Untitled Document

Ideas
for the 40 Days of Lent

An Idea for Wednesday of the Last Week of Lent

A “Spy Wednesday” Meditation

Today has been called “Spy Wednesday.” The Gospel for the Wednesday of Holy Week focuses on Judas betraying Christ. Below is a link to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Listen to the reading for the Wednesday of Holy Week. Then watch or listen to the pod cast reflection on those readings. Afterward, spend a few minutes speaking to the Lord about what you heard and what you are feeling in your heart.

USCCB website

An Idea for Tuesday of the Last Week of Lent

Plan the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

Spend some time today deciding what you want to participate in over these most sacred days. If you have Sunday's bulletin, it's a good place to start. The services are rich and beautiful... and you are invited!

Holy Thursday is the day we remember and celebrate the first Eucharist, where Jesus said, "This is my body," and "Do this in memory of me." It is also the day we enter into the ritual of the foot-washing; symbolic of our baptismal call to serve one another. How about going to Mass? Traditionally, many Catholics use this sacred evening to visit a number of churches in the area for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. St. James Church on Wabash is hosting a biking tour of neighborhood churches. Calendar of Events.

Good Friday is the day Jesus was crucified. Many parishes offer the Stations of the Cross, where we can pray through the journey to crucifixion. This is the only day of the year we do not celebrate Mass, but prayer services will be offered, where Communion (from Holy Thursday) is distributed. Also, today we venerate (show respect for) the wood of the cross.

Holy Saturday is sometimes called "Tomb day," as we await resurrection. The evening of Holy Saturday is our Easter Vigil celebration. This spectacular series of rituals begins with the blessing of the Light of Christ (somewhat of a bonfire!), and passing the light from person to person in a dark church. This is also the evening when new members join the Catholic Church, and many receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion. Again, it is quite beautiful. Be warned that the celebration includes many readings, extra music, the sacraments, renewal of our baptismal vows, and other additions; it may last several hours. If you have small children, consider coming for part of the celebration.

Easter Sunday - Join the Church in celebrating the Resurrection of Christ!

Here are some supporting websites that will enhance you preparation for and appreciation of the Triduum – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday & Easter Sunday:

Triduum is a worthwhile three-day pilgrimage
Benedict XVI on the Easter Triduum (April, 2006)

Holy Thursday: By Catholic Culture
Women for Faith & Family

Good Friday

Holy Saturday From Catholic Culture

Easter Sunday

An Idea for Monday of the Last Week of Lent

Make it a Meatless Week

It is Holy Week. The idea for today and this week is to make it a meatless week (expect for Holy Thursday). So on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Good Friday, let’s abstain from eating meat. This experience of fasting will allow us a constant reminder of the sacredness of this week. Let our motivation be this: we will fast from meat in the name of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is some help in planning and understanding meatless days

An Idea for the Last Weekend of Lent

Participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Get free. Put your past before the Lord and let it go forever. The great gift from the Lord is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is a sacred moment to free us from our sins and calls us into the fullness of God’s life.

This weekend (or maybe during Holy Week) is a great time to share in this Sacrament. Many of our Churches will be celebrating Reconciliation Services, which will also provide us with the opportunity to share in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Let’s make sure we participate as a part of our Lenten practices.
Here is some help, if you need it.

10 tips for a better confession
How to go to Confession

An Idea for Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Examine Your Conscience

Inside of every human being is our conscience. It is our faculty to determine right from wrong. Conscience is the store house of our morality, ethics and the commands of our Faith. It is important that we examine our conscience regularly. Our conscience tells us when we live up to our religious convictions and when we fail short. So today you are invited to examine your conscience.

Here is some help:

Daily Examination of Conscience
Examination of Conscience
St. Ignatius Examination of Conscience

An Idea for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent

Go to Daily Mass

How about starting off your work week by attending daily Mass on Monday? If it is not possible to do so on your way to work, there are many churches who provide an evening Mass during Lent.
Daily Mass is special, as is each and every celebration of Catholic Mass. With fewer people in attendance, there is a quiet and a peacefulness that is very conducive to being in communion with the Lord Jesus. And it is a great way to being another day in your life: listening to the word of the Lord, putting your needs in God’s hands, giving thanks, saying Amen to the Body of Christ and taking the presence of Christ to work with you. If it is not possible physically to attend Mass on Monday, here is a website where Mass is celebrated every Monday–Friday: Weekday Mass.

Mass class

An Idea for Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

When You Look at a Crucifix, What Do You See?

As we move closer day-by-day to Holy week beginning on Sunday, this is a good day to focus on Christ on the cross. It will be helpful to have a crucifix in front of you or in your hand. Here is a website with many different photos of a crucifix. Select one and bring up on your screen.

Crucifixes

Here is a question to reflect on and about which to speak to Christ in your prayer today, “When I look at the cross, what do I see?” For example, do you see suffering, faithful, and love?” What do you see? Speak to the Lord about that, while focusing on an image of the cross.

When you are done, pray the prayer to Christ crucified. Here are several:

Crucifix
Prayer Before a Crucifix
St. Francis' Prayer

An Idea for Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Reflect and Pray & Stay Great

Father Mark Link, S.J. has been writing a yearly series of prayers and reflections. The idea for Tuesday of the Fifth week of Lent is to follow the lead of Father Link and use his prayer & meditation for your spiritual exercise this Tuesday. Begin with the opening prayer on the far left column. Tuesday’s reflection is on the right side of the page. Also, you might want to navigate the icons on the top of the opening page. They will offer you many insights into prayer and the scripture. Stay Great

An Idea for Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Listen, Reflect and Pray

This is the fifth week of Lent and the last full week of Lent. Lent ends on Holy Thursday. So it seems important that we firm up our resolve to pray, fast and do work of charity. These are the 3 foundations upon which the practice of Lent are based. Also, today is a good time to look ahead to Holy week, which begins on Sunday, Palm Sunday.
Our Lenten idea for today is an eighteen minute reflective conversation on the fifth week of Lent and what lies ahead: the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lent-Conversations

An Idea for the 5th Weekend of Lent

Pray the Stations of the Cross

In every Catholic Church you will find on the walls fourteen images depicting the journey of Christ to His crucifixion. The first of the fourteen is “Jesus takes up His Cross.” The fourteenth station is “Jesus is taken down from the Cross.” These are fourteen moments of meditation and prayer on each station.
Find time this weekend to make the Stations of the Cross in a local Catholic Church. You can do it by yourself in the quiet of the Church.

Here are the Stations of the Cross based on Stations celebrated by Pope John Paul II on Good Friday 1991. Print them out and take them with you to the Church where you will be praying the Stations of Cross this weekend.

If you cannot make it to a Church to pray the Stations of the Cross, here is an Audio Format for your Lenten prayer and reflection.

Here you will find another format for the Stations of the Cross with music to accompany you as you pray the 14 Stations of the Cross.

An Idea for Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Friday Fast

Each Friday in Lent we are asked to fast from eating meat. This is one of the three cornerstones of Lent: prayer, fasting, good works. For this Friday, how about expanding your meatless Friday? From what else can you fast: lunch, beer or wine after work, an hour or two of Friday night television, shopping? You name it. Also, it might be a good idea to have an intention for your fasting. I will offer up my fasting for peace in the world... or for those today who have little food. I will offer up this day for the sins and weaknesses in my life. Here are three websites that you enhance your understanding of fasting:

Fish Eaters

Fasting: A Powerful, Spiritual Tool

Your Personal Guide to Fasting and Prayer

An Idea for Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Spring Clean Your Clothes

Today would be a good time to do some “spring cleaning.” How about sorting through your clothes? Anything on the bottom of the piles that your haven’t worn in the longest time or those items in the very back of your closet that have been hanging there for a long time, set them aside and prepare to give them away. You might want to clean them first so that they will be great gifts to someone else.

Let this be one of your acts of charity for this Lenten Day. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, “When I was naked, you clothed me.” Here are two possible agencies that can assist you with the gift of your clothes. Also, you might want to contact a local Catholic parish. Often times they have a “sister” parish who might be in need of clothing.

Goodwill

Catholic Charities

An Idea for Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Create and Pray Your Own Prayers of Petition

At Sunday Mass, immediately after the Profession of Faith we are lead in the Prayers of the Faithful, also known as the petitions. Each prayer is a singular intention with the ending to each one being, “let us pray to the Lord.” And all of us at Mass respond, “Lord, hear our prayer.”
Our Lenten prayer idea for Wednesday is for you to create your own “prayers of the faithful.” For whom do you want to pray and why? Write a prayer of petition for that intention. What are some of the situations/events going on in your life for which you would like to pray? Write out a petition. Using your mind and imagination, gaze at the world. What is going on in that world for which you want to pray a prayer of petition right now? How about creating a petition for some people you know or about whom you have heard that are struggling with life (in mind or body) right now. Make a list pray for them in your prayers today.

It would be great to write out your prayers of petition and return to them each week. You can add new prayers, delete others and keep your petitions before the Lord on a regular basis. Don’t forget to add “let us pray to the Lord” or “I pray to the Lord” at the end of each one. And don’t forget your prayerful response to each one, “Lord, hear my prayer.”

Here are some prayers of petition that have been prepared by the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. It might give you some ideas:

Sample prayers of the faithful

Letters from a young Catholic

New England Encyclopedia

Jesuit Conference

An Idea for Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

"Seeing Christ more Clearly."
Reprise Sunday’s Gospel with Fr. Patrick McGrath, S.J.

Perhaps the most important value tour faith is the ability it gives us to see life more clearly. Someone once said that faith is borrowing the eyes of Christ as we look at the people and situations in our world. This past Sunday, the Gospel was the story of Jesus and the man who was blind from birth. It’s a great lesson in seeing Christ more clearly. Here is a link to the readings from last Sunday and the wonderful podcast reflection by Fr. Patrick McGrath, S.J. Podcast, Reading

An Idea for Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Give the first 10-minutes of your Work Day to God

Try getting into work 10 minutes early today. Power up your computer and pray – dedicating these 10 minutes to your God and your faith. “What should I do during those 10 minutes,” you ask.

Here is a website that will provide you with a ten minute meditation for Monday of the Fourth week of Lent: Sacred Space.

Don’t get hung up if you can’t use the first 10 minutes at work to pray to the Lord. If you can’t make the commitment now, find 10 minutes later today.

An Idea for the Fourth Weekend of Lent

Make a Retreat - Online

For many people making a retreat is an annual event. A retreat seems to work well during the Lenten Season. It gives us an extended time to pray, consider God’s presence in our lives, make some decisions about the direction life can take, seek God’s forgiveness and be renewed in spirit.

Yet many of us don’t have the time (or sometimes the money) to make a weekend retreat from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.
During this weekend, make time to participate in a cyberspace retreat. The goal is the same as a weekend away: to be renewed in spirit.

The retreat presented below is a 34 week retreat. Feel free to begin and only work your way through week 1, or, to be on the cycle of our Sunday readings, consider week 23 (on healing) or 24 (March 3 readings, Jesus challenges the leaders). If this is helpful for you, consider revisiting the site.

On-Line Retreat

An Idea for Friday of the Third Week of Lent

Meatless Friday - Cooking Lent & Praying Too!

Here are some menus and prayers to make this meatless Friday in Lent something special. Enjoy!

An Idea for Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

Turn off the Radio /Ipod

We live in a world of noise and distraction. Let your Lenten discipline today be a form of stillness and silence. Turn off the car radio. If you go our for a walk or to the gym for a workout, leave your Ipod or mp3 player at home. Perhaps you can choose to simply sit in silence in a favorite chair. There is a great scripture quote, “Be still and know that I am God.” That the challenge for today

Some wisdom on the spirit of silence:

Silence and Stillness in Prayer:
The Message of Dom John Main by Paul Harris

Holy Silence - Wisdom from Dominican Spirituality

An Idea for Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

Clean / Organize!

Clean/organize for 30 minutes. Is there one closet, cabinet, drawer, corner of the storeroom, etc. that would really benefit from being cleaned, cleared, and/or organized? Perhaps cleanliness is next to Godliness! And every time thereafter that you revisit that area, you can rejoice in knowing what you have, and being able to find what you need! An option: Grab a friend, and you can work together for 30 minutes on your project, then 30 minutes on theirs. Don’t forget the great strategy of clearing the clutter. If you’re not using it, donate it, pitch it, recycle it, or sell it. Then, celebrate your accomplishments!

Check this out: Dealing with Clutter from the University of Illinois Extension.

An Idea for Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent

Forgive Yourself

Forgiving yourself might be one of the most difficult things in life to accomplish. We seek forgiveness from God. We can forgive others. But all too often deep in our minds and memories are many things we cannot get beyond. We have such a hard time forgiving ourselves. This Lenten day, our goal is to reach back and retrieve one human experience that is deep within and has gone unforgiven. Bring it to consciousness and place it before God. Then forgive yourself. If God forgives us, we must learn to forgive “us” to! Now let go of it … forever!

Here is some help:

Forgiveness: The Challenge and the Pain

Learning to Forgive Yourself
We all mess up sometimes. So why is learning to forgive yourself a lot harder than forgiving others?

An Idea for Monday of the Third Week of Lent

Read Pope Benedict’s Lenten Message

Each year the Holy Father sends out a message during the Season of Lent. This year’s message is based on the Gospel of John, verse 37:

“They shall look on Him whom they have pierced.”

After reading the Pope’s message, give yourself a few minutes of quiet to reflection on his message.

An Idea for Friday of the Second Week of Lent

Give This Friday To God

"Give today to God.” Be aware - don't miss a thing! Our tradition tells us that God is present each and every moment of each and every day. Yet in the busyness of our lives, we often miss the sacredness of every day. Look for God throughout your day, in every encounter, conversation, e-mail, situation, person, task, challenge, chore. Be open and aware. Before you end the day, give God thanks and praise for being your companion throughout the day.

You might enjoying reading Bishop J. Peter Sartain’s article’s article, “Receive God in the Present Moment.” Bishop Sartain is the Ordinary of the Diocese of Joliet.

An Idea for Thursday of the Second Week of Lent

Conserve (Another Way to Fast)

Ordinarily fasting means voluntarily not eating food, but in an expanded spiritual sense, it can also mean voluntarily not doing some we find comfortable. By doing so, we can contribute to a better self, way of life and/or a better environment in which to live the message of Christ.
Here are a few ideas for this Lenten day in order to “conserve.” Take the train or bus instead of driving. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Use one napkin not two. Eat more simply. Turn off the light when you leave a room. Take a quicker shower. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth. Recycle. Use dishes instead of paper plates and cups. Wear a sweater; turn down the heat.

What other ways can you fast by conserving? Let us know, yam@yamchicago.org and we can share some ideas with others.

Here is an understanding of fasting from the Catholic Encyclopedia

Some ideas on Catholic Fasting

An Idea for Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Lent

Take Care of Your Body (Exercise)

Our bodies have been called “Temples of the Holy Spirit.” Yahweh God breathed the breathe of life in Adam and he came to life. Our bodies are sacred. We need to take care of them. If you exercise on a regular basis, add 15 minutes to your workout today. Give those extra 15 exercise minutes to God. If you do not exercise, try some 15 minutes exercises that you can do at home today. Give that time, caring for you body, to God.

Here are some suggestions for beginning to care for your body through exercise:

Beginners, Excercise, Start Exercise

An Idea for Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Lent

Pray for an Enemy

We can’t like everybody – even though we might try hard. Today take a minute or two and call to mind a person with whom you might not like or have a stressed relationship. In a likelihood each of us can call to mind several people. In your prayer for them, reflect on some very good and positive aspect of their personality that you might have overlooked.

Here are some ideas on the words of Jesus, “Love your enemies.”

An Idea for Monday of the 2nd Week of Lent

Go to Daily Mass

ass

An Idea for 2nd Weekend of Lent

Spend time with a child, senior citizen, or friend in need.

Who would benefit from the gift of your time and presence? How about spending some time this weekend with a godchild, a neighbor child, a niece, nephew or your own child. Can you take a senior out for breakfast or lunch? How about driving a neighbor to church?

Time with friends is pure grace. In this busy world, call a friend this weekend and invite yourself over to their place or invite them to join you for a meal. Pick up the phone (not email!) and call an out of state friend, classmate, former work colleague or relative.

If you need some motivation to do this spiritual exercise this weekend, maybe this will help - click here

An Idea for Friday of the First Week of Lent

Call a Friend
Pull up your phone directory or take a glance through your Christmas card list. Who haven’t you heard from in a while? Who would be surprised with a phone call from you? In this age of email, an old-fashion person-to-person telephone can makes a person’s day!

And there is a word for this within our faith: communion. Communion means to be in union with someone. If we are called to receive Holy Communion, the Body of Christ, then we are also called to be in communion with our friends.

Click here for some different understandings of “communion”:

An Idea for Thursday of the First Week of Lent

Prepare for Sunday Mass

Before Mass this Saturday evening or Sunday, we invite you to pre-read the Scripture for the Second Sunday of Lent. A wonderful way to read a particular Scripture selection is to read it more than once. The first time read is slow. A second time read it out loud. A third time read it out loud as if you were now reading it to someone else. Enjoy these readings. You will appreciate them in a new way this weekend.

Read and reflect on the Scriptures readings for this Sunday’s Mass.

Reading 1 Gn 12:1-4a Reading II 2 Tm 1:8b-10 Gospel Mt 17:1-9

Here they are all together:

An Idea for Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

Find a Pray Place
The idea for today is to find a place ( a special chair, room, car, walking path, etc) that you will designate as your Lenten prayer place. Then use that place during Lent to spend in prayer. It could be for a simple 10 minutes or longer depending on your schedule or personal spiritual need. Place whatever you might want in or near that space. Some suggestions include: your Bible, a candle, a plant, a crucifix, a favorite prayer card, a photo, or a book of poems or prayers. Perhaps it is left open, awaiting your presence.

Create a prayer space, then use it. If you want help getting started, visit some of the websites listed here, or begin with one of the prayers here, given to us by Mother Teresa.

A favorite definition of prayer for us is: “Practicing the presence of God.” In your prayer space, you are welcome to just sit, open your mind and heart to God, and listen.

Here is a website that will give you an insight in a prayer space. It comes from the diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin: Prayer Space.

An Idea for Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Volunteer
Find a Place and Explore a Way to Share the Gift of Your Time with Others
Today you are being asked to find a volunteer opportunity. Keeping in mind that our time is precious and extremely limited, you might want to explore an opportunity that is one-time. Many places in the Chicago area are home to PADS, an overnight shelter. You could spend an hour or two with the evening guests. Consider a hospital, nursing home, soup line, shelter, a food pantry. Consider helping at a parish’s Religious Education Program. The goal here is to do something that allows us to live for others as Christ did.

Catholic Charities

Homeless Shelters

P.A.D.S. (Public Action to Deliver Shelter)
West Suburban PADS
South Suburban PADS
Southwest Chicago PADS
Food Bank

An Idea for Monday of the 1st Full Week of Lent. . .

Find an Item – Personal, Religious or Spiritual - That Will Remind You of the Presence and Love of God in Your Life.

It could be a nature photo, family photo or a new plant. It could be a religious picture or image. It could be a cross, crucifix, or statue. Put it next to your computer at work or in a prominent place in your home. Let it ride with you in your car. During Lent let it be your Lenten daily reminder of the presence of Christ in your life and your resolve to live more faithfully with the Lord. If you are curious about the meaning of some of our symbols found in the catacombs and used by our ancestors, you might find this website interesting. Click here.

Idea for the First Weekend of Lent. . .

Visit the sick. (A Corporal Work of Mercy)
Near where you live contact a nursing home or assisted living facility and ask if you can visit an elderly patient who receives few, if any visitors. You have no idea what an impact that can have on one person!

If the nursing home will not provide the name of such a person (certain privacy laws might prevent the release of that information), then call the local Catholic parish and see if they can assist you with your inquiry. Learn more about corporal works of mercy.

An idea for the Friday after Ash Wednesday

Fast! Skip Lunch on Friday (or eat very simply).

Fasting from food is a very ancient and respected spiritual practice. It has been practiced in every age of our Catholic tradition. We know that even Jesus fasted. In the fourth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel we are told that Jesus fasted for forty days.

Now it is our turn. Fast. Skip lunch on Friday or eat more simply. Consider giving money you would have spent on lunch to charity.

Learn a more about fasting.

Idea for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday. . .

Become Familiar with the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.

These 14 practices are based on the teaching of Christ and on the practices of people in our Church since apostolic times. Is there one practice from each list that you might wish to practice during Lent?

The Corporal Works of Mercy are the seven practices of charity toward our neighbor, based on Christ’s words for in the 25th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy are the seven practices of Catholic charity toward our neighbor’s spiritual and soul.

Idea for Ash Wednesday . . .

Get Ashes on Your Forehead Today!

Try to get your ashes today before noon - maybe before heading off to work. By getting your ashes early in the day, those ashes in the form of the cross of Christ will be with you all day long. Ashes on your forehead are a sign to others that you are indeed a follower of Jesus Christ, and that you are beginning this Lenten Season. This is your special time of fasting, discipline and good works.

You will see your ashes each time you stand in front of a mirror today. May they be a reminder of the promises you are making to strengthen your spiritual life and to walk more boldly through life with Christ by your side.

Did you Know...

Ashes are a symbol of penance and reconciliation. Our custom of putting ashes on the forehead is rooted in the Jewish custom of sprinkling ashes on the head as a sign of repentance.

Learn more about the significance of ashes.