Here are some ways to celebrate the holy season of Lent with your children:
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
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This year we are using a wreath from the local craft store to represent the Crown of Thorns. I think it looks more realistic than the salt dough crown. On Ash Wednesday the children will put toothpick in the wreath and whenever they do a good deed, they will take out the toothpick and on Holy saturday we will glue flowers all over the "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.
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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.
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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:
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Every time a child does an act of charity, penance, or alms, he/she will receive a bead to place in the jar. 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 beads1 large poster board1 jar to display on altar
Easter Story Cookies
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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.
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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
- Benjamin's Box: The Story of the Resurrection Eggs
- The Giving Tree
- My Path to Heaven
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
EWTN Reflection.