Lent

• Lent is spiritual preparation for the celebration of Easter. Both catechumens (those preparing for Baptism) and the baptized join in preparing for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery at Easter.
• Lent begins on Ash Wednesday continuing until the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. (For the exact date for this year, please see Liturgical Dates).
• The practices of Lent involve prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
• Lent originated in the first three centuries A.D. and, over the centuries, developed from a one or two-day observance to forty days (recalling the 40-day fasts of Christ, Matthew 4:2; Moses, Exodus 34:28; and Elijah, 1 Kings 19:8).
• During the Season of Lent, the Church urges all the faithful to reflect a spirit of penance in their daily life through performing acts of fast and abstinence.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence.

What is fasting?

Fasting requires that only one full meal be taken per day. Two other smaller meals may be taken during the day to maintain physical strength, but these two meals together should not equal a full meal in quantity. Fasting obliges all those who have reached the age of 18 and continues to oblige until age 59. Those not specifically obliged to fast are encouraged to join in the discipline of fasting to the extent that they are able.

What is abstinence?

Abstinence prohibits individuals from eating meat on a particular day. Abstinence obliges all those who have reached the age of 14 and continues to oblige throughout their entire life. Those not specifically obliged to abstain from eating meat are encouraged to join in this discipline to the extent that they are able.

• Audio Stations of the Cross: listen to online or download to mp3; in both English and Spanish from the Archdiocese of Denver.
• Franciscan Action Network Stations: ecologically based Stations in PDF format in English and Spanish
• Trappist Mediations on the Stations of the Cross
• Way Of The Cross At The Colosseum led by Pope Benedict XVI
• Stations of the Cross from Creighton University
• Virtual Stations of the Cross  video presentations from Busted Halo
• Stations of the Cross: Activities, Worksheets, and Coloring Pages

• Arts & Faith: Lent - enter into a visual prayer experience; weekly video commentary about a work of art inspired by the Sunday Scriptures. 
• Free Lenten Journal: a journal that can be used with children and youth to enter into Lent and the mass readings for Lent.
• Lenten resources and ideas for Ignatian prayer and spiritual practices from Loyola Press.
• Lenten Resources from the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
• Lent with Fr. Robert Barron: subscribe for a daily reflection.
• My Life and the Stations of the Cross: an infographic meditation on the stations of the cross based on the spirituality of St. Josemaria Escriva. (Click on the small image to enlarge)
• Questions and Answers About Lent and Lenten Practices: a handout from the USCCB.
• The Passion and Death of Jesus: scripture study by Fr. Felix Just, SJ.
• Operation Rice Bowl: from Catholic Relief Services. En espanol.
• Soul-Nourishing Practices for Lent: handouts from Sadlier.
• Videos for Lent: links to videos that reflect a Lenten theme.
• 40 Ideas for 40 Days of Lent: from Joe Paprocki in his blog, Catechist's Journey: Sharing the Journey of teaching the Catholic Faith.
• 7 Ways to Practice Lent—Free eBook: explores seven ways to practice Lent by offering background on each tradition, an accompanying prayer, and activities for catechists to share the riches of Lenten practices with those they serve.
• Lenten Resources: from Loyola Press.
• Daily Inspiration for Your Lenten Journey Calendar: a printable calendar which focuses on reflecting God’s mercy in your daily life; from the USCCB. In Spanish too.
• Sadlier's Lenten Resources: downloadable resources including -- a Lenten Calendar, Act of Contrition Prayer Card, Stations of the Cross Prayer, Renew Your Baptism Activity, A Prayer for Lenten Spirit Prayer Card and What if I'm Asked about Lent? Faith Facts.  In English and Spanish.
• Lenten Activities for the Classroom: a list of resources from The Religion Teacher.
• Share the Journey Lenten Resources: CRS Rice Bowl invites you, your family and community to journey alongside the Good Samaritan, to reflect on the question: Who is my neighbor? En espanol.
• Praying Lent: daily prayers, audio retreat, ways to deepen your practice of Lent from Creighton University.
• Lenten Resources: download and print handouts from RCL Benziger

• Follow a daily Lenten Calendar:
  • Busted Halo's 25 Great Things You Can Do for Lent
  • Living Lent Daily: daily reflections on the theme of mercy delivered to your email on a daily basis; from Loyola Press.
  • 40 the Series: a web-based dramatic series offers a unique Lenten experience to believers as well as seekers from Loyola Press.
  • CatholicMom: a calendar containing simple ideas for celebrating the season of Lent day by day for families.

• Consider some of the works of mercy:
  • The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy

• Spend some more time praying:
  • Retreats:
    • take a 3-minute daily retreat from your computer
    • Lenten Digital Retreat: pairing reflections from Pope Francis on the Good Samaritan with Scripture. En espanol.

• Prayer and reflection: 
  • pray the Rosary;
  • read and reflect on the daily mass readings;
  • pray the stations of the cross (see above).
  • Pray as You Go: a daily mp3 that lasts about ten minutes, and combines music, scripture, and questions for reflection.
  • Weekday mass: attend a weekday mass at your parish church or a church near where your work on a regular basis.
  • Sacrament of Reconciliation: Lent is a good time to go to confession; Reconciliation Monday, the Monday of Holy Week, is a day of extended opportunities for receiving the sacrament.  Contact your parish for more information.
  • Spiritual Reading: read a gospel or another book of the Bible.
  • 40 Lenten Ideas challenges us to remember that real penance is to live life well in PDF format.

• Fasting and abstinence: donate the money you saved by fasting or giving something up to a food pantry; 
  • Self-denial: use some of your time to volunteer (e.g. volunteer to help in your parish's Religious Education Program!)
  • Good deeds and almsgiving: give to a charity; support a cause such as helping stop the death penalty.