Written by Charlotte Grossetête Illustrated by Éric Puybaret DAILY LENTEN ® Journey Forty Days to Easter Joy
Contents On Our Way to Easter Joy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 My Forty-Day Journey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Spotlight on Holy Week. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 My Lenten Companion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Our Father and Hail Mary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 My Lenten Journey Ash Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Thursday after Ash Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Friday after Ash Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Saturday after Ash Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 The First Week of Lent First Sunday of Lent—Year A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Thursday.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Friday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Saturday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 The Second Week of Lent Second Sunday of Lent—Year A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Thursday.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Friday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Saturday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 The Third Week of Lent Third Sunday of Lent—Years A, B, C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Thursday.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Friday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Saturday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 The Fourth Week of Lent Fourth Sunday of Lent—Years A, B, C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Thursday.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Friday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Saturday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 The Fifth Week of Lent Fifth Sunday of Lent—Years A, B, C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Thursday.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Friday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Saturday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Sundays—Years B and C First Sunday of Lent—Year B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 First Sunday of Lent—Year C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Second Sunday of Lent—Year B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Second Sunday of Lent—Year C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Third Sunday of Lent—Year B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Third Sunday of Lent—Year C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Fourth Sunday of Lent—Year B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Fourth Sunday of Lent—Year C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Fifth Sunday of Lent—Year B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Fifth Sunday of Lent—Year C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Holy Week Palm Sunday—Year A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Palm Sunday—Year B.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Palm Sunday—Year C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Monday of Holy Week. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Tuesday of Holy Week. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Wednesday of Holy Week. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 The Sacred Paschal Triduum Holy Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 Good Friday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Holy Saturday.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 Easter Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 Feasts and Solemnities February 22: The Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle (Feast) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 March 19: Saint Joseph (Solemnity).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 March 25: The Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Lenten Calendars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
6 The Lenten season The book you now hold is a companion for your journey to Easter. Filled with prayers, Scripture readings, and simple explanations, MagnifiKid! Daily Lenten Journey will inspire you every day throughout the Lenten season. As you know, Lent is the period of forty days before Easter. It is a time to prepare ourselves to celebrate Jesus’ victory over death and sin. During Lent, we return to the Lord with all our hearts, despite our failings. We do this because we have trust in the love of God and in his forgiveness. During Lent, we recall that Jesus, the Son of God, died for us on the cross and gave his life for all men. But we know that God’s love is stronger than death. For at Easter, we will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus! Easter is the biggest celebration of the year for Christians. We rejoice that Christ is risen! Jesus is alive forever, and he has opened the door to eternal life for us. To receive this eternal life, we need to give Jesus a real place in our lives! Living our Baptism When adults choose to become Christians, they receive the Sacrament of Baptism at the Easter Vigil. They finish their preparation during Lent. It is a time to discover more fully the great depth of God’s love! It is also a time of purification, as choosing to follow Christ requires time and effort. Lent is a time of training for us too. We are called to give the love of God and others first place in our hearts. On Our Way to Easter Joy
Forty days to return to the Lord Lent lasts forty days. In the Bible, the number forty indicates a time of testing of faithfulness to God. The Hebrew people spent forty years in the desert, between their flight from Egypt and their entry into the Promised Land. Jesus spent forty days in the desert after his baptism; there he was tempted repeatedly by the devil without yielding. During the forty days of Lent, Christians make a special effort to reject evil by turning to God, listening to his Word, and reconciling with him and others. How do I prepare my heart? MagnifiKid! Daily Lenten Journey will be here to help you to return to God with confidence, in prayer, and in gestures of love for those around you. Your daily commitment will help you grow in your response to the loving fidelity of our Lord. You will learn to recognize what takes you away from life with Jesus: in your thoughts, your habits, and your relationships with others. Your desire to be reconciled with God and with others will grow as you make daily efforts through: prayer, which opens your heart to God, and guides you in the Word of the Lord; fasting, which frees you from all that is not essential and turns you away from God. You will fast in your diet, of course, but above all in your habits; giving alms, which shows your attention to the needs of others. You can offer your help, give of your time, and find the joy in loving more. You will live Lent with MagnifiKid! Daily Lenten Journey not only this year, but for years to come. This book will accompany you and, in a way, grow with you over the years. The directions given on pages 152-155 will show you how to make that happen. Enjoy your journey to Easter joy! David Gabillet
8 2 1 3 4 5 10 9 8 7 6 11 16 15 14 13 12 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 28 27 26 25 Ash Wednesday First Sunday Second Sunday Third Sunday Fourth Sunday Fifth Sunday My Forty-Day Journey THE KEYS TO MY LENTEN JOURNEY The color of the priest's vesture should be purple. Purple is the liturgical color of times of penance and of the expectation of Christ, and, therefore, the color of the great seasons of preparation: Advent and Lent. ASH WEDNESDAY, the first day of Lent, is a day of fasting. At Mass, the priest draws a cross on the foreheads of the faithful with ashes. The ashes are made from the dried palm branches that were blessed on Palm Sunday of the previous year. Ashes remind us that we are fragile, that we always need God to live. We must then remain humble. The Sign of the Cross recalls the love of God for us, and for all men. God is waiting for our answer, and we will respond with love as we make efforts to change and be more holy. At Mass during the Lenten season, the joyful acclamation Alleluia is not said or sung. It is replaced by other words. The organ and other musical instruments remain silent (unless the people are singing) and there are no flowers on the altar, except on the fourth Sunday of Lent and on solemnities and feasts. On the altar, the candlesticks will be simpler as well. Sundays are not counted in these forty days of Lent, for each Sunday reminds us of the day of Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The crosses and statues in churches are veiled with purple cloth on the fifth Sunday of Lent. We fast from their beauty and focus our worship on the suffering of the Lord, whose Passion is now near. Some churches will wait for Holy Thursday, veiling them closer to the time when the Holy Sacrament will be placed on the altar of repose. The fourth Sunday of Lent is Laetare Sunday. In Latin, Laetare means “to rejoice.”We can glimpse the joys of Easter approaching. The priest might wear rose-colored vestments.
9 33 30 29 31 32 The Sacred Paschal Triduum Holy Week 34 35 36 37 Good Friday Alleluia, Christ is risen! The Chrism Mass is celebrated during Holy Week, usually on Holy Thursday in the morning. At the Mass, the bishop and all the priests of the diocese renew their commitments. The bishop consecrates the holy chrism, which will be used throughout the year for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders. He also consecrates the oil of the catechumens, and the oil for the anointing of the sick. The Passion of Christ refers to the last moments of Jesus’ l i fe on ear th, from his arrest to his death on the cross. It is celebrated on Good Friday. “Passion” comes from the Latin patior, which means to suffer. In many languages, such as Latin and Greek, Easter is called Pascha. It comes from the Hebrew word Pessa’h, which refers to Passover, the celebration of the Israelites' escape from Egypt and their passage through the Red Sea. It was during the celebration of Passover that the Paschal Mystery took place: Jesus’ Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. Easter Holy Thursday Holy Saturday Palm Sunday
10 THE KEYS TO MY LENTEN JOURNEY Spotlight on Holy Week HolyWeek is the last week of Lent. It opens with Palm Sunday, which celebrates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem amid the cheering of the crowd waving palm branches. To recall this event, processions are organized in churches, and the palm branches are blessed. Punctuated by rituals and celebrations, Holy Week brings us into the mystery of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. It ends on the night of Holy Saturday. The Triduum Celebrations The mystery of the Passion of Jesus and of his Resurrection is called the Paschal Mystery; it is the central point of the Christian faith. By the sacrifice of Jesus’ death on the cross, and his Resurrection on Easter day, God offers us salvation: eternal life, the victory of love over death and sin. The three days that celebrate this mystery are called the Sacred Paschal Triduum. The Triduum begins on the evening of Holy Thursday and ends at Easter Sunday vespers, on the evening of Holy Saturday. █ Holy Thursday celebrates the Last Supper, the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples before being arrested and sentenced to death. It is also when Jesus instituted the Eucharist. At the end of Mass, the faithful are invited to the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a way to “keep watch” for a moment in the night, near Jesus, in the Garden of Olives. The crosses and the statues are veiled, and the bells stop ringing until Easter.
11 █ On Good Friday, we celebrate the death of Jesus, who died on the cross out of love for us. Like Ash Wednesday, it is a day of fasting. The Mass is replaced by the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord, during which the faithful are invited to venerate the cross of Christ after a long prayer of requests. Parishes pray the Stations of the Cross to relive the events of Jesus’ Passion. █ Holy Saturday is, for the Church, a day of silence and contemplation. The Easter Vigil, the evening of Holy Saturday, marks the end of Lent and the beginning of the Easter celebrations. At dusk, people may gather around a “blazing fire” prepared in a suitable place outside of their church. The new Paschal candle is lit and will shine at all the baptisms and burials of the coming year to evoke the light of the Resurrection. This candle is the symbol of the presence of Christ: Alleluia! Jesus is alive; he has conquered death! The bells can start to chime the joy of the Church in celebration. Easter is not an end; it is a beginning! The Paschal light does not go out; it shines during the entire octave of Easter, when the priest will remain dressed in white at Mass. Ascension and then Pentecost will come next: and by the gift of his Spirit, Christ will fulfill the promise made at the end of the Gospel of Matthew: “I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
12 My Lenten Companion THE KEYS TO MY LENTEN JOURNEY Follow Jesus! Each day, after ending your prayer with the Sign of the Cross, find the picture of Jesus (as shown below) in the bottom right corner of the page. If the current year is specifically mentioned, go to the page indicated for the next day. If there is no specific indication for the current year, simply go to the following day. Put your ribbon in place so you will be ready! In 2023, 2026, 2029, as nothing is noted, place your ribbon on the following day (which is page 26 in this example taken from page 25). In 2021, 2024, 2027 & 2030, put your ribbon on page 98. In 2022, 2025 & 2028, put your ribbon on page 100. What if I miss a day? On pages 152-155, annual Lent calendars will give you, year by year, the complete list of the pages to go to for every day of Lent. Tomorrow, let's go to: Page 98 in 2021, 2024, 2027 & 2030. Page 100 in 2022, 2025 & 2028. What happens on Sundays? Sunday readings vary depending on the year. With the help of the calendars found on pages 152-155, you will know whether you are in year A, B, or C. In this book, each week of Lent opens with a reading from year A. Sundays of years B and C are grouped together on pages 98-117, so you will need to pay extra attention to the page indications during those years.
13 An excerpt from the reading of the Mass of the day may be said by a child. 24 Tomorrow, let’s go to: Page 98 in 2021, 2024, 2027 & 2030. Page 100 in 2022, 2025 & 2028. SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY INTERCESSIONS R/ Lord, hear our prayer. • For all Christians, that they will get up and follow Jesus at his invitation. R/ • For all priests and religious who have left everything in order to consecrate themselves to Jesus: that their lives will be a sign of the presence of God in the world. R/ • For each one of us, that through our daily activities we will always serve the Lord. R/ • For my own personal intentions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. R/ Let Us Pray “Our Father...” “Hail Mary...” In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. My small step toward Easter through alms Today, I will stop myself from thinking unkind thoughts and criticizing others. As it did with Levi, the call of Jesus has the strength to change hearts. Trusting Jesus to help me, I will be extra kind to others and look for the good in them! A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke: Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, [the tax collector] got up and followed him. (Luke 5:27-28) Throughout Lent we make efforts to turn our hearts to Jesus. But the purpose of Lent is not these efforts themselves: it is in the encounter with Jesus that will change our lives as it transformed the existence of Levi. Because Jesus comes to us! We will recall this on the evening of Holy Thursday, when we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist: Jesus offers himself to mankind in the bread and wine. To live a sincere Lent is to prepare ourselves to answer the call of Christ who came to us: “Come, follow me.” Today, we will hear the story of an impressive conversion. It is the story of a man who, on a simple word of Jesus, got up to follow him, never to leave him. When God invites himself into our lives, he completely transforms us, because he is perfect Love. To meet him is to pass from night to light; it is to find a happiness that we will never lose. Remember that you are in the presence of the Lord: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Saturday after Ash Wednesday If you are sharing this prayer time with others, first decide together which readings each of you will say aloud. You’ll find an introduction (said by a child) and an illustration of the reading of the day. In the name of the Father… will be said by an adult. A comment (may be said by an adult) to help explain the reading of the day. There are four prayers of intercession (each participant can say one), for others and for yourself. The fourth one invites you to add your own intention, personalizing your prayer. The refrain will be said all together. The words of the Our Father and Hail Mary are on pages 14 and 15. They will be said all together. Jesus will tell you what page to go to the next day, when it’s not the following one. Each day, an effort, a small step toward Easter, will be proposed to you: prayer, fasting, or almsgiving.
14 Our Father Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Hail Mary Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
My Lenten Journey
18 ASH WEDNESDAY Remember that you are in the presence of the Lord: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Ash Wednesday A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew: When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you. (Matthew 6:16-18) On this first day, the Gospel sets the tone! Lent is not a sad and long period of time, where we will make efforts reluctantly and tell everyone the list of good things we decided to give up for God! These forty days must bring us closer to God through prayer, fasting, and sharing. It takes effort, and even though it is not always easy, the Lord asks us to do it happily, heart to heart with him. If some days it seems too hard, we can always ask for his help! Today, Catholics around the world begin a forty-day spiritual journey called Lent. This journey will lead them to the greatest celebration of the liturgical year: Easter. Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus, his victory over evil and death. When the day of a celebration is approaching, it is normal to prepare your house—your heart—to be ready for it. This is the purpose of Lent.
INTERCESSIONS R/ Lord, hear our prayer. • For all Christians entering Lent, that their discreet efforts will bear witness to Jesus. R/ • For all of us, that the grace of God will accompany us on our journey toward Easter. R/ • For each one of us, that we will persevere in our efforts even when they get harder. R/ • For my own personal intentions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R/ Let Us Pray “Our Father...” “Hail Mary...” In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. My small step toward Easter through fasting Ash Wednesday is a special day that can be marked by a light meal, such as a small bowl of rice. It is a good way to enter the simplicity of Lent that will allow theWord of God, which is more important and strengthening than anything else, to echo in me. Today, at Mass, I will listen attentively to the call of the priest when he makes a cross of ashes on my forehead: “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel,” or “Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return.”
20 THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY Remember that you are in the presence of the Lord: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The ashes we were marked with yesterday at Mass have disappeared, but the cross made on our foreheads is inscribed in our hearts. Jesus is here; he dwells in us, and his Spirit gives us the strength and peace we need to begin our Lenten journey. “Oh, that today you would hear his voice: Do not harden your hearts!” May these words of Psalm 95 awaken us! Thursday After Ash Wednesday A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke: [Jesus] said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24) Lent is indeed a call to renunciation—a call to give up everything that hinders us. And many are those things or desires that distract us from what is essential! We think about them a lot. They occupy us to the point that we believe life is all about this: to possess objects, to be admired, to have beautiful clothes, to eat what we like. But when we decide to follow Jesus, we put all these things in their proper place; we know they are far less important. And it is then that we find the meaning of real life, our life as children saved from death and sin by the goodness of God.
INTERCESSIONS R/ Lord, hear our prayer. • For the people who do not know what purpose to give to their lives, that they will discover Jesus, who invites each one of us to follow him. R/ • For all of us, that we will find the happiness of offering our lives to God, without clinging to anything but his loving hand that helps us walk with him. R/ • For each one of us, that we may know how to fight the selfishness that makes us look for our personal comfort but “lose our life.” R/ • For my own personal intentions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R/ Let Us Pray “Our Father...” “Hail Mary...” In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. My small step toward Easter through prayer Today, I will try to get into the habit of thinking about Jesus many times a day: when I wake up, when I sit down for meals, when I go to school, and when I go to bed. I just need to turn to him in my heart and say: “I love you, Lord Jesus; I want to follow you as a disciple and a friend.”
22 FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY Remember that you are in the presence of the Lord: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Friday is the day of the week when Christians remember the death of Jesus on the cross. Even though this event is especially celebrated on the last Friday of Lent, which is Good Friday, every single Friday is an opportunity to thank the Lord for this unique sacrifice in history: the sacrifice of the Son of God who gave his life for the love of us. Friday After Ash Wednesday A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah: [T hus says the Lord God :] Is this the manner of fasting I wish, of keeping a day of penance: That a man bow his head like a reed and lie in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: … Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed. (Isaiah 58:5-8) Penance calls for almsgiving, generosity, and justice, which bring us closer to God. Penance is not an attitude in which we remain centered on ourselves: I am a sinner, I am bad, I deserve to cover my head with ashes…. On the contrary: by turning to others, concerned about sharing and justice, we forget to look in the mirror and to put ourselves first. And then we can give this priority to the Lord, through those people who need our help.
INTERCESSIONS R/ Lord, hear our prayer. • For all people who work for freedom and justice around the world, that they will never tire of their efforts and will turn to God for strength and grace. R/ • For those who are hungry and homeless, that Christians will take care to help them as brothers and sisters. R/ • For each one of us, that we will multiply the gestures of help and sharing that make our light “break forth like the dawn.” R/ • For my own personal intentions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R/ Let Us Pray “Our Father...” “Hail Mary...” In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. My small step toward Easter through fasting and alms On this Friday, which reminds me of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, I will do without dessert. If my parents agree to give me the money they did not spend on me, I will set it aside. I will do the same every Friday of Lent. In the end, I will give the money to my parents, and they will donate it to an organization that helps the poor.
26 THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT We do not fast on the Sundays of Lent. Why would that be, when Jesus fasted forty days in the desert without interruption? This is because of the great Easter event, which took place on a Sunday. This blessed day reminds us each week of the light of the Resurrection that illuminates the season of Lent. Remember that you are in the presence of the Lord: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Year A First Sunday of Lent A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew: At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” (Matthew 4 :1-7) Every day, we face temptations. We are tempted to give in to malice, jealousy, lying, and more. By saying no to these temptations, we grow stronger, and it becomes easier to reject sin! In today’s reading, we saw Jesus oppose the devil with wisdom and faith in God. Let us follow his example and ask for his help!
INTERCESSIONS R/ Lord, hear our prayer. • For everyone in the world, that this Lent will help us to overcome the spirit of jealousy, malice, selfishness, and vanity that speaks too often in us. R/ • For all of us, that the Word of God will nourish our souls just as bread nourishes our body. R/ • For each one of us, that we will make choices with wisdom and great faith in God. R/ • For my own personal intentions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. R/ Let Us Pray “Our Father...” “Hail Mary...” In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. My small steps toward Easter I cannot imitate Jesus by withdrawing for forty days in a desert. But tonight, as I go to bed, I will take a special moment to pray to Jesus in the silence of my room. I’m going to put this week that is beginning in his hands so that he will watch over it. And I will ask him to help me to recognize and appreciate the gifts he gives me in my daily life—most of all, the love that surrounds me in my family.
28 THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew: [On Judgment Day, Jesus will say to the righteous:]“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him and say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?” And the king will say to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:35-40) Jesus invites us to recognize him in the people around us who need help. Reaching out to help others is our response as Christians to what our Lord asked us the day before his death: I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35). Today, the Church has chosen an especially beautiful Gospel passage for us. It is an answer to our doubts, at times when we think that Jesus is far away. In fact, Jesus is constantly giving us the opportunity to meet him through faces other than his! Let’s listen carefully and hear him explain that. And to show that we truly believe what Jesus says, let us act as witnesses to the Gospel whenever we have the opportunity. Remember that you are in the presence of the Lord: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Monday
INTERCESSIONS R/ Lord, hear our prayer. • For thehungryand thirsty, that otherswill help themwith love and compassion. R/ • For all who respond to Jesus’ call for generosity, that they will be strengthened to continue their good works. R/ • For each one of us, that we will ask for the grace to be kind and helpful when it is difficult. R/ • For my own personal intentions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. R/ Let Us Pray “Our Father...” “Hail Mary...” In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. My small step toward Easter through alms At my age, I may not be able to visit someone who is sick or in prison. But there are people I can help right at school. Some classmates may feel sad and need cheering up. Others may have a hard time fitting in and feel left out. Still others may need extra help with a subject I am good at. Starting now, I will watch for someone who might need my help. In a discreet way, I will be kind and attentive to that person.
30 THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT One of the key words of Lent is trust. If, during these forty days, we learn to trust God, we will grow a lot closer to him. Today, let us rediscover in Jesus’ own words the most beautiful prayer in the world, the one that expresses total trust. It is a prayer that must not simply pass through our lips; it must come from the bottom of our hearts. Remember that you are in the presence of the Lord: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Tuesday A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew: In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:7-13) Do not babble like the pagans. Being Christian doesn’t prevent us from sometimes saying empty words. And when it is to God we are speaking, let’s be careful not to simply recite words without thinking about them. The prayer of the Our Father is a great example: we know it by heart; that’s true. But when we say it, are we really praying with the immense confidence it expresses, this wonder at the greatness of God, this deep desire to do his will?
INTERCESSIONS R/ Lord, hear our prayer. • For people of every nation on earth, that they will seek first the Kingdom of God and act always to promote peace and justice. R/ • For those struggling with feelings of unforgiveness, that, with the grace of God, they will let go of their anger and choose to love instead. R/ • For each one of us, that our prayer become a true daily conversation with our Father in heaven. R/ • For my own personal intentions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. R/ Let Us Pray “Our Father...” “Hail Mary...” In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. My small step toward Easter through prayer Today, I will find a quiet time to pray the Our Father very slowly. I will observe a moment of silence every time I breathe between two lines, to reflect on the words I have just said. Then I will invite one of my parents or godparents to tell me his or her thoughts on the prayer. What does an adult believer reflect on while praying the Our Father?
40 THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew: Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matthew 17:1-5) Imagine the dazzling whiteness of snow in the sun. This is how the disciples see Jesus. But this transfiguration does not last: Jesus takes his friends back to their less brilliant everyday lives. The Lord asks us, too, to live in a world that is not always bright. Yet by listening to the Gospel, and by receiving Communion at Mass, we receive the bright light of heaven. Are we going to share some of this light and make the world a better place? For this Sunday of Lent, the effort recommended by the Church is to walk! The Gospel invites us to climb a high mountain in the company of Jesus and his disciples. In the Bible, mountains are meeting places with the Lord. What surprise should we expect this time? Remember that you are in the presence of the Lord: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Year A Second Sunday of Lent
INTERCESSIONS R/ Lord, hear our prayer. • For people throughout the world, that they may come to know Christ, true God and true man. R/ • For all Christians, that, during this week of Lent, we will focus our attention on the light that comes from Jesus. R/ • For each one of us, that we will live as witnesses to the light of God, always choosing to love what is beautiful, what is right, and what is good. R/ •. For my own personal intentions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R/ Let Us Pray “Our Father...” “Hail Mary...” In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. My small steps toward Easter Today, I will remember the little steps I have already taken toward Easter. Then I will ask God to help me move forward in this new week. I will apologize for the acts, thoughts, and words that did not enlighten the world around me, but darkened it instead. This week, I will think about the immense light of the Transfiguration; I will try to add light to the world by sharing my joy of believing in Jesus.
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Excerpts from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Psalms. Copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of the New American Bible may be reprinted without written permission from the copyright holder. © 2021 by Magnificat, New York All rights reserved. ISBN Magnificat: 978-1-949239-36-2 The trademark Magnificat depicted in this publication is used under license from and is the exclusive property of Magnificat Central Service Team, Inc., A Ministry to Catholic Women, and may not be used without its written consent.
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