Lent is a time of penance and sacrifice in preparation for the mysteries of the Triduum – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. But how can busy families enter into Christ’s 40 days of fasting in the desert? Here are some ideas for the whole family to enter this season of penance.
There are three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We included ideas for each in various age groups.
Prayer
For kids:
Learn one new prayer and recite daily
Choose one person — a friend, neighbor, even a famous person — to pray for every day during Lent
Choose a patron saint to learn about and pray for their intercession
For parents:
Go to a weekly Holy Hour
Read and reflect on Scriptures daily
Choose somebody you need to forgive and offer up your daily sufferings for them
Family:
Have a silent meal once a week
Attend daily Mass once or several times a week
Add a new family devotional, like the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, or Liturgy of the Hours
Fasting
For kids:
Give up a favorite snack food
Give up electronics / video games / computer game time
Eat everything your mom puts on your plate for dinner
For parents:
Give up social media
Give up alcohol
Give up small pleasures: Cream in your coffee, salt on your food, hot showers, etc.
For the whole family:
Fast from television
Fast from desserts
Fast from screens / video games / social media
Almsgiving
For kids:
Donate clothes, books, or toys
Volunteer to do extra chores around the house
Volunteer to help a neighbor with cleaning their house or lawn
For parents:
Donate money to charity
Volunteer with a prison ministry
Volunteer to help with a catechism / religious education class
Whole family:
Volunteer at a soup kitchen
Raise or save money to donate to a favorite charity
Volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center or collect items to donate