Events

Lenten Resources

“Lent is a new beginning, a path leading to the certain goal of Easter, Christ’s victory over death. This season urgently calls us to conversion. Christians are asked to return to God ‘with all their hearts’ (Joel 2:12), to refuse to settle for mediocrity and grow in friendship with the Lord.” – Pope Francis.

 

The Archdiocese of Chicago is delighted to provide Catholics and non-Catholics with a wide variety of opportunities to take Pope Francis’ words to heart and begin a Lenten mission of deepening relationships with those around them and with Jesus Christ.

This year, Lent begins on March 5, 2025, and is a time in the Catholic tradition in which we are asked to slow down, reflect and prepare ourselves to receive the incredible gift of Easter morning. We are invited to pray more, deny ourselves by fasting, and give alms to the poor. There are many ways you can live out these practices.

To assist you in your Lenten preparation and practices, here are a few resources we have compiled for your use:

Lenten Fast Regulations and Liturgical Notes 2025

  • Lenten Fast Regulations from March 5 (Ash Wednesday) to the Paschal Triduum (PDF)
  • Lenten Liturgical Notes 2025 (PDF)

Resources for Prayer & Reflection

  • The Way of the Cross: A Podcast Mini-Series - This collection of five meditations from Fr. Donncha Ó hAodha on the prominent themes found in The Way of the Cross by St. Josemaria Escriva, can help us to be renewed and strengthened in Christ’s love through the contemplation of his Passion and death on the Cross.
  • 40 Days at the Foot of the Cross: A Gaze of Love from the Heart of Our Blessed Mother – Through this daily devotional you are invited to prayerfully ponder the mind and heart of our Blessed Mother as she endured the great suffering inflicted upon her own dear Son. Mother Mary faced the Cross of her Son with perfect faith, love and devotion. Her fidelity to her Son throughout His life was unwavering.
  • Reflecting on the Lenten Season – This article highlights Lenten practices and memories of people whose experiences range from pious and traditional to creative and out-of-the-ordinary, but all of them represent attempts to make the season of Lent a meaningful time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving for themselves, their loved ones, and their communities.
  • Find Christ's Peace - Reflect, pray, and live this Lenten season with My Daily Visitor. This handy resource helps you to begin each day with quick and easy Scripture-focused reflection, prayer, and achievable actions to make the most of Lent.

Resources for Parish Leaders & Catechists

  • Lent Resources | USCCB - Lent resources from the USCCB, including Bilingual Lent Calendar, and Examination of Conscience, and articles about the 40 Days of Lent, Ash Wednesday, and Living the Faith during Lent.
  • Lent Intergenerational Event - Bring your parish family together to celebrate the season of Lent and foster community across generations as you help parishioners grow in their understanding of the three disciplines of Lent – prayer, almsgiving, and fasting.
  • These retreats offer moments for personal or facilitated small-group reflection on the Lenten themes of Loving as Jesus Loves & The Hope of New Life in Christ. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)
  • Lenten Lessons on the Mass – Encourage parishioners to sign up for Fr. Rocky’s 40 Lenten Lessons. These short, daily videos will take viewers through the Mass, from the preparation to the final blessing, all throughout Lent.

Resources for Catechists & Families

  • Three Pillars of Lent (English | Spanish)

  • MCA Stations of the Cross 

  • Children k-5th grade (English | Spanish)
  • Young adults 5-12th grade  (English | Spanish)
  • Pop-Up Catechesis: Wearing Ashes – This episode of Pop-Up Catechesis, looks at how young people might respond to questions they receive about wearing ashes on their foreheads.
  • A Whole Bunch of Values – This Lenten countdown for children is a fresh approach to a Lenten calendar, exploring a variety of values with young children this Lent.
  • This free printable easily makes three pockets to hold ideas for the three marks of Lent, helping families to Pray-Fast-Give together. Designed with a short-term, focus these daily ideas can help children be successful over the course of the long 40 days, leaving room for the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts. (available in Spanish folder, idea strips)
  • Catholic Family Faith complies a list of Lenten resources that can be used by all members of the family. Visit their site for resources to learn more about the season of Lent and for ideas on how we can all live out our call to engage in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during the Lenten season.
  • A Lenten Checklist for Catholic Families - During Lent, we as Catholics prepare our hearts for the great celebration of Easter. With this checklist, we can also prepare our homes for the great celebration of Christ’s Paschal Mystery of dying and rising to new life that will be celebrated during the Easter Triduum. (available in Spanish)
  • Holy Heroes: Lenten Adventure – Sign up for free, daily Lenten Adventure activities for ages 5-12.
  • Catechist Journey - Lenten Resources for Catechists (articles, activities, prayer compilations).
  • Sadlier Religion - Lent a Time to Strech Your Spiritual Muscle: Catechist Stream webinar and Lenten Calendar
  • St. Mary’s Press - Season of Lent

Ave Maria Press

They have compiled 40 soup recipes and daily reflections to nourish both your body and soul throughout Lent. You can find the recipes and reflections on their website. (link)

FDLC Lenten Liturgy Resource

Liturgical Preparation Aid for Lent, the Sacred Paschal Triduum, and the Easter Season 2025 (Year C). (Link)

This Liturgical Preparation Aid includes:

  • The Order for Reconciling Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution (Readings, Sample Penances, Music Suggestions)
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • A Liturgical Calendar for Lent, Triduum, and the Easter Season
  • The Lectionary for Mass – Year C
  • Preparation Sheets for the Rites belonging to the Period of Purification and Enlightenment
  • Preparation Sheet for Palm Sunday
  • Preparation Sheets for the Sacred Paschal Triduum

Lent Lamentation Prayer Service for Immigrants and Refugees (English | Español)

Lenten Resources for Children

  • Lent Missionary Prayer (link)
  • Lenten Litany for a Humble Heart (link)
  • Lenten Missionary Pledge (English | Spanish)

Liturgical Music Resource for the Rites and Rituals

Music Directors and RCIA Directors can use this resource in planning the Rite of Sending to the Cathedral for Election, the Scrutinies for the Elect and the other public rituals that facilitate the process of Initiation. (PDF)

Loyola Press

They provide a number of helpful resources for individuals and parish life. These include video reflections on art, essays, Stations of the Cross, and much more. Click here to discover all of their resources. You can also sign-up for a daily reflection to be delivered directly to your email inbox. To subscribe, click here.

Sample Communal Reconciliation Service

Resources for a service that could be fashioned such that the individual sacrament of Penance is part of it, or it could be a non-sacramental service that is aimed at preparing a community to receive the Sacrament later. (PDF)

Simply Catholic

Lenten resources and informational materials for those who want to learn more about Lent. (link)

Solidarity Bridge

Join the Solidarity Bridge community for their Lenten reflection series: Seeing the Faces that Call us to Justice. In the words of Pope John Paul II, “perceive in the face of every person a call to encounter, dialogue and solidarity.” This Lent, reflect on what it means to see Christ in the faces of our brothers and sisters in need. Through weekly emails with prayers, links to the readings, and images from Bolivia and Paraguay, readers are invited to deepen their relationship with God and grow in solidarity with others. Sign up to receive weekly messages throughout Lent at www.solidaritybridge.org/lent.
Solidarity Bridge is a lay initiative of the Archdiocese of Chicago responding to the Gospel call to heal the sick. In a spirit of solidarity, we partner with communities in Bolivia and Paraguay to increase access to safe, affordable surgery and other essential healthcare.
Flyer (PDF)

Triduum in Multi-Site Parishes

A good resource for the celebration of the Triduum Liturgies in multi-site parishes comes from Liturgy Training Publications. The article, The Triduum in Cluster Parishes, Gathering the Community to Celebrate, by Fr. Paul Turner, offers solid options for these important liturgies.

For the Paschal Candles in multi-site parishes, the USCCB offers direction for incorporating them into the Easter Vigil. See the question, “In the case of mission churches or cluster parishes can multiple paschal candles be used..” here: Questions on the Sacred Paschal Triduum | USCCB.

USCCB

Pray with God’s Word this Lent! Get the daily readings sent to your email each morning. Sign up for your free subscription from the USCCB here.