Preparing for Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Journey

I have been, or can be if you click on a link and make a purchase, compensated via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value for writing this post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

This post on preparing for Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Journey is sponsored by Family Christian.  While I received a credit to purchase a few of the items mentioned in this post, all opinions are my own. Links (attached to the images) to Family Christian are affiliate ones and could result in a small commission being issued to me. Many thanks to anyone who elects to purchase through one of them.

 

The new year is well underway now and Christmas is almost a distant memory for many.  The season of Lent is just around the corner. Now is the perfect time to make preparations for Ash Wednesday and the Lenten journey so you can make the most of it.  Beyond the idea of giving something up, there is an opportunity for a conversion to occur forcing us to delve deeper into our spiritual life and relationship with God.

 

Ash Wednesday is the ‘kick-off’ for the entire season.  As a Catholic adult, it is a day of fasting and prayer.  Adults (ages 18 – 65) abstain from all meat and eat the equivalent of a meal with 2 small snacks (if needed.) As a family, we also gather at church for Mass and receive the mark of ashes on our forehead to remind us that from dust we came and to dust we will go.  While attending Mass is not required, I find it a great way to start Lent each year and am grateful for the opportunity to attend.

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return….

Preparing for Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Journey #devotionals #Christian @FamilyChristian http://t.co/z7amYBaUmG

— Laura O'Neill (@LauraOinAK) February 16, 2015

Preparing for Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Journey ~ Suggestions for Devotionals

One of the spiritual aspects of Lent that I look forward to each year is a daily walk in prayer and Scripture reading that is focused for this season of penance. I will admit that there are days when I am rushed and miss a reading only to make it up the next day. But, I do relish this more deliberate time for prayer and development of my relationship with God in all three forms.

There are so many options for a Lenten Devotional, so I am going to share a few that I own, one that I am eagerly awaiting in the mail, and another that is on my wish list for next year.

 

Sacred Space for Lent 2015: This booklet uses the simple six-step method first developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.  I bought one of these last year and really enjoyed working through it each day.  It was small enough to fit into my purse or computer bag to accompany me when needed, only took a few minutes to complete, and the cost is minimal.

 

Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa: Prayers, Reflections, and Activities for Families:  A Catholic homeschooling friend recommended this a few years ago.  I bought a copy and now need to go digging for it again. I always appreciate the humble approach to life which Saint Teresa had.  Like the Sacred Spaces booklet, this is not a full length book and does not take much time from your day to implement.

 

 

Give Up Something Bad for Lent: A Lenten Study for Adults: This is the one I have on order and am awaiting in the mail.  I won’t fret if it arrives after Ash Wednesday as I can always play catch up.  What appealed to me is that the author wants us to really look at what we are giving up during Lent each year as an act of sacrifice and spiritual discipline. For so many, it can involve the denial of a favorite treat (e.g. chocolate) or something else that will later be gorged upon come Easter. James Moore challenges readers to take it further to give up something spiritually that they would be better off not doing. He invites all to seek God’s help to focus on eliminating one habit or attitude that is destructive. Imagine giving up envy, jealousy, self-pity, apathy, procrastination, gossip, resentment, or negative thinking, how much better life would be. The forty days of Lent are ideal to use this study and prepare to give up something bad while preparing to fully embrace the “Good News” of Easter. Study includes seven sessions, one for each Sunday in Lent and Easter Sunday. Each session features a Scripture reference, a personal reading, questions for personal reflection or group study, and closing prayer.  I suspect this title is going to strike a few nerves for me as some of the negative habits we have are things which bring some sense of comfort to our lives.

 

Lent and Easter Wisdom from St. Alphonsus Liguori:  I truly love walking the path with an eye towards the Saints, those holy men and women who came before us and serve as inspiration for our own journey towards sainthood and eternal life in heaven.  Saint Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, was a musician, painter, and one of the most prolific writers of his time. A humble man who deeply loved Jesus, he is recognized as a doctor of the Church and patron saint of confessors, moral theologians, and those suffering from arthritis. This addition to Liguori’s popular series of seasonal meditation books provides Scripture readings for the seasons of Lent and Easter and pairs them with a daily selection of cherished writings by Saint Alphonsus Liguori, whose words still find meaning in our lives today. Devoted to prayer and the passion of Christ the Redeemer, Alphonsus demonstrates how we can live our lives more fully for Jesus. During our Lenten journey, through the words of Saint Alphonsus and the daily Lenten actions, we are offered practical ways to follow the example of Saint Alphonsus and his abundant love for our crucified Savior, who died and rose from the dead to create us anew. This is the one I now have on my wish list for a future Lent, but wanted to share with my readers in case it truly speaks to someone now.

 

 

Live With Joy – Christian Journal from Dayspring: I love the idea of journaling prayer, thoughts which come to me during quiet time with the Lord, or words of wisdom from a homily.  My old journal ran out of pages, so I ordered this new one to accompany me to church.  While this is not really a ‘devotional’, I do view a journal as an extension of working through a devotional. And, I love the idea of something pretty to later be on the shelf for future reference.

 

Preparing for Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Journey ~ Bring Scripture to Life for the Kids

The Last Supper Building Block Set:  Okay, this is really more for the youngest boy than it is for me.  I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of this item with the hope that we can not only use it to talk about the Last Supper, but also use the various Apostle figures with other building blocks to bring the Gospels to life for the younger boys.  I’m already picturing what mini figures in the house might be making an appearance in the crowds when Jesus is teaching.

 

Are you planning to attend church services or receive ashes on Wednesday?

What sort of plans to you have for Lent to help you grow in relationship with the Lord?