Living the Liturgical Year Well: March into Lent

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Well, I had all the intentions of creating a liturgical year post that would include Lent, but it turns out Lent wanted a post of its own.  As spring approaches, so does Lent this year. Lent is not usually my favorite season, by far. But this year I am actually looking forward to it because I have a plan. Ah! What a difference that makes! It is probably not a perfect plan but there is one and that helps me a lot. What is your plan this Lent? For you, for your family, for your children? Once again, keep it simple.

Ash Wednesday

Did you know that Ash Wednesday is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation? But it sure feels like one, doesn’t it? I never quite feel like Lent has started if we do not attend an Ash Wednesday Mass. What a beautiful faith that reminds us that we come from the earth and will return to the earth. It seems that our culture has lost touch with death in such a drastic way. Few people die at home anymore and there is a constant search for “staying young”… Contemplating our humanity and the fact that we do indeed have an “expiration date” is not always comfortable, nor is it comfortable to discuss with our children. But it is so very important. I am grateful for a Church that brings to the forefront of my mind my humanity and allows me to repent, make penance and focus on the Four Last Things: death, judgement, heaven and hell. As I receive the ashes on Ash Wednesday, I am encouraged that I am not on that path alone, but that the Lord is there with me, to help and support me.
Ash Wednesday is also a day of fasting and abstinence. Lentil soups and rice are usually what are available in our home as well as bread. This Fasting Bread recipe is a little time consuming but when you read the symbolism of the ingredients it makes it a wonderful opportunity to discuss Ash Wednesday and Lent with our families.

Lent, the kids

So what’s my plan for Lent? To keep it simple… My older teens are in charge of their own spiritual reading selections but for my younger crowd we will be revisiting My Path to Heaven: A Young Person’s Guide to the Faith by Geoffrey Bliss, SJ and illustrated by Caryll Houselander. I love this book so much! It is an amazing spiritual treasure. It has a hint of Dante through the beautiful and very meaningful illustrations. The text is simple but to the point, without being over sentimental it carries the truth home. We usually read two “chapters” a week, giving time for discussion, meditation and some coloring 😉 We skip the questions at the end of each chapter, but do enjoy the closer look at the pictures in the back of the book. This is a wonderful first introduction to meditation, especially since we go through the book slowly. The girls can choose to go through it on their own or with me, individually.

Lent, the family

I am trying something completely new this year. I found this little book: The Art of Lent, A Painting a Day From Ash Wednesday to Easter by Sister Wendy Beckett. It contains a simple meditation on one page and opposite it is a beautiful painting that ties into the meditation. This is a great opportunity for us to deep dive into Picture Study while growing closer to God. I was disappointed by the size, the book is only 6”x6” or so. I would have loved it much bigger. Each week has its own theme: silence, contemplation, peace, joy, confidence and love. My plan is to read the meditation after our morning Rosary, spend some time in silence, then display the artwork for the day on our prayer altar where it will be accessible to all. The majority of the artwork is not religious in nature but ties so beautifully to each meditation that it hences the experience rather than takes away from it.  There is a second book: The Art of Holy Week and Easter: Meditations on the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus, that we will use for Holy Week but no specific plan for that yet. The themes for Holy Week are “This is My Body”, “Behold the Man”, “Father, Forgive Them” and “He is Risen”. In this book all the artwork is of a religious nature, which I really appreciate for Holy Week.

Lent, for the very youngest

For years and years I used Jessica’s Lenten calendars. They are so simple, yet beautiful and communicate to the very youngest the meaning of Lent. This year will be no different. I am planning on working hard over the weekend to put this year’s calendar together so that it will be ready by next Wednesday. I will also have a Lenten book basket available, but it will not include Easter picture books, yet. See resources below. I am considering picking up this very new and hot off the press book: All About Lent and Holy Week: Sharing the Seasons of Repentance and Salvation with Children by Katherine Bogner, illustrated by Shari Van Vranken. The wonderful and always trustworthy Jennifer Gregory Miller just reviewed it for Catholic Culture and I am very intrigued by it. It seems to be the book that has been missing from my Lenten basket for years and years…

Lent, for myself

A priest recommended that whatever we give up for Lent we should give up for life. And similarly, whatever we pick up for Lent, we should pick up for life. That was a really interesting perspective that I had never fully considered or understood but I had always had a feeling that it should be so. So I am not giving up neither chocolate nor tea! I am still praying on this as it makes it a much more serious decision…

Lent, spiritual reading

As for a spiritual reading, I am still going through Greater Perfection by Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, S.C. It is unfortunately out of stock at the moment. If you do not know Blessed Miriam Teresa, I highly recommend getting to know her. Her spirituality is very similar to Saint Therese’s and Mother Teresa’s: Do small things with great love. And her name is Teresa too!
Blessed Miriam Teresa’s biography: An American Little Flower: Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, by GinaMarie Tennant. I discovered Blessed Miriam Teresa years ago through a quote of hers:

“If all would only make use of the ordinary duties and trials of their state in the way God intended, they would all become saints.”

And that was all I knew of her until I came across her biography by GinaMarie Tennant. She is now one of my go-to saints.

On the road to Easter

So that’s the plan to follow on the road to Easter. A lot of old friends to rediscover and a few new ones to make. But all in all the end goal is always to grow closer to God and in holiness. This is not an easy endeavor, lol! And a lifelong pursuit, not one that only one Lent can accomplish. I am just so thankful for a faith that invites me to stop and recenter my life around the only person of true importance: God.
Wishing you all a very blessed and fruitful Lent. You are all in my prayers.
Love,
Mattie