Kids and Holiness: Making Lent Meaningful to Children

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

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Day 15 – Mar. 17

The week before Easter is called "Holy Week."  This is the most important week of the year.

Even though the Archbishop said that we could eat meat today (Memorial of St. Patrick), share a meatless meal with your friends and tell them why you are abstaining.

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marking.

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Thanks for bumping the thread!

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Day 16 – Mar. 18

During Holy Week, we remember the days that led up to Jesus' death and resurrection.

Visit a local nursing home and read to a resident, take one for a walk, or just give someone your attention.

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Your welcome. There's some good ideas for adults here too.

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Sunday #3 – Mar. 19

Find a place where you and your family can sit quietly for five or ten minutes.  Spend that time just listening.  Listen to as many sounds as you can around you.  What do you hear?  Is there a car going by?  Do you hear the refrigerator running?  Is your family pet making noise?  Do you hear your own heart beating?  How many different sounds can you hear?  Count them!  Isn't it funny how there are lots of sounds around us that we don't even notice unless we really pay attention to them?  Jesus' voice can be like that-it's always there, we just need to concentrate to hear it.  We need to make sure that we are listening.  What Jesus has to tell us is special because He loves us so much.  Jesus most often speaks to us in our heart.  Just as we need to be quiet to hear our own heart beat, so we need to be quiet to hear Jesus' voice in our heart.

Take one idea from today's Gospel reading or homily to implement during the coming week.

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Day 17 – Mar. 20

The Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday and is the last Sunday of Lent and the first day of Holy Week.

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Day 18 – Mar. 21

Palm Sunday was the day Jesus, riding on a donkey, entered Jerusalem with hundreds of people cheering and waving palm branches.

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Day 19 – Mar. 22

In the land where Jesus lived, people waved palm branches as a sign of celebration.  Many people were thrilled that Jesus had finally come to Jerusalem.

Deal with anyone in your life who may be interfering with your relationship with God.

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Day 20 – Mar. 23

People threw down palm branches and even their cloaks on the road in front of Jesus to make way for Him.

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Day 21 – Mar. 24

When we go to Mass on Palm Sunday, palm branches are blessed and given to us.  We walk in procession into the church, singing, and waving palm branches to honor Jesus.

Make a fresh start on your Lenten journey today. Renew your Lenten observances.

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Day 22 – Mar. 25

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week are days to seek forgiveness from God and other people.  This is the time when many churches have Penance Service where people can come together and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

 

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Sunday #4 – Mar. 26

Last Sunday we talked about listening to hear Jesus' voice.  Another way to listen to Jesus' word is by reading the Bible.  The following treasure hunt will help you discover where to find specific people and stories in the Bible.  If you don't know how to find Bible verses, ask mom or dad to show you. 

As a family, look up the following stories in the Bible.  Beside the Bible verse write what happened in the story you found.  The first one is done for you.

          1 Samuel 3:1-18 –- God speaks to Samuel

          Numbers 21:4-9 --

          1 Kings 8:22-26 --

          Jeremiah 1:4-10 --

          Matthew 6:5-15 --

          Mark 14:32-42 --

          Luke 18:9-14 --

          John 17:1-5 --

          James 5:13-18 --

Celebrate the halfway point of Lent. Do something fun after Mass today.

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Day 23 – Mar. 27

Even though most people were happy that Jesus had come to Jerusalem, some of the leaders or chief priests of the town did not want Jesus there because they thought he would have more power over the people than they did.  The chief priests secretly planned to have Jesus killed.

Go to a private room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.

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Day 24 – Mar. 28

On Wednesday of Holy Week, one of Jesus' apostles, Judas, went to the chief priests to tell them he would help them capture Jesus

Ask God for a new grace today that will bring you closer to him.

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Day 25 – Mar. 29

The chief priests were very happy about this and they paid Judas money to spy on Jesus and help them arrest Him.  That is why sometimes the Wednesday of Holy Week is called "Spy Wednesday."

Resolve to go the entire day without judging or criticizing anyone.

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Day 26 – Mar. 30

The Triduum begins on the Thursday of Holy Week.  It means "three days" and refers to the three days right before Easter Sunday.

Pick one way you can simplify your lifestyle to make more room for God.

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Day 27 – Mar. 31

How do you pronounce "Triduum?" 

"Trip" without the "p" = tri

"do" as in "do your homework" = do

"um" as in "um, I don't know how" – um

altogether = Tri-do-um (spelled Triduum)

Figure out how much money you saved today by not eating meat, and give it to the poor.

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Day 28 – Apr. 1

Holy Thursday is the day Jesus and his apostles celebrated the Last Supper.

Go through your possessions and give what you don't need to the poor.

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Sunday #5 – Apr. 2

As a family, take a walk outside and look at things in nature that could be used to remind you of Jesus and His life.  For example, two sticks could be put together to form a cross, or a stone could remind you of the big stone that was rolled in front of Jesus' tomb after he'd been crucified.  Collect several items like this on your nature walk.  Bring the things you have collected home and put them out on a special table.  Put up a little sign that say Lent Nature Table and then tell someone how each thing reminds you of Jesus.