Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).
Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.
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FEBRUARY
22 Feb – Take your family to an Ash Wednesday liturgy and wear the cross of ashes all day.
23 Feb – Tape a drawing of a vase on the fridge and label it, “Lent”. Each day draw a flower in the vase and watch Lent blossom.
24 Feb – Share a meatless family meal. Discuss your Lenten offerings to be sure all are doable and sacrificial.
25 Feb – Choose a family Lenten offering, such as giving up desserts, attending daily Mass, or praying a family Rosary regularly.
26 Feb – After Mass today, explain the Gospel and the homily in terms your children can understand.
27 Feb – Contact Catholic Relief Services (877-HELP-CRS, www.catholicrelief.org) to see how you can help any of their ongoing projects.
28 Feb – Invent a new family prayer you can say together each day.
29 Feb – Take stock of how your Lenten fasts are going, and refresh your commitment to them.
23 Feb – Tape a drawing of a vase on the fridge and label it, “Lent”. Each day draw a flower in the vase and watch Lent blossom.
24 Feb – Share a meatless family meal. Discuss your Lenten offerings to be sure all are doable and sacrificial.
25 Feb – Choose a family Lenten offering, such as giving up desserts, attending daily Mass, or praying a family Rosary regularly.
26 Feb – After Mass today, explain the Gospel and the homily in terms your children can understand.
27 Feb – Contact Catholic Relief Services (877-HELP-CRS, www.catholicrelief.org) to see how you can help any of their ongoing projects.
28 Feb – Invent a new family prayer you can say together each day.
29 Feb – Take stock of how your Lenten fasts are going, and refresh your commitment to them.
MARCH
01 Mar – Before eating your family meal together, ask each person to say a spontaneous prayer.
02 Mar – Pray for the people in the world who can’t afford to have meat as a regular part of their diets.
03 Mar – Turn off the Television, unplug the computers, and take the phone off the hook for half an hour to pray the family Rosary.
04 Mar – Before Mass today, pick a saint represented in one of the statues in your church and find out more about him or her during the lent.
05 Mar – Collect stuffed animals or soft pillows in good condition and bring them to a local nursing home. Older folks love soft things to hug.
02 Mar – Pray for the people in the world who can’t afford to have meat as a regular part of their diets.
03 Mar – Turn off the Television, unplug the computers, and take the phone off the hook for half an hour to pray the family Rosary.
04 Mar – Before Mass today, pick a saint represented in one of the statues in your church and find out more about him or her during the lent.
05 Mar – Collect stuffed animals or soft pillows in good condition and bring them to a local nursing home. Older folks love soft things to hug.
06 Mar – Ask each person to share a game, toy or treat with someone else in your home.
07 Mar – Plan how each of you can show kindness or compassion to someone else tomorrow.
08 Mar – Think of someone you don’t like and say three nice things about him or her.
09 Mar – Figure out how much your family saved by not eating meat today, and put that money in the poor box at church.
10 Mar – At bedtime, say “Let’s turn our hearts to God and think of Him.” Sit in silence for a few minutes.
11 Mar – Light a candle in Church today for someone who passed away or who needs special help.
12 Mar – Ask each family member to write a letter to Jesus thanking Him for his sacrifice on The Cross.
13 Mar – Make cookies and bring them to a nearby nursing home.
14 Mar – Encourage each family member to perform an examination of conscience.
15 Mar – Place a crucifix or picture of Jesus in a central place to keep the focus on Him.
16 Mar – Whenever someone does a good deed, put a jelly bean in a jar. Share the jelly beans at Easter!
17 Mar – Ask each person to make a sacrificial offering, such as doing an extra chore without being asked.
18 Mar – Laetare Sunday – Have a special meal at home or a restaurant to celebrate the half-way point through Lent.
19 Mar – Pick a friend or neighbor and perform an anonymous good deed for him or her.
20 Mar – Encourage all family members to refrain from bickering today.
21 Mar – Say a short prayer before each cross or crucifix in your home.
22 Mar – Make up a box for a needy family or homeless shelter. Put canned goods, clothing, toiletries and gently used toys in it.
23 Mar – Serve pretzels as a remainder that Catholics used to fast from milk, butter, eggs, cheese, cream and meat.
24 Mar – Make simple crosses out of construction paper. Write on them, “He died for me”, and post them around your home.
25 Mar – After Mass, light a candle, and recite the Apostle’s Creed as an affirmation of faith.
26 Mar – Pray for the victims of the earthquake still suffering in Haiti.
27 Mar – Send a card to someone who might need cheering today.
28 Mar – Give up a favorite toy or treat just for today.
29 Mar – Visit someone who is sick and can’t leave home.
30 Mar – Place any final donations in the box you set up. Make a family trip to deliver it to its destination.
31 Mar – Go to Confession or attend a Reconciliation service. Then go out afterwards to celebrate forgiveness.
APRIL
01 Apr – Have a Palm Sunday procession around the house and take turns playing Jesus.
02 Apr – Take a walk outside and look for signs of new life.
03 Apr – Forgive someone who hurt you today.
04 Apr – Get up 15 minutes earlier than usual today and pray as a family.
05 Apr – Wash and dry each other’s feet in commemoration of Jesus washing the feet of His Apostles.
06 Apr – Pray the Stations of the Cross today, and mediate on each one.
07 Apr – Dress a doll in a white garment and talk about the Baptismal vows we renew each year.
02 Apr – Take a walk outside and look for signs of new life.
03 Apr – Forgive someone who hurt you today.
04 Apr – Get up 15 minutes earlier than usual today and pray as a family.
05 Apr – Wash and dry each other’s feet in commemoration of Jesus washing the feet of His Apostles.
06 Apr – Pray the Stations of the Cross today, and mediate on each one.
07 Apr – Dress a doll in a white garment and talk about the Baptismal vows we renew each year.
Calendar Symbols
The solid fish icon = A day of fasting and abstinence from meat
The plain fish icon = A day of abstinence from meat
The plain fish icon = A day of abstinence from meat
We hope this Family Lent Calendar will be useful for all in this lent season as we prepare our best to celebrate Easter.
Reference:
Turn Back to God
About.com
EWTN
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