Blossoming Joy: Lent

Posts about Lent:

Lent is a Time for Consolation
Losing Control... By the Grace of God
Preparing Easter Gifts
When the Day is Full of Knots
Catholic Easter Baskets: Simplify and Sanctify

I think that it is important not to get too involved in ACTIVITY during Lent. It should be a cherished time to come again to the foot of the Cross to return our hearts to Christ. Prayer should be central and quiet should reign. There are many ways to encourage our children and families toward this end that still keep hands and hearts and minds occupied with Christ through the Lenten journey without being distracted or frantic. I am compiling a large number of links below and will continue to add to it. I find the list totally overwhelming myself (lol) but figure I have years to go through and discover some beautiful traditions and crafts. I'm going to try to limit it though. Busyness is not necessarily the hallmark of good motherhood. Sometimes it's a lot more fruitful (and challenging) to encourage an atmosphere of quietness, reverence and simplicity... for so often that is where our children will learn to hear the voice of Christ.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Coloring Page

Lesson Plans and Links at CatholicMom

Matchstick Cross

LENTEN CALENDARS

Joyfilled Family: Family Lenten Program -- nice printables and ideas

Lenten Countdown Calendar

Lenten Calender -- desert theme and lamb theme

Printable Lenten Calendar

Printable Lenten Calender - color or B & W

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Stations of the Cross Box - Box, stations and symbols kit

Candle Stations of the Cross - with printable stations

Stations of the Cross Votive Project

Stations of the Cross coloring pages - PDF

Stations of the Cross - PDF file of full color cards to print out. Lovely.

Online Stations of the Cross - EWTN

Stations of the Cross Game

Stations in the Home

ALMSGIVING

Almsgiving cross and craft

Make an offering box

PRAYER

Prayer Jar - with printable prayer starter strips

Face to Face with Christ - Reflection on the Shroud of Turn

HIDING THE ALLELUIA

"In medieval times they used to "bury the Alleluia" solemnly in the cathedral and in the abbey churches. This custom was nearly forgotten, but we came across it again on the happy day when we were privileged to celebrate Holy Mass in the creative and inspired parish of our friend, Monsignor Martin Hellriegel. There, in a solemn procession, the school children carried a wooden tablet on which was engraved the word "Alleluia" through the main aisle of the church over to the altar of the Blessed Mother where they put it at her feet and covered it with a purple cloth. There it would remain until Easter, when, in a triumphant tone of voice, the priest would intone, for the first time after forty days, a three-fold Alleluia." (from Around the Year with the Trapp Family)

Paper Banner w/free printable letters

Gold Alleluia all wrapped up

Alleluia plaque

Wooden Mantel letters

Printable Alleluiah

SACRIFICE

Crown of thorns wreath - lots of ideas for this

Sacrifice Beans/Kindness Jar

sacrifice ideas

Learning about God's Grace through Jelly Beans

LENTEN CLEANING

40 Bags in 40 Days