A recent article from the Archdiocese of San Francisco recommended activities to help children participate in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the three pillars of Lent. These and other traditions teach children about the power of Christ’s redemptive suffering and how they can offer up sacrifices and unite them with Our Lord’s sacrifice.
Many parishes pray the Stations of the Cross, a devotion that accompanies Jesus from his condemnation to His burial, every Friday during Lent. Families can also pray this devotion at home.
The article then recommended a hands-on activity to help children understand Jesus’ suffering for man’s sins: At the beginning of Lent, make a crown out of clay, and fill it with toothpicks, representing the thorns that pierced Jesus. Each time a family member does a good deed or offers up a sacrifice, they can take out one toothpick. The goal is to remove all of the toothpicks by Easter.
Families can also participate in Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl program, which is sponsored by many dioceses throughout the country. Families can save up money to help fund programs around the world and in their local communities.
The article recommended several ways of celebrating Holy Week within the home, in addition to attending the liturgies. It recommended reading the story of the Passover and the Last Supper on Holy Thursday during dinner, found in Exodus 12: 1-28 and Matthew 26: 17-35.
On Good Friday, after attending the Good Friday service at a local parish, families can watch a movie about Jesus’ passion, or read books or Bible readings about it. They can also turn off technology to enter more deeply into the Paschal mystery.
On Holy Saturday, families can pray a rosary together to honor Our Lady’s sorrow. Parishes might also offer an Easter food blessing.