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 February 26 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:
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)
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich invites you and your family to actively participate in the CRS Rice Bowl initiative that is quickly approaching. Please read his letters:
Join the CRS Rice Bowl Movement in 2020! Whether CRS Rice Bowl is a tradition in your community or if you are considering participating for the first time, these tips will help you prepare for a season of encounter:
English Flyer
Best known as Lent for Operation Rice Bowl, a wonderful and easy way to give alms, CRS has many other resources to enable you, your family and community to encounter Lent. You will find daily reflections, stories of hope, recipes, and other resources on their website. (Link)
If you would like to receive daily reflections and recipes on your smart phone or tablet device, download their innovative CRS Rice Bowl app. (Link)
Creighton University
Their extensive resources include, but are not limited to, daily prayers, audio discussions and retreats, and essays to read. Take a look and see if there is something for you. (Link)
Franciscan Media
Prepare for Easter with Lent activities, readings and reflections updated daily from the Franciscans and St. Anthony Messenger Press. (Link)
Lentsanity — Fellowship Of Catholic University Students
Lent resources including a mobile app, from Focus.org, an online Catholic college outreach blog.
Liturgy Training Publications
Liturgy Training Publications offers resources including booklets and digital resources for the season of Lent and Easter.
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. For options in Spanish click here.
You can also sign-up for a daily reflection to be delivered directly to your email inbox. To subscribe, click here.
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)
University of Saint Mary of the Lake
Mundelein Seminary
Get reflections written by your future parish priests being formed at Mundelein Seminary. Join us in contemplating Christ’s suffering during this 40-day journey to Easter. Sign up here.
USCCB
This page includes essays, videos, prayers, and reflections for Lent. (Link)
Liturgical Resources
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)
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)
Events
Be Holy As I Am
A Six Session Lenten Mission
Begins Thursday, February 27, 2020
National Shrine of St Maximilian Kolbe At Marytown
1600 West Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL 60048
Reflection Leader: Fr. Benedict La Volpe, OFM Conv.
Register online here.
Gospel of Matthew Bible Study
All the Wednesdays in March
9 to 10 a.m. (after the 8 a.m. Mass) and 7 to 8 p.m.
St. Josaphat Rectory
2311 North Southport Avenue
Fr. Francis Bitterman will be hosting a one hour lenten Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew. No prior reading is necessary, unless you want to!
Lenten Retreat
March 28, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish will host Fr. Donald Senior, CP, president emeritus and chancellor of Catholic Theological Union, for a Lenten retreat in the St. Barbara Campus gym, 2867 South Throop Street. Register here.
Lenten Day of Reflection and Reconciliation
Saturday, April 4, 2020, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Check-In & coffee, 8:30 a.m.)
The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii
1224 W Lexington Street, Chicago, IL 60607
