Lent is the 40-day period in which Christians are called to an inner journey of conversion of heart through prayer, fasting and charitable works. As the church makes its pilgrimage through Lent toward the observance of Jesus’ passion on the cross in Holy Week, and his resurrection from the dead at Easter, CatholicPhilly.com presents this section of Catholic resources, devotions and examples of faith in action during Lent. May your Lenten sacrifices and prayers bear fruit this year and always.
Lenten guides
Fourth Week of Lent: Accept the Father’s mercy, offer it to all — Catholic News Service
Third Week of Lent: Give the spiritual journey more time — Catholic News Service
Second Week of Lent: Renewal and restoration in the desert — Catholic News Service
First Week of Lent: The desert journey begins — Catholic News Service
Lent 2019 — U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Rules for fasting and abstinence
Palms to ashes: A few things to know about Ash Wednesday
Confession: Rediscovering the Sacrament of Penance — U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Five ways to a more meaningful Lent
Parish Lenten events — See ongoing events in parishes of the Philadelphia Archdiocese for each week of Lent.
Resources for devout Catholics and those struggling with faith who wish to learn more about Christ — Office for the New Evangelization, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Lent 2019: Seeing Christ in All People — Central Association of the Miraculous Medal
Living Lent Daily — Loyola Press
Praying Lent — Creighton University
Lent Events and Their Importance — Catholic Online
Watch a video on the sacrament of penance and reconciliation:
Scripture
Scripture readings for daily and Sunday Mass — Read the text, or listen to a podcast.
Reflections by Msgr. Joseph Prior on the readings of Lenten Sundays: First Sunday of Lent | Second Sunday of Lent | Third Sunday of Lent | Fourth Sunday of Lent
Reflections by the seminarians of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary on the Sunday Gospels of Lent: First Sunday of Lent (The Temptation of Christ) by Austin Robuck | Second Sunday of Lent (The Transfiguration of Christ) by Kenneth Cavara | Third Sunday of Lent (The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree) by Steven DiMassimo | Fourth Sunday of Lent (The Parable of the Prodigal Son) by Wesly Taveras Medina
Prayers and devotions
Pray the Liturgy of the Hours — Join in the daily prayer of the church with online texts courtesy of iBreviary.
Stations of the Cross — Pray the 14-step devotion featuring the Stations’ panels from St. Monica Church, Berwyn.
Mary, Heart of the Mystical Body — Join the Little Sisters of the Poor in praying the seven sorrows rosary for youth this Lent (includes articles, videos and instruction sheet): Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
Pray As You Go — Download the app for a daily audio tour through Lent, including Scripture and music.
Sacred Space — A daily online prayer guide.
From Ashes to Glory — A weekly online retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Reflections
Profiting from our faults this Lent
Heart work for Lent
Gratitude as a Lenten practice
On Bryce Harper and Lent
Lent in the words of teens
Practice of memento mori — considering one’s death — revived for Lent
Fasting and why it’s good for you
A wilting plant teaches of death in the midst of life
Solidarity with a mother grieving her dead son | Solidaridad con una madre que lamenta la muerte de su hijo
Spring cleaning and soul cleansing
Giving up Lenten sacrifices? Not so fast
There’s room for joy even in suffering
Pope Francis on Lent
Read the full text of Pope Francis’ message for Lent 2019 in English and in Spanish
Convert now, don’t be spiritually lazy, pope says
Lent is time to let go of ‘destructive’ selfishness, pope says
Give up gossiping for Lent, pope suggests
God’s wrath is just as great as his mercy, pope says
Lent is a time for a little less hypocrisy, pope says
Pope: Imitate God by being merciful to others
Gospel builds one’s immunity against selfishness, pope tells students
Watch a video on Pope Francis describing “gossip wars”:
Action
Catholic Charities Appeal — Give hope to thousands in the Philadelphia area by supporting the 2019 appeal.
Nutritional Development Services (NDS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia — Help those in this region who are food-insecure by supporting NDS’s Community Food Program.
CRS Rice Bowl — Focus your prayers, fasting and outreach to serve those in need around the world. Listen to a podcast on how CRS Rice Bowl creates long-term solutions to food insecurity.
40 Days for Life — Create a culture of life during Lent through prayer, fasting and witness. Read an article or listen to an Inside CatholicPhilly.com podcast on this global grassroots effort, and find your local campaign here.
The Lighter Side of Lent
‘Plant-forward’ menus in Lent can have year-round benefits
Shift your ‘food focus’ this Lent with simple recipes
A matter of taste: Doing a deep dive into fast-food fish sandwiches
Lenten staple prompts a grammar debate: Are they fish ‘fries’ or ‘frys’?
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