Every year, I find Lent here and myself falling short. And it hasn’t even started yet. Even so, with the arrival of Lent is the increased call to prayer, fasting and alms-giving. Here are my tentative plans, though God usually has something else in mind that I don’t get until well into Lent :).

Prayer

This year, I am hoping to say the Stations of the Cross weekly on Friday’s. I’d like to do it with the church at least once during Lent, but primarily at home. I have a great CD of Liguori’s Way of the Cross narrated by Liam Neesen.

Almsgiving

I am still not sure what our extra alms giving will be yet, but I am sure the Lord will bring something to our attention. I will be undergoing a 40 Bags in 40 Days program where I will be purging our home of excess and giving it to a local charity where items may actually make it into the hands of those in need.

Fasting & Abstinence

Since I am pregnant, I cannot fast in the usual sense. As usual, our family will be eating through the pantry and freezer and not buying as much in the stores. I see a lot of pork chops and roasts in our future. I’m sure there will be much sanctification in that simplified menu plan as what remains is not among our favorites. We also have the typical meatless Friday’s and soups every Wednesday.

For the girls (ages 5 & 2), I am sticking to using the Lent-Easter Book. I’m not sure if this will be in addition to, or in place of our current Catechism curriculum yet. We will also be using the Way of the Cross for Children over the 40 days as I hope to familiarize my oldest with the stations. I think we may do a station a day as part of our morning prayer.

Check out previous years plans for Lent: