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.***

Amen Prayer App

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Beginning Ash Wednesday, the Church once again unites herself to the mystery of our Lord’s forty days in the desert. Download the free Amen app today and gain access to an extensive library of Catholic prayers and meditations to help you be constant in prayer throughout this Lent. 

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 2024

A TIME OF RENEWAL, by Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C.

Suggested Age Range: Adult Women
From their website: "A Time of Renewal: Daily Reflections for the Lenten Season by Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C. is a beautiful yet easy to read daily devotional. Each reflection follows along with the daily Mass readings. This year, we are in cycle B. We invite you to join our study beginning on February 12, 2024. Every week throughout Lent, we will post discussion and journaling questions along with the podcast episode. Whether you listen by yourself or gather together with a group of friends, we look forward to journeying with you!"

BEST LENT EVER - DYNAMIC CATHOLIC

     "Discover the Real You"You!

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
From their website:"Join the Life-Changing Spiritual Pilgrimage this Lent. Each day of BEST LENT EVER, you’ll receive a short, FREE video from Matthew Kelly full of profound spiritual insight and intensely practical ways to apply the consecration to your life. Consecration means to dedicate yourself to God and make yourself 100 percent available to Him. With three simple daily steps, you can prepare your heart, mind, and soul for this powerful surrender."

BISHOP BARRON'S DAILY 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 Gospel reflection each day, including during Lent.

Free Lenten ReflectionsBook, Just Pay Shipping!

From their website: "This Lent, we challenge you to meditate on the daily Gospel with Word on Fire’s 2024 Lenten Gospel Reflections. This book includes the Gospel passage for the day, a reflection by Bishop Barron, journaling space, and Stations of the Cross."

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 2024
 
“THROUGH THE CROSS TOWARD THE LIGHT”
with Père Jacques de Jésus

Suggested Age Range: Mature Teens-Adult
“Through the Cross to the Light” — Père Jacques de Jésus scribbled these opening words in pencil as a spiritual testament in the Gusen concentration camp (Austria), in March 1945. Arrested by the Gestapo in January 1944 at the Carmelite convent in Avon, France (a scene depicted in Louis Malle's film "Au revoir les enfants"), this remarkable educator, whose beatification process is currently underway, will provide us with a robust Lenten path to follow as we walk towards the light of Christ.
**This retreat is offered in many different languages!**

CarmelCast Season 5 - Book Study

Suggested Age Range: Mature Teens-Adult

Last Lent on CarmelCast, Deacon Pier Giorgio, Br. John-Mary, and Dr. MaryRuth Hackett led a book study of St. Teresa's, The Way of Perfection. Reading between 30 and 40 pages each week during Lent, 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. Listen to the replay this Lentby clicking on the link.

Catholic Answers

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult

The Lenten Apologetics Daily Email Series 2024

From their Website: Lenten Apologetics 2024 offers Daily Lenten Reflections from our best-selling 20 Answers Series. You're going to love getting an email each day that covers the top questions and answers about the Catholic faith you might encounter when Ash Wednesday starts or throughout Lent and Eastertide. 

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!


The Catholic Gentleman - The Ultimate Lent for Men

Suggested Age Range: Adult Men
Podcast Episode 48: "In this episode of The Catholic Gentleman, Sam and John discuss a great pathway this Lent for men. Formed by many years guiding men in the desert to better understand themselves and grow in their union with Christ, Fr. Innocent Montgomery, C.F.R. shares his wisdom with us for this Lent and beyond. We share in his joy as a Franciscan Friar, hear great stories, and learn why he felt called to write a book for men that guides us through Lent and the Easter Octave."

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 in Recovery - 12 Step Program Support

Lent - 40 Meetings in 40 Days Challenge

Suggested Age Range: Adults
As a reminder, starting on Wednesday, February 22nd, you’ll receive an email every morning of Lent with a reflection, a commitment to action, and a list of meetings. To complete the challenge each day, we ask that you prayerfully read the reflection, complete the daily commitment to action, and attend a recovery meeting of any type each day during Lent.

Catholic Sprouts

Free Lenten Countdown & Worksheets for Children 2022

Suggested Age Range: Children (k-Grade 8)
These worksheets help children to: -Understand and celebrate every day of Lent! The calendar has been updated for 2024 and includes all of the feast days that fall within Lent 2024. -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

Suggested Age Range: All Ages
Franciscans in the Holy Land - Watch a virtual Way of the Cross for Lent on their social media channels!

The Divine Mercy.org Lent - Pause to Pray

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Get a daily email with an inspiring passage followed by a meditation by one of the Marian priests.

EWTN - FR. JOSEPH'S Weekly LENTEN SERIES

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
"Prepare your heart for the joy of Easter! Fr. Joseph has prepared a series of Lenten meditations to guide us during this solemn season. Sign up includes weekly messages to your inbox beginning on Ash Wednesday and then on each Sunday of Lent and Easter Sunday. In addition, [they] will send you an eBook with these same meditations.

Formed Lent

Suggested Age Range: All Ages
There are lots of great resources on the FORMED platform for all ages, including"Lent with Brother Francis" for kids and the "Journey Into the Desert" Series for teens and adults! Peruse the list by clicking on the link below! Free trial, or sign up with your parish. 

Family Rosary - Lent

AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS - PRAY TOGETHER NOW

Suggested Age Range: All Ages
Holy Cross Family Ministries is offering free prayer resources to inspire your prayer as you and your family journey through this Lenten season. With inspiring ebooks, a Lent activity calendar, daily family prayer, and more... you and your family can enjoy a joyful, yet simple, holy season.

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. 

Or Dive Into Franciscan's Faith & Reason this Lent!

Lectures and resources on all topics Catholic. 

THE SCIENCE OF SAINTHOOD WITH MATTHEW LEONARD

Liturgy & Life: Unveiling the Mystical Movement of the Mass

Suggested Age Range: Mature Teens-Adult
Founded by Catholic evangelist Matthew Leonard, the Science of Sainthood is a series of systematic, beautiful video courses, Scripture, saint reflections, and meditations that lay out - step-by-step - the path to sainthood. It's everything you need to know and instruction on how to do it. For Lent this year, they are offering FREE streaming of their series, "Liturgy & Life: Unveiling the Mystical Movement of the Mass."

A Simple Guide to Penance and Mortification

A FreeTruth.ca Original Resource!

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
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: Renewal Ministries

The Fulfillment of All Desire - Lenten Mission 2021

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult

This amazing lenten mission was originally offered in 2021, but you can watch the replay on demand and at your convenience!

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
Sign up to receive the daily messages via e-mail from Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2024, through Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024. The messages will come from the Year in Our Church from Loyola Press.

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.

Hallow Prayer App

Lent 2024: The Complete Guide to the Catholic Season of Lent

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
Sign up free for and participate in Hallow's Lenten #pray40 challenge. Pray Every Day this Lent with Jonathan Roumie, and Mark Wahlberg! 

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 high-quality, 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! You can also browse their extensive library of on-demand lectures and courses!

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' Lenten Series in their Online Studio. Complete each class on your time and in the comfort of your own home. Enjoy the spiritual benefits of Lenten Scriptures and meditations, along with the physical benefits of the classes! 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.

Journey Through Scripture - ST. PAUL CENTER

"Exodus & Exile" - Free Video Series with Scott Hahn!

Suggested Age Range: Teen-Adult
This Lent, join Scott Hahn and John Bergsma as they lead us out of exile and on the journey home. Watch this 48-part scripture study for FREE, beginning Ash Wednesday. Sign up now!

Resurrection Meringue Cookies

A FreeTruth.ca Original Resource!

Suggested Age Range: Children (k-Grade 8)
A fun and educational baking activity for families. Make these before bed on Holy Saturday, leave in a"sealed" oven overnight and wake up to delicious cookies representative of the empty tomb of Jesus! This recipe includes the Bible readings for each step of the process. 

Real Life Catholic - Living Joy

Suggested Age Range: Teens & Adults
Complete this series free this Lent!
More info from the website: God created you for JOY—and he wants that for you here and now! You just have to cooperate with his plan and follow some simple steps. Join us for a new, totally free online video retreat based on the life-changing rules in Chris’ bestselling book, Living Joy. The short, daily video lessons are full of wisdom, experience, and common sense. Sign up today to discover the joy YOU were made for!

STATIONS OF THE CROSS - FREETRUTH.CA

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

Wild Goose TV

Suggested Age Range: All Ages
Free Streaming Resources. Below are some amazing series suggestions that you can view on demand this Lent!

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