Lent is 40 days long, Sundays are excluded. It is a time to help us reflect more on Jesus. Every day of Lent leads us on a journey towards Easter. To prepare ourselves for the celebration of Easter, the Church advises the practice of three principles, known as the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Each of these is meant to strengthen our relationship with God. Lent is a time to enter into a deeper relationship with Jesus. For this reason, this lent resource focuses on the life of Jesus and it will help the children to get to know Jesus better.
The resource is a walk through in the life of Jesus, starting with the annunciation of his birth and it takes us right up to the passion, death, and resurrection. It is a resource for all the family. Each day we follow the path with a scripture reading which tells about an event in Jesus’ life, as well as remembering the three pillars of Lent, prayer, fasting and giving. As we follow the footsteps, each day brings us closer to our Saviour. It is for families and children aged 4-11 years.
It is best if as a family you set a time in the evening and devote it to prayer and gospel reading. Since there is a suggestion of how one can fast or give charity each day, it would be best if this exercise is done on the previous day, so that on the next day, one can carry out the action given. For example, on the evening of Ash Wednesday, the family gathers, reads the Gospel from Luke about the Annunciation and says the prayer together. Older children may be included in reading the scripture and the prayer. Spontaneous prayer may also be included, so that even the younger children may participate. At the end, read out the action which can be fulfilled the following day. Younger children may also do the colouring of the picture each day. The next day, before you start the Gospel reading, you may wish to discuss how you carried out the action you were meant to do.
Prepare the prayer space, cover a small table with purple cloth and on it put the Bible, from which you will read the Gospel, put a crucifix and a candle and a jar which will be used to collect money for charity.
A short note about fasting and almsgiving:
To fast means to give up something. We can fast from certain types of food, we can fast from screen time, we can fast from activities we enjoy doing. We need to remember, that if we fast from food, it has nothing to do with losing weight! Neither should we fast to impress others and look good and holy! Fasting is meant to help us focus more on God. So, if for example, we fast from screen time, we try to use that time to pray, read the Bible or do good deeds. If children, for example fast from sweets, the money which was meant for sweets, is instead given to charity. Remind the children that before starting his public ministry, Jesus spent forty days in the desert praying and fasting. So, when we fast, we are trying to do what he did. Explain, especially to older children that we do not give up chocolate, a favourite programme or game, because Jesus wants us to give these things up. We fast from these things, to remind ourselves that we do not really need them, what we really need, is Jesus. Praying Psalm 23 reminds us just this, that “The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.”
As a sign of gratitude for all God has given us, and to show our love for others, especially to those in need, we generously give to the poor, to the sick and to the needy. The children will learn more what it means to give, if they give something which is theirs. When the children ask you to buy them a treat (sweets or a small toy) tell them that instead of buying something for themselves, you will donate the money to a charity. You may wish to have a collection jar/box and use it throughout lent and give the money to charity after Easter. Children are led by example, therefore let the children see you put money in the collection jar, too. When you give the money to charity, see that the children are with you, even if you forward the donation online.
As good Christians, we are to practice these three pillars of faith, throughout the year, however, we intensify their practice during Lent, to reflect deeper on our spiritual journey.
The resource is divided into 7 main sections.
In Section 1, we read about Jesus’ infancy
In Section 2, we read some of the passages where Jesus teaches us about friendship
In Section 3, we read some of the passages where Jesus teaches us about the Kingdom of Heaven
In Section 4, we read the passages from the Gospel of John, in which Jesus describes himself amongst others as the bread of life, the way, the good shepherd
In Section 5, we get to know Jesus through some of his miracles
In Section 6, we read some passages from which Jesus teaches us about prayer and how we are to live
