Lenten Traditions within the Home
How can families better live the spirit of Lent in their
homes?
The Catholic Church has designated the liturgical season of
Lent to be a period of fasting and self-denial in imitation of Christ’s fasting
for forty days and forty nights (CCC, 538-40).
Through participation in Lenten Liturgies and pious customs, families
enhance their experience of the glory of Easter.
“Either we live the liturgical year with its varying seasons
of joy an sorrow, work and rest, or we follow the patters of the world.” Writes Helen McLoughlin in Advent and Christmas in a Catholic Home,
commenting on the challenge Catholics have to be “in the world but not of the
world” throughout the year.
Because we both learn and express ourselves through our
bodies, we subject ourselves to meaningful practices during Lent. On Ash Wednesday, foreheads of the faithful
are anointed with blessed ashes in the sign of the cross, while the priest
pronounces the words, “Remember, man that thou art dust, and dust thou shalt
return” (see Genesis 3:19). Fridays and
Ash Wednesday are obligatory days of penance.
Len is particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential
liturgies, pilgrimages, voluntary self-denial (fasting and almsgiving), and
fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).
Within the home, families try ideas that may eventually become
customs. Here are a few suggestions:
FAMILY OFFERING: Decide as a family to give something up for
Lent. This could be anything from
desserts or sweets to watching television.
LENTEN CANDELABRUM (Stations of the Cross): Twelve wooden candleholders on a three-foot
board, perhaps with small pictures for each station. After each station extinguish a candle. After the twelfth station it is dark—the Light
of the World is gone. Finish the last two stations with a small
flashlight.
LENTEN CENTERPIECE: Six candles on a cross of wood (perhaps
two pieces of the trunk of the Christmas tree to symbolize the Incarnation),
four on the vertical and two on the horizontal. Trim with a violet ribbon and place on a violet
table runner. As with an Advent wreath,
light an additional candle each week.
The candles symbolize a growing light of the coming Resurrection.
READ SCRIPTURE TOGETHER: Read especially the Gospel accounts
of Christ’s Passion. Be forewarned that
the children might raise questions.
VISIT THE SICK: If you don’t have an elderly family member
nearby, visit a convalescent hospital and adopt an elderly person as a
grandparent.
FAMILY PRAYER TIME: If you have given up the television or
computer games, why not fill that time with conversation with Our Lord and
Savior? The children develop a true
friendship with Christ; the reality of His life, Passion and Death becomes more
real to them.
SING TOGETHER: Bring a missalette home and sing Lenten songs
together. Sacred music before, during
or after any family prayer helps us to meditate on Lent and anticipate Easter.
PALM SUNDAY: Bring palms home from Mass and place them
behind a crucifix or statue or in some other prominent place.
HOLY WEEK: Rally the troops to deep clean the home. Pack up
unused clothing and toys and give them to the poor and needy. Reflect on Christ’s Passion and death.
What will work well in your family and become a Lenten
tradition? Form a lasting impression on
your children and teach the fundamentals of our rich Catholic Faith.
Taken from Faith Fact at www.cuf.org/FaithFacts/
Prepare, Pray, Fast
and Give this Lent
as you Walk through the Lenten Path Calendar.
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