Lent

***Suggested Age Range - Our suggestion of an age range for which the resources are best suited. This is just a suggestion to help you in your planning.***

The Biblical Roots of Ash Wednesday - Dr. Brant Pitre

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Dr. Brant Pitre provides insightful Bible commentaries on his blog. He is one of the best! In this video, Dr. Pitre gives insight into the Biblical foundation for Ash Wednesday, as well as the rationale and purpose of the season of Lent. He addresses questions such as: 
• Why do you we use ashes?
• Why are we asked of the Church to increase our fasting, prayer, and almsgiving during Lent?
• Is Lent just about abstaining from a favorite food, or is there something more to it?

FATHER MIKE SCHMITZ

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult

PREPARING FOR LENT

"In this short video, Fr. Mike explains how prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the three pillars of a spiritually fruitful Lent. He then challenges us to try new ways to exercise these Lenten practices, sharing several simple strategies for drawing closer to God during this holy season."

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ASH WEDNESDAY

If you want to start off your Lent with a reminder of Ash Wednesday’s deeper meaning, listen to Fr. Mike’s heartfelt words in this video.

Abiding Together - Lenten Book Study

Suggested Age Range: Adult Women
Join the women of the Abiding Together Podcast for their 2021 Lenten Book Study!  Here is some more info about it from their website: This Lent, dive into "This Present Paradise" by first-time author Claire Dwyer, a book about the prophetic life of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and her call to holiness for the laity. This study will challenge you with spiritual inspiration and practical wisdom, revealing how to live in union with God right now, during everyday life.

Evango - Called and Commanded: A Guided Lenten Retreat (First weekend of Lent)

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
The “Called and Commanded” Personal Lenten Retreat is hosted by Evango, a Catholic media organization dedicated to building a culture of Catholic evangelization and missionary discipleship. The retreat conferences will be live-streamed and begin on Friday, February 19th, through to Sunday, February 21st, 2021. 

If you are unable to join inlive, the conferences will be made available to you later that same day, so you can listen to them at your own convenience and pace. 

BEST LENT EVER - DYNAMIC CATHOLIC

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Join Dynamic Catholic for their FREE Best Lent Ever 2021 email program. You will receive daily emails with inspirational videos and reflections that will help guide you on an incredible journey toward the-best-version-of-yourself. From Ash Wednesday to Easter, you’ll discover ways to transform your life in forty days.

BISHOP BARRON'S DAILY LENTEN GOSPEL REFLECTIONS

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Free daily email reflections: When you sign up, you can choose to receive the reflections in English or Spanish. Bishop Barron will then send you a new lenten Gospel reflection each day during Lent.

Cana90 - A Lenten Challenge for Married Couples

Best suited for: Married Couples with Children at Home
Mike and Alicia Hernon of the Messy Family Project, have created this Lenten challenge for married couples with young families. Here is the description of Cana90 from their website: This Lent and Easter why not walk on the path of holiness that God has laid out for you already?  Parents and spouses are called to love and sacrifice first within their own homes, so we designed Cana90 to challenge families to become more of who God is calling them to be – communities of life and love.  We will help you choose commitments of prayer, fasting, and mercy that turn your heart towards your family.  Daily emails will keep you focused and inspired. Activities will draw you deeper into relationship with your spouse and children. Let us begin again and seek transformation through prayer, fasting, and mercy for our marriages and our families. Email, digital download, and print version available. Click on the link for more info and to sign up!

Carmelite Online Retreat — Lent 2021

With St. Teresa of Avila

Suggested Age Range: Mature Teens-Adult
We invite you to experience this Lent in a spirit of communion through an online retreat prepared especially for you by the Discalced Carmelite friars. 
Here is some some more info from their website:St. Teresa of Avila guides us during this Lent as we journey from dwelling place to dwelling place in her Interior Castle. It was in the midst of a crisis that she wrote her spiritual masterpiece; in our context of health and economic crisis, the 'Madre' can help us during Lent to discover that our strength is within. With this Doctor of the Church, we will journey through her Interior Castle until we reach the center where the light of Easter shines.

CarmelCast Season 5 - Book Study

Suggested Age Range: Mature Teens-Adult

This Lent on CarmelCast, join Deacon Pier Giorgio, Br. John-Mary, and Dr. MaryRuth Hackett as they embark on a book study of St. Teresa's, The Way of Perfection. Reading between 30 and 40 pages each week, you can finish and understand one of the most influential books about prayer ever written. St. Teresa of Ávila wrote The Way of Perfection to teach her nuns how to pray. Her writing is paced like a conversation and full of practical wisdom. You can hear more details, receive a discount on the book and see the preview of this new season by clicking on the link.

Catholic Answers

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult

The Lenten Apologetics  Daily Email Series

In this daily apologetics series you'll learn: How was Jesus a prophet? What will happen to those who never hear of Jesus?​​​ What is a miracle? How can I join or help someone join the Catholic Church? How did the Church begin? What did the Early Church Fathers believe about the Eucharist? And much, much, more...

Article: Here’s What You Need to Know About Lent

Here is a great article, written by Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers explaining everything you need to know to make the most of your Lent. Learn about the origins of Lent, Lenten practices and more!


CATHOLIC ICING - LENTEN ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN

Suggested Age Range: Families / K-Grade 12
Printable resources. Some available free of charge and some available for purchase. There are some great resources here, including a free, printable Lenten calendar for kids!

Catholic Online School

Daily Readings

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
The Catholic Online School is completely free and faithful. Sign up for the daily Mass reading video lessons this Lent! In this class, you will partake inone Daily Reading lesson for each day of the month including 'Questions for Reflection' with Deacon Keith Fournier. Sign up for Lent!

Lent/Easter Classes & Resources

Suggested Age Range: -All Ages
Stations of the Cross, Living Lent 40-day challenge, classes on all important days of Lent/Easter, etc. There are literally tons of free resources to choose from!

Catholic Sprouts

Free Lenten Countdown Worksheet for Children 2021

Suggested Age Range: Children (k-Grade 8)
This worksheet helps children to: -Understand and celebrate every day of Lent! The calendar has been updated for 2021 and includes all of the feast days that fall within Lent 2021. -Stay engaged with Lent for all 40 days. -Understand that Lent is for them too! -"Check-in” on their Lenten Resolutions to Pray, Fast and Give each day. -Remember to fast on Friday, celebrate on Sundays and fully enter into the events of Holy Week. -Live a Holy Lent this year!

40 FAITH-BUILDING LENTEN ACTIVITIES

Suggested Age Range: Children (k-Grade 8)
Catholic Sprouts has compiled a list of 40 Lenten activities for families. There are some great ideas here for educational faith-building activities that children will love!

CATHOLIC SPROUTS PODCAST FOR CHILDREN

Suggested Age Range: Children (k-Grade 8)
A short (less than 10 mins), daily podcast for children. Listen with your child for Lent. Search for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher or Youtube. The link to the podcast website is below.

Custodia Terræ Sanctæ - Virtual Way of the Cross

Franciscans in the Holy Land - Watch a virtual Way of the Cross for Lent on their social media channels!

Formed Daily Lenten Reflections

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult

40 Days to Grace and Glory

Info from the FORMED website: This Lent, we invite you to journey with Dr. Tim Gray by signing up for Daily Lenten Reflections. Each day you will receive in your inbox a short video which features Dr. Gray commenting on the daily Mass readings, explaining the Scriptures, and providing you with concrete ideas on how to apply them to your Christian life. Available for free on FORMED.

A FREE Scripture study guide for Lent

40 Days to Peace

Info from SpiritualDirection.com: This beautiful, printable book will offer you an introduction to the practice of mental prayer and an entire Lent’s worth of deep and insightful reflections from Fr. Bartunek’s, "The Better Part."

Whether you are a veteran in the practice of daily mental prayer or a novice with a burning desire to learn, we believe you will be hard-pressed to find a better set of reflections for this holy season.  

Download your free copy of 40 Days to Peace here and be ready to have your best Lent ever!

Franciscan University of Steubenville's Lent Resources for Catholics

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Free and faithful resources from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. Videos, music playlist, wallpapers for your electronic devices, etc. 

Fulton Sheen Institute - Daily Reflections for Lent 2021

Daily 1-2 minute reflections for Lent by Fulton J. Sheen.

A Simple Guide to Penance and Mortification

A FreeTruth.ca Original Resource!

Need a refresher on what exactly penance and mortification are, and the difference between the two? We have created this easy-to-follow infographic for you! Download the pdf file free!

Lenten Mission: The Fulfillment of All Desire

Suggested Age Range: Mature Teens-Adults
The journey continues...​with more wisdom from the saints. Sunday evenings in Lent at 8pm EST.
Details provided from their website: Join Renewal Ministries' President, Ralph Martin, for a LIVE online Lenten Mission. This four night mission will help you build a solid foundation for the spiritual journey through the wisdom of the saints, as found in Ralph's book The Fulfillment of All Desire.

This Lenten Mission will build on topics covered during our Advent Mission (which focused on the "purgative" stage of the spiritual journey). Content will be new for those who participated in Advent (focusing on the "illuminative" stage of the spiritual journey), but will also stand alone for newcomers. All are invited to join us to learn timeless wisdom for the spiritual life. 

Registration is FREE, but required, and there is a viewership limit, so register soon and log in early on each day of the event to ensure access to the live feed and ability to participate in the Q&A sessions! (Sunday, February 28; Sunday, March 7; Sunday, March 14;​ Sunday, March 21)

LENTEN CALENDAR FOR CHILDREN - THE KID'S BULLETIN

Suggested Age Range: Children (k-Grade 6) 
This PDF booklet was created by a Canadian. It includes daily Lenten reflections or activities (mortification, prayer or other way to grow in virtue) for children. An awesome, free resource for kids!

Loyola Press - Resources for Your Lenten Journey

Lent invites us to turn our minds and hearts back to the God of mercy. Discover inspiring ways to observe the season with these ideas from Loyola Press.

Bookmark the following link for a full selection of Lenten articles, activities, prayers, and videos!

Living Lent Daily Email Series

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Lent presents a wonderful time to explore Scripture in our daily prayer, so reflect each day with the Scripture-based inspiration of Living Lent Daily, an e-mail series. Authors and other friends will share reflections based on Bible verses featured in the Loyola Press 3-Minute Retreats. Each day you’ll receive a message with one of these reflections. The messages also include suggestions for further exploration of Lenten themes through additional online articles and prayers.

HOLY WEEK Resources

Suggested Age Range: Families /All Ages
An excellent list of resources to make your Holy Week extra special, including devotions, 3-Minute Retreats, crafts and activities for families, and articles to read.

Other Great Resources for Children / Catechists

40 Ideas for 40 Days
Find a selection of Lenten activities from the deep archives of Catechist’s Journey. While organized according to the 2020 calendar, the activities aren’t limited to just one day of Lent.

Lent with the Saints
Spend Lent with the saints this year, with the aid of our downloadable handout featuring 40 holy men and women. Available in English and in Spanish.
Stations of the Cross Booklet
Invite children to reflection on the Stations of the Cross with the help of this free mini-booklet they can illustrate.

Praying with the Stations of the Cross—With Free Station to Station Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Gary Jansen believes the Ignatian exercise of using the imagination to engage with Scripture is a perfect way to learn more about Jesus’ responses to suffering and our responses as well.

Stations of the Cross for Children
Pray with our popular online Stations of the Cross for Children, available in English and in Spanish.

Ten Commandments Games
Shannon Chisholm practices active learning with children reviewing the Ten Commandments.
Pop-Up Catechesis: Observing the Liturgical Calendar
Explore how families can observe the Church’s liturgical year—a way of marking all time as belonging to God.
Pop-Up Catechesis: Practicing the Lenten Disciplines
Watch Joe Paprocki illustrate the domino effect of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Lenten Actions Cards
Encourage families to take practical steps toward practicing the traditional Lenten pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. 

HOLY HEROES

Lenten Adventure

Suggested Age Range: Families / Children Ages 5-12
Holy Heroes provides some great Lenten resources for families. Some are available for purchase. Their Lenten Adventure is a free daily email subscription that includes videos and printable activities.

Institute of Catholic Culture

Suggested Age Range: Adult Learning Opportunities
The Institute of Catholic Culture offers weekly, instructor-led, live learning experiences, over 1000 hours of on demand lectures and courses, and weekly Gospel reflections, all free! Check out some of their offerings for Lent and Easter!

PENANCE: A Source of Joy

Sunday, February 21    Pre-Class Discussion:  6:30 PM EST   Lecture:  7:00 PM EST
Start the Lenten season by sitting at the feet of the Bishop of Arlington, Most Rev. Michael Burbidge. Each Lent we deepen and express our interior conversion of heart through works of penance, namely, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Their purpose is not to diminish our life or to make us feel or appear gloomy, but rather in them we find deep joy in the working of grace. Through acts of penance, our whole lives are radically turned to God and placed in the service of His Kingdom.

THE DIVINE EAGLE: A Study of the Gospel of John

Tuesdays, February 23 - March 23   Pre-Class Discussion:  7:30 PM EST   Lecture:  8:00 PM EST
Experience this holy, penitential season in a deeper way with a 5-part Lenten "retreat" studying the Gospel of John with Dr. Matthew Tsakanikas.

Does God Suffer?: Reconciling God with the Cross of Christ

Sunday, March 28     Pre-Class Discussion:  6:30 PM EST     Lecture:  7:00 PM EST
In the Incarnation, the Son of God comes to exist as a man and suffers and dies on the cross. It is this salvific suffering that frees humankind of sin and death, and in the bodily resurrection offers to humankind eternal life. But does God, in His divinity, suffer along with us? Join Fr. Weinandy as he explores the union of natures in Christ and what it means for our salvation.

THE BREATH OF GOD: Reaping the Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Saturday, April 17     Pre-Class Discussion:  6:30 PM EST     Lecture:  7:00 PM EST
Reflect on the fruits of the Spirit of Pentecost with Rev. Msgr. Charles Pope. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." — Galatians 5:22-23

No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ's Passion Study With Dr. Edward Sri

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
 Ascension is offering you an opportunity to complete a study with a popular author!

More info from Ascension: Dr. Edward Sri, the presenter and author of the best-selling study No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ’s Passion, will guide participants deeper with the No Greater Love study LIVE on Facebook and on our website, www.ascensionpress.com, starting February 24, 2021, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time!

Every week for five weeks, Dr. Sri will help participants dive deeper into that week’s study session.

Join us for this Lenten event filled with: Prayer, A summary of each No Greater Love session, Additional commentary from Dr. Sri that is not included in the original No Greater Love study, Question and answer time with Dr. Sri, And community!

Mom for All Seasons: 20 Hands-On Lent Activities for Families

Suggested Age Range: Primary-Aged Children
Engage your children in this rich season through hands-on Lent activities. Activities that allow children to see, hear, taste, and touch are the most meaningful, and to be honest, just plain fun for them. At early ages, children learn through play, so if we can make an activity fun for them, they’re much more likely to retain the information presented to them.

Pietra Fitness - Free 14-day Trial Online Studio

Suggested Age Range: All Ages
We love Pietra Fitness, stretching and strengthening exercise featuring Christian prayer and meditation! Strengthen and enrich your body, mind, and soul with the Pietra Fitness' Redeemed Lent 2021 Series in their Online Studio. Complete each class on your time and in the comfort of your own home. This brand new series will incorporate Lenten Scriptures and meditations. Get ready for your best Lent ever—physically, mentally, and spiritually! Sign up for a free 14-day trial of the Pietra Fitness Online Studio to participate.

Ruah Woods Press - VIRTUE: The Standard of Happiness Free Lenten Series

A FREE journey on the seven virtues via live-stream on their new Ruah Woods Press YouTube channel! You can also watch the episodes later on their channel.
*For those in the Cincinnati, Ohio area 30 in-person (physically distanced) seats are available for this incredible sojourn, should you wish to be in the LIVE studio audience! 
WHEN: Tuesdays 7-8PM EST Feb 16-Mar 30
WHERE: LIVE-STREAMED Online OR Limited Seats In-Person At Ruah Woods Press
RSVP For In-Person SEATS: Dave@schooloffaith.com
RATE: FREE

10-Part Online VIDEO BIBLE STUDY - ST. PAUL CENTER

Parousia: The Bible and the Mass, Lent 2021

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
We have loved all of the Journey Through Scripture Bible studies so far and we are excited about this opportunity to view the newest study during Lent! Here's some more info about it from the St. Paul Center website: Why return to Mass? Our very lives depend on it. It’s the summit of God’s plan for our salvation. It’s time to wake Catholics up to the awesome power, the incredible gift, that is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The alternative is unthinkable. In our latest Journey Through Scripture study, get ready to join host Scott Hahn to uncover how and why all of God’s action, in creation and redemption, is ordered to the Mass.
Sign up now to watch all ten episodes for FREE!

STATIONS OF THE CROSS - FREETRUTH.CA

Suggested Age Range: All Ages
A list of resources complied by FreeTruth.ca 

Virtual Catholic Conferences

Suggested Age Range: Adult Men and Women
Virtual Catholic Conference is offering two free online conferences during Lent, one for the men, and one for the ladies.

Living in View of Eternity - 2021 National Catholic Men's Conference, February 19-21.

40+ on-demand presentations available all weekend long! Learn practical and immediately applicable steps for becoming a strong and faith-filled Catholic man; Discover more deeply the joy of being Catholic men; Gain a clearer vision of God's unique plan for your life; Find the knowledge, strength, and courage to stand up to the challenges of our time. Click on the link for a list of speakers, more info and to register!

 My Peace I Give You - 2021 National Catholic Women's Conference, March 12-14

Where else could you hear from so many top-presenters in the Catholic world? The recorded presentations will be available on-demand during the free conference weekend. Discover women just like you sharing similar struggles, and learn how they're finding freedom in Faith. Learn how prayer enhances your vocation as a mother, spouse, professional, and friend. Experience how God Multiplies our time and energy when we make prayer a priority. Learn how to stop wasting time and energy on guilt, comparison, and resentment and become fully alive as a Catholic Woman.

WHAT IS LENT & THE LENTEN SEASON? - Prayerist.com

Suggested Age Range: All Ages
A great informational webpage about Lent. Topics include: Lent History, Customs, Prayers, FAQ, Traditions, & More

WOMEN OF GRACE

Suggested Age Range: Teen & Adult Women

A LENTEN JOURNEY WITH THE SAINTS

The Lenten Journey with the Saints Gracelines features beautiful reflections from some of the most beloved Catholic saints to help you to prepare for Lent and Easter and to grow closer to Our Lord and His Mother.

A LENTEN JOURNEY WITH MARY

The Lenten Journey with Mary program, "In the School of Mary," begins Ash Wednesday and continues every day through Easter. Each day you will receive short inspirational reflections to help you to enter into the desert of Lent, a place of retreat where, like Our Lord, you may be readied for the mission that God has entrusted to you and a deepening awareness of Mary's maternal intercession as your spiritual mother.