Three Ways Families Can Prepare for Lent

Anne DeSantis offers ideas for getting ready for the upcoming season of sacrifice and prayer as a family.

Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, and it is also a time of growth and in developing our relationship with God. As families, we can strive to grow together on this 40-day journey in our focus on loving and serving the Lord in the greatest of ways. No matter what size your family may be, you can take time to know and understand the importance of Lent and ways to become more sacrificial in imitation of Christ. Below are a few ways to prepare for Lent as a family.

Discuss Lent before Ash Wednesday

As Ash Wednesday approaches, we can start by giving thought to the upcoming Lenten season. Plan to sit with family members a few days or a week before Ash Wednesday and produce a basic plan for prayer and action in doing good and in growing closer to Jesus. Communicate with other members of the family about prayer activities which can be done as family or group outings to help others within your community.

Pray together nightly

In family life, days can often be busy, and prayer is not always done together as a family unit. Make it a practice to pray together in the evening either after dinner or at night to offer personal intentions and to pray and mediate. If guests are visiting your home, invite them to join the family in prayer. Write down the family’s intentions in a notebook and hold onto the notebook for later reference in order to continue praying for people and situations.

Become more authentic in your faith life

Authenticity is an important facet of faith. We never want to be religious for the sake of making ourselves feel better about who we are or because we feel forced into religious practices. Being more authentic means we pray and do good because we love God above all and we love others. Remember this throughout Lent in your daily practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The end goal is deeper friendship with the Lord and not to say to oneself, “I am a good person.” Teach family members the importance of being real and in doing Lenten practices in order to get to know the heart of God even better.

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As families, we can strive to grow together on this 40-day journey in our focus on loving and serving the Lord in the greatest of ways. #CatholicMom

These are just a few ways to prepare for Lent as a family striving to know, love, and serve God. Keep up your practice throughout the Lenten season and continue them through life. Remember that Lent is a great preparation for deeper growth throughout our lives both now and in the future.

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