New Catholic, Need Lent Help!

[SeekerCV]

Hello All,

My wife and I are currently in RCIA and we attend Mass weekly (we were both baptized in the Catholic Church as infants, but not raised in the faith. We are now in the process of “coming home” to the Catholic Church).

I was wondering what we should be doing in our home as a family during Lent. I asked this question in RCIA on Sunday but got a vague answer, basically affirming that as baptized Catholics, we should take part in Lenten activites, but she never really told us what those activities were.

My questions are these (and I apologize if any of these questions are silly or outright stupid):

Are we supposed to keep a lit candle in the house throughout all 40 days of Lent?

Should we have a Crucifix or other icon setup that we should pray in front of during Lent?

Can anyone suggest a resource for prayers that we can recite as a family during Lent?

Any other advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

God bless you all!

Thanks,

Chris

 

[plato3]

SeekerCV:

Hello All,

My wife and I are currently in RCIA and we attend Mass weekly (we were both baptized in the Catholic Church as infants, but not raised in the faith. We are now in the process of “coming home” to the Catholic Church).

I was wondering what we should be doing in our home as a family during Lent. I asked this question in RCIA on Sunday but got a vague answer, basically affirming that as baptized Catholics, we should take part in Lenten activites, but she never really told us what those activities were.}

I am sorry that your RCIA program did not answer your needs. Perhaps you have a sponsor that can help guide you. It’s nice to have a little home altar, but not required. There are some great small lenten booklets that have readings for each day. We have fast and abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and no meat on all the Fridays of Lent. Some families eat a simple soup meal on one day of the week and donate, what they would normally spend, to a food pantry or homeless shelter. Lent is a season of penance, reparation, and alms giving. You can give up something that you like (Candy, sodas Etc) or/and do something extra for penance. Most parishes have Stations of the Cross on Friday. Meditating on the Lord’s suffering is a great penance. A good Lent=A great Easter. I am sure you will get many other good suggestions from these boards.

God bless,
Deacon Tony

 

[jimmy]

SeekerCV:

Hello All,

My wife and I are currently in RCIA and we attend Mass weekly (we were both baptized in the Catholic Church as infants, but not raised in the faith. We are now in the process of “coming home” to the Catholic Church).

I was wondering what we should be doing in our home as a family during Lent. I asked this question in RCIA on Sunday but got a vague answer, basically affirming that as baptized Catholics, we should take part in Lenten activites, but she never really told us what those activities were.

My questions are these (and I apologize if any of these questions are silly or outright stupid):

Are we supposed to keep a lit candle in the house throughout all 40 days of Lent?

It is not necessary but it seems like a good little tradition. I have not heard of it though.

Should we have a Crucifix or other icon setup that we should pray in front of during Lent?

If you feel more devoted when you have something to look upon go ahead. There is no obligation to have an icon or crucifix. It is a good thing to have crucufixes around the house just to give a devotional type of atmosphere.

Can anyone suggest a resource for prayers that we can recite as a family during Lent?

You could say the Liturgy of The Hours(LoTH) if you would like. Second to the Mass, this is the main prayer of the Church. Here is a link to a site that has most of what it consists of. This site does not contain all the prayers that you are supposed to pray during the LoTH though. The links to the different prayer sessions are along the top.

universalis.com/20060227/today.htm

Any other advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Try to make some kind of sacrifice for lent. The traditional sacrifice is to fast during all days of lent and abstain on all fridays and on Ash Wednesday. Fasting is to have two small meals and one large meal with no snacks in between. Abstaining is not eating meat for the whole day.

 

[banjo]

In addition to the good suggestions already given, you might pray the Stations of the Cross. There are even on-line sites which have tha stations. The link below is a Lenten message from Pope Benedict XVI.

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20050929_lent-2006_en.html

 

[Aurelia]

Oh, please don’t keep a lighted candle in your house for the 40 days of Lent. I would be concerned about the fire hazard.

 

[puzzleannie]

lent is a pentitential season, and its purpose originally was the time of preparation for catechumens who would be entering the Church at Easter. The entire season is for you. In RCIA it coincides with the Period of Purification and Enlightenment. The purposes of tradionalt lenten penitential practices is just that. Completing conversion, removing attachment to sin, and purification from anything which is a barrier to receiving Christ. The rites of Lent, the rite of Election, the scrutinies, presentations, minor exorcisms, are liturgical actions intended to further this process.

From this, we see that Lenten penance is intended to encourage ongoing conversion in the baptized. The classic lenten practices are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Specifically the prayer for catechumens is the Creed and Our Father, which are formally presented and memorized. These should be your prayer focus during Lent since you are preparing for initiation.

The Church has imposed different disciplines of fast and abstinence and the practice in your diocese was probably published in the bulletin last Sunday. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. The Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. Abstinence applies to all those over the age of 14 and means no meat. Fast applies to those between 18 and 59 (who have not medical condition that makes it inadvisible) and means one large meal and two smaller meals, no snacks.

Almsgiving means a gift of money, possessions, time, service or other assistence to the poor.

 

[rwoehmke]

puzzleannie:

From this, we see that Lenten penance is intended to encourage ongoing conversion in the baptized. The classic lenten practices are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Specifically the prayer for catechumens is the Creed and Our Father, which are formally presented and memorized. These should be your prayer focus during Lent since you are preparing for initiation…

As usual Annie gives good advice. One thing I have found that is a rewarding practice is to take Bible and Rosary in hand. Get a list of the twenty mysteries of the rosary, Joyuful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious in that order. Each day as a family take one mysterie, look it up in Lukes Gospel, read the appropriate verses aloud and talk or meditate on them. Then say that mysterie of the rosary while recalling what was read. In twenty days you will cover events from the entire Gospel and life of Christ. In the forty days of lent it fits in twice. At the end of lent you may find yourself wanting to say a five decade Rosary each day while meditating on the Gospe; events. I have seen this practice change lives.

On a separate tack, the earlier poster was correct, burning unattended candles in ones home is a dangerous practice and has caused many fires and tragedies including deaths.

 

[stbruno]

ewtn.com/faith/lent/index.htm

These are daily Lenten reflections that you can link on to.

Many churches also provide a Lenten calendar in their bulletin of activities upcoming during the week for Lent. Usually there will be weekly offerings to come for the Stations of the Cross. Bible studies, Parish Missions where a priest/deacon/mission director will gather for several days in a row to reflect on a common topic. Usually there is a penitential service you may attend. Fast and Abstinence on the days of Ash Wed. and all Fridays must be observed.
We have something at our parish called Operation Rice Bowl which provides a daily calendar of how you can set aside each day some money in a collection box to sacrifice for the poor which is collected and distributed during the weeks of Lent. Many people participate in the food drives etc at their parish during this time.

Change our heart and repent

 

[Mike_D30]

Man I just came back to the Chruch too, it’s tough trying to grasp everything.

I have a Rosary but have no idea what to do with it, I ahve a little book too but I’m not certain what the mysteries are or how to start. I’m not certain how to pray the Liturgy of the hours. When and where to pray the Stations of the Cross? Can I do that in any Church on my own, or at appointed times in a group?

Sometimes it’s depressing, all the lost years, and not being brought up in the faith properly. I can’t read about it fast enough, but time is tough to make up.

Any help is appreciated.

One other question, in Mass when the reading of the Gospel is started. Does everyone make the sign of the Cross on thier foreheads/lips/chest?

Thanks a lot, not to highjack the thread, but I’m a bit lost too and kind of winging it right now.

 

[kage_ar]

Every Parish I’ve been part of did Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent. Check around and find a Parish that is doing this - for our family, it is how we spend every Lenten Friday evening.

At our Parish, there will be a full house for Stations of the Cross at 6 PM, followed by a soup supper at the Parish hall. Stations is something that even keeps even young kids involved (all the up and down, kneel and stand).

The little crosses before the Gospel - is a prayer that the Word of God will be in our minds, on our lips, and in our heart.

 

[pnewton]

Mike_D30:

One other question, in Mass when the reading of the Gospel is started. Does everyone make the sign of the Cross on thier foreheads/lips/chest?

Yes, to remind us to let the words of Christ be in our minds, on our lips and in our hearts.

The first time I said the rosary, it was very awkward. I had a step-by-step book and still needed someone to show me. Now I am so glad I went to the trouble. It is such a solace in times of trouble to hear the words of the prayers I have learned come to my lips unbidden.

 

[donadei]

Mike_D30:

I have a Rosary but have no idea what to do with it, I ahve a little book too but I’m not certain what the mysteries are or how to start.

I’m not certain how to pray the Liturgy of the hours. When and where to pray the Stations of the Cross? Can I do that in any Church on my own, or at appointed times in a group?

Sometimes it’s depressing, all the lost years, and not being brought up in the faith properly. I can’t read about it fast enough, but time is tough to make up.

QUOTE]

For the Rosary:

Make the Sign of the Cross
On the Cross: Say the Apostles Creed
First bead: Our Father
the next 3 beads: Hail Mary
the next bead: Glory Be
(You may want to add the Fatima prayer: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy Divine Mercy)

Say the first mystery: (Sunday - Glorious, Monday - Joyful, Tuesday - Sorrowful, Wednesday - Glorious, Thursday - Luminous, Friday - Sorrowful, Saturday - Joyful, see the mysteries below)

Our Father

10 Hail Mary’s

on the lone bead after the 10 Hail Mary’s: Glory Be

Fatima Prayer

Second Mystery

Our Father

10 Hail Mary’s

on the lone bead after the 10 Hail Mary’s: Glory Be

Fatima Prayer

and so on till you finish the 5 decades of each mystery

Hail Holy Queen…

Let us pray…

O God, Whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we bessech thee, that by meditating upon the mysteries of the most holy rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may we imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

End the rosary with:

May the Divine Assistance always remain with us.
And may the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

The Sign of the Cross

Glorious: Resurrection of the LORD Jesus
Ascension of the LORD Jesus
Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles
Assumption of Mary into Heaven
Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven

Joyful: Annunciation
Visitation
Birth of our LORD
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
Finding of the Jesus in the Temple

Sorrowful: Agony in the Garden
Scourging at the Pillar
Crowning of Thorns
Carrying of the Cross
Crucifixion and Death of the Lord on the Cross

Luminous: Baptism of the Lord in the River Jordan
Changing of Water into Wine at the Marriage of Cana
Proclamation of the Kingdom of God and call to Repentance
Transfiguration on Mount Tabor
Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper

 

[Mike_D30]

donadei:

Mike_D30:

I have a Rosary but have no idea what to do with it, I ahve a little book too but I’m not certain what the mysteries are or how to start.

I’m not certain how to pray the Liturgy of the hours. When and where to pray the Stations of the Cross? Can I do that in any Church on my own, or at appointed times in a group?

Sometimes it’s depressing, all the lost years, and not being brought up in the faith properly. I can’t read about it fast enough, but time is tough to make up.

For the Rosary:

Make the Sign of the Cross
On the Cross: Say the Apostles Creed
First bead: Our Father
the next 3 beads: Hail Mary
the next bead: Glory Be
(You may want to add the Fatima prayer: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy Divine Mercy)

Say the first mystery: (Sunday - Glorious, Monday - Joyful, Tuesday - Sorrowful, Wednesday - Glorious, Thursday - Luminous, Friday - Sorrowful, Saturday - Joyful, see the mysteries below)

Our Father

10 Hail Mary’s

on the lone bead after the 10 Hail Mary’s: Glory Be

Fatima Prayer

Second Mystery

Our Father

10 Hail Mary’s

on the lone bead after the 10 Hail Mary’s: Glory Be

Fatima Prayer

and so on till you finish the 5 decades of each mystery

Hail Holy Queen…

Let us pray…

O God, Whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we bessech thee, that by meditating upon the mysteries of the most holy rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may we imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

End the rosary with:

May the Divine Assistance always remain with us.
And may the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

The Sign of the Cross

Glorious: Resurrection of the LORD Jesus
Ascension of the LORD Jesus
Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles
Assumption of Mary into Heaven
Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven

Joyful: Annunciation
Visitation
Birth of our LORD
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
Finding of the Jesus in the Temple

Sorrowful: Agony in the Garden
Scourging at the Pillar
Crowning of Thorns
Carrying of the Cross
Crucifixion and Death of the Lord on the Cross

Luminous: Baptism of the Lord in the River Jordan
Changing of Water into Wine at the Marriage of Cana
Proclamation of the Kingdom of God and call to Repentance
Transfiguration on Mount Tabor
Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper

Thanks You So Much! So that’s what the mysteries are, we just recite them verbatim? I thought I had to recite something out of the Bible for the mysteries. This is very helpful, thank you so much. I’m not that quick sometimes people gotta break it down Barney style for me, thanks again…

 

[frleo]

You might also consider participating in our Lenten retreat taking place right here on the forums. You can click on the link in my signature.

 

[RPConover]

Mike_D30:

Man I just came back to the Chruch too, it’s tough trying to grasp everything.

I have a Rosary but have no idea what to do with it, I ahve a little book too but I’m not certain what the mysteries are or how to start. I’m not certain how to pray the Liturgy of the hours. When and where to pray the Stations of the Cross? Can I do that in any Church on my own, or at appointed times in a group?

Sometimes it’s depressing, all the lost years, and not being brought up in the faith properly. I can’t read about it fast enough, but time is tough to make up.

Any help is appreciated.

One other question, in Mass when the reading of the Gospel is started. Does everyone make the sign of the Cross on thier foreheads/lips/chest?

Thanks a lot, not to highjack the thread, but I’m a bit lost too and kind of winging it right now.

www.virtualrosary.org This program is GREAT! I never learned the rosary, even as a cradle Catholic. I wandered from the Church for years then recently have come back. Something compelled me to start praying the rosary, and this helped me soooooo much in understanding it and memorizing the prayers, I really credit the rosary with my return to the Church, and this program was instrumental in it. God Bless!

 

[jennifer101]

For Lent I like to give up some of my free time and devote it to reading the bible, or volunteering in the kid’s school or something that serves others. Nothing huge. One year I tried to find one person a day who I could assist during my usual routines. It was a conscious effort on my part. I started doing that years ago when giving up candy or whatever seemed very stupid all of a sudden. I realized I wasn’t getting anything out of it at all. My kid’s participating in Lent this year for the first time. My 11 year old is going to give up reading a regular book before bed and replace it with reading in his “Boy’s bible” instead. The other two are still too young.

 

[donadei]

Mike_D30:

Thanks You So Much! So that’s what the mysteries are, we just recite them verbatim? I thought I had to recite something out of the Bible for the mysteries. This is very helpful, thank you so much. I’m not that quick sometimes people gotta break it down Barney style for me, thanks again…

Yes, we just recite them verbatim, and meditate on the mystery. How to meditate? One way is to picture oneself right in the scene. For example, at the Scourging at the Pillar, one could be a bystander watching how Jesus was being whipped and all…

 

[donadei]

Mike_D30:

Man I just came back to the Chruch too, it’s tough trying to grasp everything.

I have a Rosary but have no idea what to do with it, I ahve a little book too but I’m not certain what the mysteries are or how to start. I’m not certain how to pray the Liturgy of the hours. When and where to pray the Stations of the Cross? Can I do that in any Church on my own, or at appointed times in a group?

Thanks a lot, not to highjack the thread, but I’m a bit lost too and kind of winging it right now.

For the Liturgy of the Hours,

It is said to be one of the best secrets of the Catholic Church. I do not remember where I heard or read this from but I must say it is true.

What I know is that all priests (and deacons?) are actually required to say these prayers. For laymen like us (non-clergy), it is not necessary to do them, but we are encouraged. The opening prayers in the morning should hook you right away:

Lord, open my lips
And my mouth shall declare your praise.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…

Then it is followed by psalms (well-chosen) from the Bible. The antiphons, canticles, hymns, readings, intercessory prayers… I believe that those who prepared these prayers are inspired by the Holy Spirit. They are very beautiful prayers.

There are several prayers during the day: morning, daytime, evening, night, and all of them have the same structure, save for daytime prayers. Except for the night prayers, all of them follow a four-week cycle, which means that you got to pray different psalms and read chosen parts of the Bible everyday for 4 weeks! Add to that special feasts and different seasons of the Catholic Church! Man, the Liturgy of the Hours is such a treasure!