Kids and Holiness: Making Lent Meaningful to Children

Catholic Educator's Resource Center/CERC ^ | 2001 | Cyndi Montanaro

[Salvation]

Day 2 – Mar. 2

The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are made by burning blessed palms left over from last y

[Salvation]

Oops

Day 2 – Mar. 2

The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are made by burning blessed palms left over from last year's Palm Sunday.

[Salvation]

Day 3 – Mar. 3

The season of Lent lasts for 40 days.  It begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter.  Find a calendar and count the days of Lent.  (Sundays are not counted).

[Salvation]

Day  4 – Mar. 4

Lent is a time for fasting, which means eating less than you usually do.  When people fast they are supposed to eat only one full meal a day and not eat between meals.  They can eat a little at the other two meals.

[samiam1972]

Thanks for bringing this thread back! There are wonderful things here that I can use with my children.

[Salvation]

You are welcome. Glad you can do some of these things with your children. Also watch the Catholic Culture post on the Daily Mass Readings threads. They usually have some children's or family activities. (Even recipes!)

[Salvation]

 

Day 5 – Mar. 5

Do this activity when you gather together for your Sunday family meal.  Get a globe or a map of the world.  Find the following places where hunger is a problem.

1.  Somalia

2.  Haiti

3.  India

4.  Bangladesh

5.  Mali

6.  Nigeria

7.  Egypt

After you have found these places, thank God for your food, look at the map or globe. and pray for the poor and hungry people of those countries.  You might say, "Today let's pray for the poor and hungry peole in Nigeria."

 

[Salvation]

Day 5 – Mar. 6

The Church says that people between the ages of 18 and 59 must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  Fasting is a great way of showing Jesus how much you love Him.  Even though you are too young to have to fast during Lent, try it for a day.

 

 

[Salvation]

Oops, Sundays aren't part of Lent. I needed to mark this as the First Sunday in Lent instead of Day 5! My mistake.

[Salvation]

Day 6 – Mar. 7

On Ash Wednesday and all Fridays in Lent people are asked to abstain from eating meat.  This is called "abstinence" (word meaning "to do without something").

[Salvation]

Day 7 – Mar. 8

The Church says that those who are 14 years old or older should abstain during Lent.  Fasting and abstinence brings us closer to Jesus and reminds us that we are God's special people in the world today.

[Salvation]

Day 8 – Mar. 9

Figure out how much your family saves by not eating meat on Friday during Lent.  Put the savings in a special bowl, box, or envelope marked FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HUNGRY.  At the end of Lent, give the money to an organization or mission that helps feed starving people (for example, St. Edward's sack lunch program).

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Put in your own favorite charity for March 9th!

[Salvation]

Day 9 – Mar. 10

Sacrifice is another way to show love for Jesus during Lent.  Sacrifice means going without something you like or doing something that's hard for you so that others are helped.  Examples – give up one of your favorite foods during Lent or do the dishes for your mom everyday.

Pray for the people in the world who can't afford to have meat as a regular part ot their diets.

[Salvation]

Day 10 – Mar. 11

Sacrifices are important all year long, but if we make an extra effort to sacrifice during Lent, it will help us get into the habit of doing good things all year long.

Make a list of support you can offer the poor and resolve to do one activity a week during Lent.

[Salvation]

Sunday #2 – Mar. 12

Not all Lenten practices have to be "Don't do this" and "Don't do that."  There are also some positive things we can do during Lent to help us build good habits.  Making your bed every day is a good Lenten sacrifice.  So are reading from the Bible and helping others.  Each family member should make a list of seven different positive sacrifices that they can make or good things that they can do.  Each person should try to do one thing each day for the next week.  Remember to do your sacrifice cheerfully!!

Choose someone who has passed away or needs extra help as your Mass intention today.

[Salvation]

Day 11 – Mar. 13

Lent is also a good time for reconciliation (which means "to bring back together").  Jesus knew that when we sin we are unhappy and we want forgiveness.  That's why he told us about reconciliation.

Pray an extra rosary today and every day this week.

[Salvation]

Day 12 – Mar. 14

Reconciliation is one of Jesus' greatest gifts to us.  When we sin, Jesus wants us to use the help offered in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession).

Forgive someone who has hurt you.

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Day 13 – Mar. 15

During reconciliation, the priest is there to remind you how much Jesus loves you and to act as a messenger between you and Jesus when He forgives our sins.

Ask Jesus to heal whatever separates you from feeling God's bountiful love.

[Salvation]

Day 14 – Mar. 16

All Catholics should celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent.

Read the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and renew your commitment to keep them.