Lent - 40 for 40 - Southwest Michigan Catholic

by Victoria Cessna and Sarah DeMott

Prayer:

1. START a daily prayer practice (or add to it if you already have one)

2. PRAY for a special prayer intention each day of Lent

3. USE the Amen or Hallow APPS for daily prayer and meditations

4. BEGIN doing a daily examen

5. PARTICIPATE in the Sacrament of Reconciliation

6. ATTEND Stations of the Cross

7. DO a retreat (to do one at home, try Consoling the Heart of Jesus by Michael E. Gaitley)

8. GO to Eucharistic Adoration

9. START (or continue) the “Bible in a Year” podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz

10. PRAY for candidates and catuchemens at your Parish (see sidebar)

PRAYER ACTIVITY - Pray for others

During your Lenten journey consider praying for your Parish’s candidates and catechumens by name each day. Your Pastor or Director of Religious Education (DRE) can provide those. A catechumen is an unbaptized person. A candidate is a person who was baptized in another Christian church but who is uncatechized in the Catholic faith. These individuals have been learning about the faith and will be brought into full communion in the Church during the Easter Vigil.

Family:

11. TAKE a FORMED course by Ascension as a family

12. GIVE something up as a family (try social media or screens for extra family time)

13. LEARN about CRS Rice Bowl via its videos online

14. VOLUNTEER at a soup kitchen as a family

15. CREATE a special new Lenten tradition, such as a different Friday recipe dish or covering your religious statues in purple

16. PRAY the sorrowful mysteries or Divine Mercy Chaplet as a family

17. TRY a Lenten or Easter tradition from another culture

18. BURY the Alleluia (see below)

19. DO a special Lenten deep clean of your house

20. WATCH an inspiring movie about suffering for others (get creative: Les Miserables, UP, The Way, The Chosen series)

FAMILY ACTIVITY - Bury the Alleluia

Burying the Alleluia is a simple way of reminding your family that during Lent we don’t say or sing the Alleluia during Mass. This has been done traditionally to emphasize the penitential nature of the season.

First, create something to represent the Alleluia — paint the word on a large smooth stone, make a banner with the letters, color a picture, or simply write the word on a piece of paper.

Second, as a family, hide it somewhere — in your family prayer corner, in your Bible or bury it outside.

Third, on Easter retrieve it and sing the Alleluia together to celebrate. Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

Community:

21. VOLUNTEER at local ministry — Check out opportunities at Catholic Charities (ccdok.org)

22. VISIT someone you haven’t seen in a long time

23. INVITE someone to attend Mass with you

24. DONATE a bag a day to a charity in need (40 bags for 40 days)

25. MAKE cards to send to nursing home residents

26. PARTICIPATE in 40 Days for Life — visit 40daysforlife.com/en/Kalamazoo to learn more

27. ORGANIZE an Easter egg hunt at your parish

28. ATTEND OR HOST a fish fry on Fridays

29. VOLUNTEER to help plant flowers at your parish or help prepare the church for Easter

30. HOST a Synodal Gathering (see page 28 for more information)

Participants pray for the unborn - 40 DAYS FOR LIFE: MARCH 2–APRIL 10

40 Days for Life is an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses. In the Diocese of Kalamazoo, participants pray the rosary on the public right-of-way outside of the Planned Parenthood facility in Kalamazoo.

Read:

31. The Imitation of Christby Thomas à Kempis

32. To Know Christ Jesusby F.J. Sheed

33. The Cries of Jesus From The Cross: A Fulton Sheen Anthology

34. Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week by Pope Benedict XV

35. Strength in Simplicity: The Busy Catholic’s Guide to Growing Closer to God by Bishop Emmanuel De Gibergues

36. What Jesus Saw from the Cross by A.G. Sertillanges

37. Lord Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession by Scott Hahn

38. No Greater Love by Dr Edward Sri

39. The Four Last Things: A Catechetical Guide to Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell – Fr. Wade Menezes

40. Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Brant Pitre