We’re counting down to Lent, the Church’s annual invitation to “return to the LORD with our whole heart,” and experience shows that the season can be more fruitful with a little advance prayer and planning.

We recommend you start with a time of prayer, asking the Holy Spirit for direction. What should be your focus; more intentional prayer, additional time reading Scripture, acts of charity? Lent is not only about giving things up (although that can be a very fruitful practice), but it’s also about giving more to God as your family grows in faith together.

There are many, many resources, but we like these family-friendly ones:

• Your Family Formation activity packets has some great ideas.
• This is an older blog post from Catholic All Year, but we appreciate the list of practical family ideas suggested for different levels. It’s worth re-reading.
• A new resource this year is a list from Katherine at Look to Him and Be Radiant: 40 Ways for 40 Days is a one-page, printable checklist filled with great ideas to grow in holiness. Print one for your family to work on together or one per child for kids old enough to read.

And back to fasting and abstinence, there are many benefits including opportunities to focus on God rather than pleasure. Catholic Answers says, “Christ expected his disciples to fast (Mt 9:14-15) and issued instructions for how they should do so (Mt 6:16-18). Catholics follow this pattern by holding a partial fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.” (You can read the rest of their short, helpful article here.)

There are specific guidelines for fasting and abstinence: Here’s a brief article from the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis.