LENT

What do we do?

#1- We choose a family penance. This year it is no sweets. I know- it is the typical "I am giving up candy for lent". But, really, for some reason junk food consumption is up around here and mortifying ourselves on this matter seems like a good move. Plus it is a concrete reminder each day of the fact that it is Lent!

#2- We try and choose some special reading. In the morning, the kids and I will continue to read our saint a day book plus we are adding on Father Lovasik's book "The Hidden Power of Kindness". We will only read the Fr. Lovasik book when Erin (16yo) is at breakfast with us. It is a bit over the boys' heads, but it is an enjoyable read. When Erin is not with us, we are going to read Rosemarie Gortler and Donna Piscitelli's books- starting with "Living the 10 Commandments for Children".

#3- We are continuing to pray our decade each night. The boys seem enjoy praying the scriptural rosary.

#4- I hate to put this in writing!! Last year was a bit of a failure on this one- We are planning on praying the stations of the cross at least once a week. Our church has beautiful outdoor stations that make doing this with the boys so easy and enjoyable!! If we can't make it over to church, we will do them at home.

#5- An idea from one of our children's lent books- we make up "Lent Fortunes" - little strips of paper that have simple activities printed on them. Things like: pray a Hail Mary when you hear a siren, allow your brother to choose the video, share a toy, do an extra chore, write a letter to a sick or elderly friend... we roll these up and place them in a jar. Each day the kids choose a new "fortune". The thing that is nice about this is that each day is a new start. Sometimes keeping up one thing can be difficult for children, but changing each day keeps it interesting. It also helps kids who are having a hard time honing in one "good" thing to do during lent.

One encouragement that I keep hearing this year is to keep it realistic- it is better to do less, but do it well!!

Lent and Easter in the Domestic Church is a great place to take a look for information about the season!