February 16, 2007

Living the Lovliness of Lent


Lent is a lovely time of year. It lasts for 40 days plus the 6 Sundays, which fall outside the Great Lenten Fast. During this most holy season, we are called as Faithful Catholics to spend time in prayer and penance for the expiation of our sins.

Since the evil one tends to work overtime during Lent I decided it was in my best interest to make a calendar-chart just for Lent. I made a simple chart and filled it in with the date and what *I* needed to accomplish that day. This includes spiritual readings (Dolorous Passion and Divine Intimacy daily as well as the Sermons of St. John Vianney on Saturday evenings) and some do's and don'ts to help in some way to work on virtue, to avoid vice and to grow in holiness.

As our children's first and primary educators it seems important to give them a living Faith so that they may begin early to grow in holiness... namely so they can live the Faith out in their daily lives for their whole lives. Lent is a wonderful time to help the children brush up on their Faith through extra spiritual reading, acts of charity and kindness and working on their faults and failings.

Lenten Calendar 2007

This Lenten Calendar was originally published by Dumb Ox before they went out of business. I have used the Traditional and Historical Calendars and saved the calendar as a Word Document so you may alter the Saints, Sacrifices and any other information you may wish to change.

Printable Pages
8x11 printable-size links available on each page for copying to fit on a single piece of paper. They are available in 3 fonts because I found out that some computers don't accept "monotype corsivo", a fancy font that I used to make this. It may take a few seconds to load for those of us with slow dial-ups!

Suggested Activities
Copy each page and place in a binder or folder.
Make a Lapbook.
Memorize the short prayers each day.
Daily Saint Study
Introduction
click on the links
Season of Lent
How to Use the Calendar
What Youngsters Can Do for Lent by Fr. Brey, RIP
Why Pray the Stations?
Lenten Fast and Abstinence
Symbols
Lenten Pledge
Clock of the Passion
Calendar Pages
click on the links below the pictures

Lent Begins
The Last Supper
February 21 - 24
The Agony in the Garden
February 25 - March 3
Second Week of Lent
The Scourging at the Pillar
March 4 - 10
Behold the Man
March 11 - 7
Laetare Sunday
Jesus Falling Under the Cross
March 18 - 24
Passion Week
The Crucifixion
March 25 - 31
Holy Week Jesus is Laid in the Sepulchre
April 1 - 7

What I like most about the calendar is that even in weak moments, during those spiritually dry spells, we can just refer to the calendar and at least do *something* that we will accomplish for the Love of God and the expiation for our sins each day of Lent. In these busy days it is too easy to forget that Lent is a time of Penance.



For younger children try this crown of thorns. Each time they do their sacrifice of the day have them put a rose sticker on each "pokey". Another internet friend of mine had done a three-dimensional version with clay, tooth picks and silk flowers.
If you are unable to open the website pages you can email me and I'd be more than happy to email the calendar pages to you.

May you have a Blessed Lenten Season.

12 comments:

  1. Thank you Julie for making this available for others to print. I was looking for something the help us along for Lent and this is perfect.

    Julie cat from Maryskeys

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  2. Thank you, thank you! I'm so glad you made this available. I had only seen Dumb Ox catalogue once before they went out of business so never had a chance to order. I had thought this calendar would be a great Lenten addition. Thanks again!

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  3. I linked to this blog! You don't happen to have access to the things mater et magistra mentioned, do you? The forty day path to the Cross, or the adult Lenten Calendar?

    ~beth

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  4. Thank you for putting this together. I found this link on the 4Real forum. I really like your blog.

    Here is my new one:

    http://thetuckerbunch.typepad.com/

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  5. Julie,

    Thank you for sharing this wonderful Lenten calender. I have been looking for something to use this year with my children that they can use. This has coloring (for fun), copywork, memory work, saint of the day, ideas for a lapbook/notebooking and most importantly, ideas for living a holy, sacrificial lent. Thanks again!

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  6. Thanks for sharing! I've linked to share with others.

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  7. I've been looking for activities for the kids for lent and finally came to your site. Thanks Julie!

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  8. This is beautiful, Julie, and *you* are beautiful. Thank you for sharing so much with us.

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  9. Julie, thank you for making this beautiful resource available. For ease of use, I've compiled all seven pages into a single PDF document that anyone can access from my website:

    http://murphyprodesign.com/documents/
    LentenCalendar_2007.pdf

    If you'd like to repost the PDF on your site, feel free.

    Thanks again,

    ===> Brendan
    Sacramento, CA

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  10. Thank you, Julie for the great resource you provided us on your blog. My girls and I are using them and making this lent one of loveliness for our Lord.

    Ebeth as
    http://ACatholicMumclimbingthepillars@blogspot.com

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  11. Hi
    Are you considering up dating the Lenten Calendar for 2008? If not would it be possible to borrow your files to try my hand at it. Thanks for the consideration!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi
    Are you considering up dating the Lenten Calendar for 2008? If not would it be possible to borrow your files to try my hand at it. Thanks for the consideration!!!

    ReplyDelete