Just popping in here to try to put some order into the archives for you!
Live your Lent. Especially with the children — don't “do Lenten activities.” Sometimes a coloring page helps them focus or gives you a chance to explain something, but put your trust in the actual living of this season together: Giving alms, doing penance, listening to the readings, and praying. In union with the whole Church we will be in good company!
Why Lent?
Quick – Make your Hot Cross Buns! You can mix them up before supper tonight, finish them after, put them in the dish, and bake them in the morning. The icing will melt a bit but hey.
You don't have to have activities. Just live your own journey along with the Church and bring the children along.
“My Lenten Rule.” (A way of recording for yourself what you are trying to do this Lent. Wonderful for children as well.)
Wondering what you can give up? Here's a gentle suggestion.
What if my children are older? What if it all seems awkward??
Fasting — do I starve the kids? (No.) (This post has the gingerbread recipe — ginger BREAD, not cake 🙂 These Lenten “Cookies” satisfy with dates and honey — not processed sugar.
Yesterday's post about Lenten Suppers with Soup. Great comments — please add yours, and/or join us for {pretty, happy, funny, real} this Lent! (That {phfr} is of course gone and done now, but we'll have others. Keep your eye out!)
Praying the Stations of the Cross with the kids, and other devotions, explained.
What do you mean by “offering up” my sufferings?
Stations of the Cross work.
My “Lenten work for children” Pinterest Board.
My “Living the Liturgical Year” Pinterest Board.
And my book, The Little Oratory, which explains what living the Liturgical year is all about.
Start your own Little Oratory this Lent!
Lent is a great time to “begin again” with a real prayer life in the home. You can start tomorrow with a candle and a crucifix and add things as you find out more about them. When you figure it out, link a photo on our “Your Little Oratory” page and let me know that you did so we can all visit!
Cara says
Leila,
Thank you for all your encouragement! This was a no stress, easy peasy enjoy the season of Lent with your church and family! So very much appreciated <3
Lisa G. says
I love all your posts, dear lady. Many Lenten blessings to you!
Melanie says
Yes, this is so true. The other day I was starting to feel guilty about not having a children’s Lenten calendar and activities…and then I remembered how my parents never did this sort of thing with us. Not that is wrong, but it is often unnecessary. LIVING your Lent is such a good way to put it. Thank you.
Elizabethanne says
I was not raised by super active Catholic parents, but I do remember my mom taking me to stations maybe once or twice and to a Lenten soup supper. She explained what “meager” ment and I remember thinking it was sort of strange to not eat as much as I wanted that night, but clearly it made an impression. I’m not sure how we’ll do lent this year other than to include one station a day, I think, bc my kids are little, and purposely have simple meals a few nights a week (we give up dessert after dinner) and we do the Lenten bean jar thing to visualize offering things up. Simple is really it, I think, and if it varies from normal life/ ordinary time, you make an impression me than you realize!
Ann Marie says
Hello Leila,
I contacted you last year, asking advice – I was finding Mass difficult and church life unrewarding. You gave me some encouragement which I appreciated so much.
I sat in church at lunch time at Ash Wednesday mass today feeling happy and hopeful.Your neighbour at church can also be discouraged or challenged.
I shared my hymn book with an elderly gentleman to save him walking to the back of church.His smile and wave as we left,all the teenagers,toddlers and babies,made me feel I was in the right place.
Many thanks,
Ann Marie
Donna L. says
Dear Auntie Leila,
Thank you so much for organizing the past pearls of wisdom…I’m enjoying reading them when I take a few minutes each day to renew my inspiration over a cup of coffee or tea…
A blessed Lent to all!
priest's wife @byzcathwife says
Thanks for all the links to your past helpful-to-us writing- I’m sharing this post
A says
Auntie Leila,
I see you have lots of links posted and I read the first ones (on spring cleaning for the soul and is it scriptural), but is there more you could say or already have said to explain how to live out this Lenten season for someone like me who isn’t Catholic? I admit all I’m aware of is fasting some sort of rich food…
Thanks,
A