitchen.
When we begin to make more of our food from scratch, we say no to convenience and yes to craft. We gain knowledge of where our food comes from and grow in love for God and God’s creation. We become curious about how food affects us and learn about how God made plant and animal life to nourish us. We grow in patience, discipline, and sacrificial love through obedience to the work of cooking from scratch for ourselves and those we love.
As a final thought—when I am chopping, cooking, or folding dough, I often look over to a six-inch statue of the Blessed Mother holding the child Jesus, which stands in a corner of my kitchen. I find consolation and joy in nourishing my family as Mary nourished Jesus. I look forward to incorporating prayer, fasting, and almsgiving from the kitchen with you this Lent.
Lent From Scratch (catholicmom.com)
Christine Johnson looks back on past penitential seasons, noting what didn't work out, and what has been spiritually fruitful.
One year, my spiritual advisor asked me to try to ask God each morning what He wanted from me that day, and then do it. Some days it was a call to focus on loving each person in front of me. Some days it was to pray an extra Rosary. On other days it was to abstain from something I partake in regularly.
Another year, I gave up complaining for Lent. My girls were involved in different activities that met almost every day in different parts of town—including times when our older daughter might have a soccer game an hour away at the same time as her sister’s ballet class. I’d gotten in the horrible habit of griping constantly about my need to bilocate. I felt like God was calling me to step back and fix my attitude. (For what it’s worth, I’m thinking I might want to do this again this year.)
One thing I have learned over the years is that you can’t do everything. Pick one or two things and do your best. You aren’t going to be a saint because of one Lenten season.
Choosing a Lenten Discipline (catholicmom.com)
Pam Spano offers encouragement in finding your purpose if you've discovered you've set your Lenten expectations too high.
I think we can all relate to having our high expectations when starting our Lenten journey. It doesn’t take long for those expectations to turn into the ashes we received on Ash Wednesday. However, over the years, I have learned to lower my expectations and keep things simple.
Instead of piling on my to-do list, I commit to do at least ONE thing during Lent and keep it consistent. The pressure is off and accomplishing that one thing is a doable goal.
Reaching that goal gives me confidence, which usually leads me to add another goal.
It Is My Lent to Break (catholicmom.com)
Elena LaVictoire explains her plan to make deep-cleaning her home an essential part of her Lenten discipline.
Lent is one of my favorite times of the year. It forces me to prioritize the things I would otherwise put aside, and it makes me slow down and focus on building a better prayer life and renewing my faith practices.
This year, I am going to combine my spiritual Lenten practices with one of my least favorite things—deep cleaning my home! But it’s just not cleaning for the sake of crossing things off of my to-do list. It’s cleaning as part of a Lenten discipline.
Part of living Lent is looking at ourselves and trying to see our sins, repent, and live better lives to grow closer to God. Since the Lord is the creator of order and not chaos, what makes it easy for me to have these little pockets of disorder? Is it sloth? Is it procrastination? Or have I allowed other things to take priority instead of concentrating on these little hot spots when they develop? This is part of a bigger examination of conscience that I hope will help me grow spiritually and enrich my home for my husband, family, and friends.
Spring Cleaning for Lent (catholicmom.com)
Caroline Godin finds ways to grow in faith during Lent despite the busyness of motherhood and working.
We all expect Lent to be a time of spiritual growth through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We make plans to pray more, attend more services, and teach our children the values of our faith through sacrifice. Seems lovely, if only it were as easy as it sounds.
The reality is that the rest of life doesn’t stop for Lent. Hockey games are interrupting Mass times, causing us to find another Mass that weekend. After-school activities, chauffeuring kids, and dealing with bickering make extra prayer difficult. Picky eaters make no-meat Fridays a nightmare. Is there time for daily Mass, or an extra Rosary, or how about getting the kids to give something up?
We all struggle to make the season what it should be, but it is possible.
Lent isn’t just a Church thing; it’s for you, your personal growth of faith in God. You put so much of your time into family. So, why not make time and effort in your spiritual journey? As you grow closer to God, your spouse, your children, and even your neighbors will notice. It’s contagious seeing someone find joy in simple things.
Make Lent a Time for You (catholicmom.com)
Merridith Frediani confesses to putting extra pressure on herself to make sure her Lenten observance is "good enough."
The things that make it “good” are different for each of us and it’s important to remember that just as each of us has an individual, personal relationship with Jesus, how we live the Lenten desert is different and individual as well.
This is what I need to surrender to Jesus. I need to believe that what I’m doing is good and the fact that I’m trying to love him more and put him more at the center of my life is sufficient. I very well may not feel the feelings but it’s not about feelings. Feelings shouldn’t be the gauge by how I measure a “good Lent.” I know that I am imperfect, but I also know that Jesus is alongside me this Lent and the fact that I am making an effort out of love for him is valuable.
We can’t know if it’s a good Lent or not because often what we do now influences the future more than the present. I like to think I’m like the lilac bush outside my front door. I noticed tiny buds on the branches yesterday. In a couple months, those will bloom into fragrant purple flowers. With God’s grace I am building buds from my work in this desert and in the future something lovely will result.
Has It Been a Good Lent? (catholicmom.com)
Linda Kracht contemplates how the temptations of the world distract us from our Lenten commitments.
Lent is a very real Battle of Distractions vs Devotions. Just as Jesus’ forty days in the desert was his battle, Lent is ours. We are called to almsgiving, fasting, increased devotions, and sacrifice. Even some bishops seem a bit "overly accommodating" this year by permitting us to eat meat on St. Patrick’s Day even though it falls on Friday. It seems that we are all disaffected by this sensory world that we live in. The created world looms too large and grows so attractive as to claim a majority of our efforts and initiatives! We have trouble saying no—not today.
The good news is that Jesus calls us to reform ourselves—in and out of Lent—time and time again until we are united with Him. Until then, Pope Francis maintains, God never tires of forgiving me (and you). It's us who grow weary of asking for forgiveness for the many occasions where we fail to live virtuous, faithful lives.
So let’s pick ourselves up when we fail. Hit the restart button with me if you need to do so. Let us together pray, fast, give alms, forgive, love, and confess our sins while pondering Jesus’ mercy and love.
Lent: a Struggle of Devotions vs. Distractions (catholicmom.com)
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Rose Folsom gets Lent off to a goofy start, but she knows that the only way to fail is to give up trying!
So often we hear the whisper of God, “Pssst. Hey, it’s Me.” Too often, we answer, “Not now, God—gotta run for groceries before dinner; I’m too tired; I have to write my to-do list for tomorrow; I’ll catch you later for sure. Anyway, I prayed the Rosary this morning—remember?”
Especially during Lent, how can we place ourselves to catch the beam of light we need for spiritual renewal? How can we get back to what’s important when our lives are as busy as ever?
- Schedule your time with God. Write it on your calendar. Set your alarm. Whatever it takes. Mother Teresa wrote: “I make a holy hour after Mass so I have two hours with Jesus before the people and sisters start using me up. I let Him use me first.” Don’t have two hours a day? Schedule 15 minutes to meet Him in his Word, Holy Scripture.
- Make a good confession. It’s a great way to get cleaned out so you’re more susceptible to the beam of light, his love. Being forgiven does wonders for our ability to forgive.
- Give alms. Choose the way that suits you best: sharing time or money lightens us up because we shift the focus from ourselves. We become a beam of light to others
My Imperfect Perfect Lent (So Far) (catholicmom.com)
Debra Black suggests ways to make Lent the foundation for new growth toward Easter.
So now reconsider your Lenten commitments. “Giving up” isn’t just giving up 40 days of chocolate, only to eat 40 days’ worth of chocolate on Easter morning! It can also mean taking on something: for example, giving up a complacent attitude to take on a compassionate one. Choosing to be conscious of smiling. A renewed effort at the daily examen prayer. Anything we can do for 40 days can become a lifelong habit.
Laetare Sunday can be more than just regrouping strength and pushing forward. It can, and should, be a time of reflecting upon how this period of atonement has affected you spiritually. Too often we beat ourselves up for being imperfect, and Lent can become a time of extra self-scourging. This isn’t what God wants for any of us. He wants us to open our hearts to Him in the smallest of ways.
When we permit His Spirit to seep into the cracks and crevices, small healings take place that give us the fortitude to detach from worldly pleasures. Better yet, if we allow ourselves to be loved by Him, that detachment will not disappear on Easter morn. We will arise in a newly resurrected relationship with Jesus. That relationship, rather than our might, will be the foundation for new growth, a new springtime of the heart.
Preparing for a New Springtime of the Heart (catholicmom.com)