Lenten and Easter Resources 2024

RESOURCES FOR PREPARING FOR AND PARTICIPATING IN THE SEASON OF LENT AND EASTER SUNDAY
FEBRUARY 14 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024

"Then the disciples of John approached [Jesus] and said, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast [much], but your disciples do not fast?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast’” (Mt 9:14-15).

What are you doing to prepare for and to participate in Lent?

The Season of Lent is the forty-day period before Easter, excluding Sundays, which begins this year on Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2024 and ends at sunset on Holy Thursday, March 28, when the Easter Triduum begins, culminating on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024 when we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord.

As the U.S. Bishops explain,

During Lent, we are asked to devote ourselves to seeking the Lord in prayer and reading Scripture, to service by giving alms, and to practice self-control through fasting….The key to fruitful observance of these practices is to recognize their link to baptismal renewal. We are called not just to abstain from sin during Lent, but to true conversion of our hearts and minds as followers of Christ. We recall those waters in which we were baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ…. Catholics are also encouraged to make going to confession a significant part of their spiritual lives during Lent.

Subject to certain exemptions due to age, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting (limited meals) and abstinence from eating meat. Fridays during Lent are also obligatory days of abstinence. “Voluntary fasting from food creates in us a greater openness to God's Spirit and deepens our compassion for those who are forced to go without food. The discomfort brought about by fasting unites us to the sufferings of Christ. “ Moreover,

our fasting and refraining is in response to the workings of the Holy Spirit. By fasting we sense a deeper hunger and thirst for God. In a paradoxical way, we feast through fasting—we feast on the spiritual values that lead to works of charity and service.

Besides these particular practices, “we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season,” as well as participating in other spiritual or penitential practices, such as attending daily Mass. Additionally, “the giving of alms is one way to share God's gifts—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents.” Jesus was always concerned about those in need.

The number “forty” is a period of time mentioned many times throughout scripture. One interpretation is it symbolically represents a period to prepare us for the testing of our faith. Jesus fasted and prayed for "40 days and 40 nights" in the desert before he prevailed in being tested by the devil, after which Jesus began his public ministry (Mt 4:1-11).

Follows are links to a variety of spiritual practices, articles, videos, music, and other resources to assist us in preparing for and participating in this Season of Lent.

ARTICLES

"Daily Readings" (USCCB)

"What is Lent" (USCCB)

"Daily Lent Reflection Calendar 2024–Bilingual" (USCCB)

Message of Pope Francis for Lent 2024

"Lenten Prayer Resources" (USCCB)

"Lectio Divina"

"Lectio Divina en Espanol"

"3–Minute Retreat—Daily Online Prayer" (Loyola Press)

"Sacred Space—Your Daily Prayer Online" (Irish Jesuits)

"Living Space" (Commentaries on the Daily Readings by Irish Jesuits)

"Praying Lent" (Creighton University)

"Lenten Online Retreat—8-Weeks of Retreat" (Creighton University)

"An Ignatian Prayer Adventure"

"The Daily Examen" (Ignatian Spirituality)

"Lenten Resources" (Ignatian Spirituality)

"Resources for Your Lenten Journey" (Loyola Press)

"Videos for Lent" (USCCB)

"God's Gift of Forgiveness" (USCCB)

"What Are the Symbols of Lent and What Is Their Meaning?" (Archdiocese of St. Paul)"

"Rediscovering the Sacrament of Penance" (USCCB)

"Penitential Practices for Today's Catholics" (USCCB)

"Saints for the Lenten Season" (USCCB)

"Penance and Reconciliation—Reconciled to Right Relationship, Called to Heal and Restore" (USCCB)

"Examinations of Conscience" (USCCB)

"Journey at the Foot of the Cross: Ten Things to Remember for Lent" (USCCB)

"The Seven Penitential Psalms and the Songs of the Suffering Servant" (USCCB)

"Almsgiving" (USCCB)

"Fast and Abstinence" (USCCB)

"A Reflection on Lenten Fasting" (Rev. Daniel Merz - USCCB)

"Forty Lenten Ideas" (Janet Schaeffler, OP)

"Lenten Resources for Catechists" (Joe Paprocki)

"An Ignatian Workout for Lent": An Online Retreat (Ignatian Spirituality)

"Arts and Faith: Lent" (Loyola Press)

"Living Lent Daily" (Daily Lenten Meditations from Loyola Press)

"Beyond Giving Up Chocolate-Going Deeper in Lent"

"Forty Lenten Activities for Catholic Families" (Real Life at Home)

"Family Prayer" (Creighton University)

"Best Lent Ever" (Dynamic Catholic)

Lenten Gospel Reflections (Bishop Robert Barron - Word on Fire)

"Catholic Daily Reflections" (My Catholic Life)

"The Stations of the Cross" (Creighton University)

"A Scriptural Way of the Cross for Lent" (USCCB)

"Praying the Stations of the Cross for Victims of Human Trafficking" (USCCB)

"The Corporal Works of Mercy" (USCCB)

"The Spiritual Works of Mercy" (USCCB)

"Rice Bowl" (Catholic Relief Services)

Lenten Resources (National Catholic Education Association)

"Lent 2024: The Complete Guide to the Catholic Season of Lent" (Hallow)

"Lenten Prayer for Civility" (USCCB)

Stations of the Cross (Catholic Relief Services)

"What is Easter" (USCCB)

"Easter Triduum" (USCCB)

VIDEOS

PRACTICES

"Catholic Spirituality in Practice" (C 21 - Boston College)

"Prayer and Spiritual Practices" (CFFR)

"Daily Readings" (USCCB)

"Sacred Space" (Jesuits of Ireland)

"3-Minute Retreat" (Loyola Press)

"The Daily Examen" (Ignatian Spirituality)

"Lectio Divina" (Contemplative Outreach)

"Centering Prayer" (Contemplative Outreach)

"Praying the Liturgy of the Hours" (Divine Office)

"How to Pray the Rosary" (USCCB)

MUSIC

"The Glory of These Forty Days"

"In These Days of Lenten Journey"

"Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days"

"Ashes"

"Dust and Ashes"

"With These Ashes"

"Signed by Ashes"

"Forty Days and Forty Nights"

"Behold the Lamb"

"God of Mercy and Compassion"

"Holy God, We Praise Thy Name"

"Again We Keep This Solemn Fast"

"Behold the Lamb of God"

"Cry of the Poor"

"Via Dolorosa" (Sandy Patty)

"Lead Me to the Cross" (Hillsong)

"In the Name of the Lord" (Sandy Patty)

"Holy is His Name" (John Michael Talbot)

"At the Cross" (Hillsong)

"Your Name" (Paul Baloche)

"Change Our Hearts"

"Glory in the Cross"

"Tantum Ergo Sacramentum"

"Were You There When They Crucified My Lord"

"Miserere mei, Deus"

"Behold the Wood of the Cross"

"Nada te turbe"

"You Raise Me Up"

"Agnus Dei"

"Save Your People"

"Amazing Grace"

"It is Well With My Soul"

"Loving and Forgiving"

"Shepherd Me, O God"

"Be Not Afraid"

"I Surrender"

"O Sanctissima"

"Lead Me Lord"

"The Summons"

"You Are Mine"

"Be Thou My Vision"

"Litany of the Saints"

"I Know That My Redeemer Lives"

"Worthy is the Lamb"

"Anima Christi Sanctifica Me"

"Transfigure Us, O Lord"

"Veni Creator Spiritus"

"Come Back to Me"

"We Will Rise Again"

"Praise to the Lord"

"Jesus Christ is Risen Today"

"Christ is Risen"

"Christ is Risen - Hallelujah"

Psalm 51 (Ash Wednesday and First Sunday of Lent)

Psalm 33 (Second Sunday of Lent)

Psalm 95 (Third Sunday of Lent)

Psalm 23 (Fourth Sunday of Lent)

Psalm 130 (Fifth Sunday of Lent)

Psalm 22 (Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion)

Psalm 118 (Easter Sunday - The Resurrection of the Lord)

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Lenten and Easter Resources 2024