Practical thoughts for the coming of Lent: Reading, soup, and more!
When our kids were young, Phil and I would pray and talk about the coming Lent with each other; then we would take the Sunday before Ash Wednesday to discuss over dinner what the coming season would bring for all of us — a real and lively conversation, not any kind of management meeting or programmed affair. I loved seeing the excitement of all the children, big and little, as we chatted about what we should give up as a family, and prayers we’d undertake, and personal penances that each one would try to live up to (of course, the older ones would keep those things private, but a general discussion was helpful).
This is me posting in time for you to do this too! (After I said yesterday that I like to take my time and not deluge you with info, this post is the deluge!! Take your time… )
We parents really are the spiritual directors of our children. The Liturgical Year gives us the guidance we need to fulfill this role; each season brings its flavor and reminders and grace to begin again.
I thought I’d round up some of the suggestions and helps we’ve had here on the blog over the years so that you would have them in one place.
As always, be calm and keep things simple! Live your Lent. Liturgical living is more than food and activities. Those things find their place in the overall rhythm of life lived in union with the Church. Most importantly, listen to and pray along with the Church in the Liturgy as she graciously leads us.
For all my posts over the years of the hows and whys, little by little, go to the end here, and you will find them linked. There are what I like to think of as helpful thoughts on all sorts of things, including a document for printing out your (and your kids’) own private “Lenten Rule” — a traditional little note between oneself and God as to what we are going to aim for.
Start a St. Gregory’s Pocket if you haven’t already, or revive one you’ve started! A Pocket is more than a book club, and it’s building the culture for your children — for the years ahead, not just for yourself now. Instead of dreaming, just get your Pocket going!
Lent is a great time to read something substantial, alone, with friends as you get to know them, or solidify the friendships you already have — either a woman’s or men’s group, or a couples’ group. I am not going to be able to do a guided reading this year as I have in years past, due to the babies that are shortly going to be raining down on me, but hey! the ones I did are still there, plus I have other suggestions for you:
How do we live liturgically? Maybe now is a good time to read the book — the book that we wish we had had when we were beginning, but which we wrote for you: The Little Oratory: A Beginner’s Guide to Praying in the Home. This book will help you establish a prayer life in the home, and Lent is the perfect time to start.
The Meaning and Vocation of Woman — John Paul II’s letter on womanhood.
Casti Connubii — and I collected and edited these posts on the encyclical by Pius XI written in answer to the problems of divorce and contraception into an ebook for you called God Has No Grandchildren — very reasonably priced and accessible. I haven’t had the chance to figure out the hard copy version, but really, it’s not a long book and maybe having it on your device would be fine.
The Spirit of the Liturgy by Romano Guardini — a guided reading of this short volume (available online, so you can get right to it!) on the burning question of what liturgy is.
The Spirit of the Liturgy by Joseph Ratzinger — a guided reading of the longer book written to expand on Guardini’s work and to delve more deeply into the history and form of the liturgy.
My friend Therese highly recommends Scott Hahn’s The Bible and the Sacraments. You can stream the lessons for free and include friends.
A perfect read with interested friends would be The Way of Beauty by David Clayton, which raises and then answers questions of what beauty is and how every institution, from the home to the city, needs objective harmony, clarity, and unity to be fit for man. While doing an excellent job of explaining the philosophy of beauty, David also gives practical explanations that you may never have considered.
For fiction to read, this post has my recommendations.
{The Amazon links here are affiliate links — thanks for shopping with us!}
As promised above, this post from a couple of years ago has a round-up of my Lenten thoughts over time, which I’m reposting here because it has all the good links (I think all!):
Live your Lent. Especially with the children — don’t “do Lenten activities.” Sometimes a coloring page helps them focus or gives you a chance to explain something, but put your trust in the actual living of this season together: Giving alms, doing penance, listening to the readings, and praying. In union with the whole Church we will be in good company!
Why Lent?
Spring Cleaning for the Soul
Is it Scriptural?
Quick – Make your Hot Cross Buns! You can mix them up before supper tonight, finish them after, put them in the dish, and bake them in the morning. The icing will melt a bit but hey.
You don’t have to have activities. Just live your own journey along with the Church and bring the children along.
“My Lenten Rule.” (A way of recording for yourself what you are trying to do this Lent. Wonderful for children as well.)
Wondering what you can give up? Here’s a gentle suggestion.
What if my children are older? What if it all seems awkward??
Fasting — do I starve the kids? (No.) (This post has the gingerbread recipe — ginger BREAD, not cake :) These Lenten “Cookies” satisfy with dates and honey — not processed sugar.
Yesterday’s post about Lenten Suppers with Soup, including Sukie’s excellent Kale Soup. Great comments with more ideas! Don’t forget Rosie’s amazing Cauliflower Soup and also my Butternut Squash Soup, which includes the ultimate directions for the pesky problem of how to deal with a hard squash (and it’s easy and results in the best squash ever).
Praying the Stations of the Cross with the kids, and other devotions, explained.
What do you mean by “offering up” my sufferings?
Stations of the Cross work.
My “Lenten work for children” Pinterest Board.
My “Living the Liturgical Year” Pinterest Board.
And my book, The Little Oratory, which explains what living the Liturgical year is all about.
Start your own Little Oratory this Lent!
Lent is a great time to “begin again” with a real prayer life in the home. You can start tomorrow with a candle and a crucifix and add things as you find out more about them. When you figure it out, link a photo on our “Your Little Oratory” page and let me know that you did so we can all visit!
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