Celebrating Lent in the home

Here are some ways to celebrate Lent:

Shrouding Sacred Statues and Pictures

• Count your statues and holy pictures, then cut strips of purple cloth and use as shrouds for the artwork on Passion Sunday, just as the shrouds are used in church. This reminds us that with the arrival of Passion Sunday, the last most solemn and sorrowful weeks of Lent have begun.

Crown of Thorns

 

   

• This year we are using a wreath from the local craft store. I think it looks more realistic than the salt dough crown.

• Salt dough recipe. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5-10 minutes until satiny smooth. This prevents cracking and uneven baking. Divide into three equal sections and make three ropes. Braid the three ropes and form into a circle to form the crown of thorns. Place toothpicks around crown .After molding, bake at 300 for 30-40 minutes. Check often. Apply color by using paste food coloring mixed with eggwhites before baking for a golden brown finish.

The Stations of the Cross

• A dear friend of ours made me a stand, which holds 14 candles. We light them before we say the Stations of the Cross, and after each Station is read, we blow out the candle. When the last Station is read, the last candle is blown out and there will be total darkness in the room.

Resurrection Eggs

   

• Lead your kids on a fun, faith-filled Easter egg hunt this year--one that will teach them about Jesus' death and resurrection! Each egg carton is filled with a dozen colorful plastic eggs with miniature symbols of the Easter story hidden inside. These items symbolize events in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. You'll find a donkey, three coins, a cup, praying hands, a leather strip, a crown of thorns, nails, a die, a spear, linen/gauze, and a stone, as well as one empty egg, representing the empty tomb.

Lenten Sacrifice Beads:

• Draw a cross on the poster-board.
  Explain that purple is a color for royalty, for Christ is our risen King. Every time a child does an act of charity, penance, or alms, he/she will receive a bead to place in the jar. Every week in Lent, glue all the week's beads onto the poster, filling in the cross. This shows that we are all helping Jesus to carry His cross. Each bead helps Jesus carry the cross and helps us prepare for Good Friday and Christ's Passion.
  Supplies:
  1 bag purple beads
  1 large poster board
  1 jar to display on altar

Easter Story Cookies

• To be made the night before Easter. This recipe is to be made with children, to help illustrate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. Do this on Holy Saturday evening, before the Easter Vigil Mass. These are meringue cookies. The oven will be hot, even though you turn it off for the night, to allow the cookies to rise and become hollow.

Works of Mercy Mobile. We have never done this, but I thought I woud share it. I read this somewhere a few years ago.

• Have your children review all of the works of mercy. Then either draw or cut out pictures from magazines to fit the description of each work. Attach to hanger with tape and string and have the children hang them in their rooms to remind them to do these good works during the remainder of Lent.

Books we'll be reading:

• "The Tale of Three Trees"

There are many resources to help Catholic families celebrate the holy season of Lent. I have been gathering these for many years. Here are some links that have been very helpful to me:

Meatless Recipes:

• Lenten Dishes from C.I.N.
• Lenten Recipes from CatholicMom.com I submitted nine recipes a few years ago.
• Lent Recipes from Catholic Culture

Activity Books we own:

• Lent and Easter in the Domestic Church
• Lent and Easter for the Christian Family
• My Catholic Lent and Easter Activity Book

Catholic Lent activities for the family:

• Lent activities for the family
• Lent activities for older children
• Lent activities for young children
• Lent for little ones from Domestic-Church
• Activities for Lent from a dear friend, Coleen Rooney

Devotions for Lent

• Prayers and Devotions from WFF
• Examination of Conscience for Children

EWTN Reflection.

• What to give up...

Comments

[Tracy]

I love your ideas Ruth! Thank you.

[Kristen]

Wow Ruth! Thank you for all these wonderful Lenten ideas. They are great.

God bless.

[J.C.]

These are great ideas. Thanks for sharing!

[Jennifer]

This is such a rich post. There are so many ways to remind us on all levels of Christ's sacrifice. Thank you for putting this together.

[Jennifer in TX]

Ruth,
I LOVE your ideas--especially the Lenten sacrifice beads--I think we will add this to our family traditions for this Lent! God bless!

[Lela]

Thank you for all the wonderful Lenten, Easter ideas. I didn't know of any of these except the traditional. Your blog encourages and motivates me. I will also share these with my Mom for the grandchildren.

[Cheryl]

I like your crown of thorns. It does look better than a dough one. I just started thinking about Lent today. Great post.

[Ruth Tucker]

Thank you, Cheryl. Using a wreath instead of salt dough is actually Michele Quigley's idea. This is the first year we won't be using salt dough. I like the look a lot better.

[Karen E.]

Great ideas, and I really love the sacrifice beads! Thank you!