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A Parent’s Guide to and Holy Celebrate Lent Eat, drink and be merry, because tomorrow begins the season of Lent!

By Lonne Murphy Mardi Gras ( 5 this year), the day before Put each item on your lists on a small piece of Ash , is a day of celebration through- paper and place in a container in your kitchen. out the Catholic world. On morning, pull from the As part of your Mardi Gras celebration, have container for the first time. Draw one a special meal where you remember what Lent item from each container each week Have everyone is about and then decide on a focus for your and focus on that intention as a fam- in the family wear , and almsgiving this year. ily. Save the slips of paper so that at something green, or Make a list of the people you feel called to pray you can celebrate all of the gold, the traditional colors for; the areas in your lives that call for fasting, ways you’ve grown closer to the peo- of Mardi Gras. such as from food and drink; technology; games ple in your life — and closer to God. Purple represents ; and entertainment, and the causes or places to green, faith; and gold, which you wish to offer (donations). power. Ash Wednesday By Lonne Murphy Talking to Kids about On Ash Wednesday the to the is as diverse as we will Ash Wednesday ever see it! Mother’s carrying babies, toddlers holding on to dad’s hand, teens, parishioners, neighbors, employees from nearby places of busi- Kids seem to love Ash Wednesday, and ness, the elderly supported by walkers; we all come together to mark the they are often interested in the meaning beginning of Lent. We receive the ashes on our foreheads. We “remem- behind the ritual of ashes. It is helpful to ber that we are dust and unto dust we shall return.” remind them that ashes placed on our The act of receiving ashes is not a . Actually, ashes are what foreheads represent a visible sign that we we call a “sacramental.” are followers of . The ashes are also a way to tell those around us, Sacramentals are dynamic signs that help us pre- as well as ourselves, that we are pare for receiving the . They help us beginning the holy season of receive the graces of the sacraments and they help Lent — the 40 days leading up make various occasions in our lives holy. They also to Easter. Ask them how they remind us that all of creation has the potential to might grow closer to Jesus this reveal God’s presence and blessing. (“Encyclopedia of Catholicism,” HarperCollins, 1995) Lent as a member of a family, as a student and as a friend. In receiving the ashes, we are saying that we are entering into the time of Lent, preparing for Easter with prayer, fast- ing and almsgiving. We are embracing Jesus’ journey: the cross of suffering and the promise of the . The ashes help us connect the spiritual aspect of Wear your ’s cross and resurrection with our everyday ashes proudly lives. In addition to the liturgical significance of today as a sign receiving ashes, we also are called to remember that of your faith. in our repentance is a call to relationship between God and ourselves, and between others and ourselves. Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving: The Lent Pillars of Lent The solemn season of Lent is marked by three pillars of : prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Lent recalls the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert, battling temptation. We, too, walk through the desert this season as we struggle with our own temptations to sin. We pray more in Lent so as to strengthen our relationship with God and ask his forgiveness for our shortcomings. We fast as a reminder of how hungry we are for God’s everlasting love. We give alms to people in need to follow Christ’s command to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.

Prayer The word “Lent” “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circum- comes from an Old stances give thanks, for this is the will of God for English word that you in Christ Jesus.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 means “springtime.” Like the new life that PRAY THE . This ancient prayer is a moving experience of the is born in the , and death of Jesus. Attend as a family Lent calls each of us to and include grandparents, who are some of the renew our life in Christ best models of Catholic faith traditions for kids. as we look forward to Easter renewal and the Resurrection. Fasting Symbols of Lent “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. ASHES: Made from burned palm leaves They neglect their appear- of the previous year, ashes can remind us ance, so that they may appear of the baptismal and penitential character to others to be fasting. Amen, of Lent. They not only represent our own I say to you, they have received mortality and utter dependence on God, their reward.” but also symbolize our efforts of dying to ~ Matthew 6:16 sin (and rising to new life in Christ).

SACRIFICE: Fast one day this week by eating (DEEP PURPLE): Violet is the only a simple meal, such as soup. Notice when you feel hungry liturgical color of the season and symboliz- and pray for people who do not have enough to eat. es its repentant character, as well as Christ as the King of the world. (Deep purple was a color reserved for royalty in Jesus’ time.) Almsgiving FISH: As a Lenten symbol, fish stands for the obligation to fast on Ash Wednesday “For I was hungry and you gave me and . We also abstain from food, I was thirsty and you gave meat on other Fridays of the season. me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you BARREN STONES: Stones call to mind the clothed me, ill and you cared for desert, and Jesus’ testing by the devil there. me, in prison and you visited me.” ~ Matthew 25:35-36 : Made from simple dough which has no dairy or fat, pretzels remind ACTION: Secretly put a gift card us of fasting and, shaped like two arms for gas or food in the mailbox of crossed, of prayer. someone who is out of work. Sharing as a Family What are you doing for Holy Week this year?

By Lorene Hanley Duquin It’s OK if your list includes coloring The eggs, photos with the , buying jelly beans and chocolates, Holy , which shopping for new outfits, and commemorates the Last preparing Easter dinner. There’s Supper when Jesus gave us nothing wrong with secular Easter the gift of himself in the Eu- activities, but it’s important to charist, and set an example remember that there is also a pro- of service by washing the found spiritual basis for the holiday apostles’ feet. celebration. Good Friday, which recalls The Reason for the Season the crucifixion and death Our remembrance of the death and of Jesus. makes Holy Week the most sacred time of the Holy , a day of year for Catholics. The week begins waiting. with Palm , which commem- orates the triumphal entry of Jesus Easter, which celebrates the into . At sundown on the resurrection of Jesus, begin- following Thursday, we begin the ning at the Easter and Triduum, a word that simply means continuing with Masses on “three days,” which concludes at Easter Sunday. sundown on Easter Sunday.

Make Holy Week Eggs Fill plastic eggs with items that reinforce the events of Holy Week.

On , children On Holy Thursday, they On Good Friday, the eggs On Easter Sunday, include can open eggs that contain a might find a piece of towel might contain a , dice a stone to recall the opening piece of palm, a furry fabric recalling the washing of feet, to recall the casting of lots of the tomb and a picture of that represents the donkey a cracker symbolizing the for Jesus’ clothes, and a sad the risen Jesus. Jesus rode, and a picture of , and three dimes picture of Jesus. Jesus smiling. that recall the 30 pieces of silver.

This information came from Take Out: Family Faith on the Go. Take Out offers faith-based solutions to real-life issues and inspiration to help teach your kids about the Faith. It’s a one-of-a-kind activity guide and support tool designed and written for busy families. Visit teachingcatholickids.com/take-out to subscribe.