As we prepare for Lent in 2021, it is a good time to look at some of our best Lenten activities for Catholic families from last year. These Lenten recipes and devotions were the five most popular on our site in 2020.
- Make Pretzels and Say a Prayer
- Say the Night Prayer from Liturgy of the Hours
- Do Something Nice for the Environment
- Pray for More Vocations to the Priesthood
- Make Blessing Bags for the Homeless
Lenten Activities: Make Pretzels and Say a Prayer
Did you knot that the shape of a pretzel represents hands folded in prayer? This article includes a pretzel recipe and a prayer about the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to say after they are made.
Get the recipe and prayer suggestion
Pray the Night Prayer from Liturgy of the Hours
Night prayer is a lovely way to finish off the day with your Catholic family. Try starting this devotion as a Lenten practice. If the entire prayer is too long, you can shorten it or just say the antiphon “Protect us Lord, as we stay awake, watch over us as we sleep, that awake we may keep watch with Christ and asleep rest in His peace.“
More about praying the Night Prayer with your Catholic family
Do Something Nice for the Environment
Families can fast from some conveniences and help the environment at the same time. Consider fasting from drinks which come in plastic bottles or having meatless Mondays, since producing meat spends more natural resources. See the article for some different things you can give up which will also help our planet.
Get ideas of things you can fast from to help care for creation
Pray for More Vocations to the Priesthood
One of the three pillars of Lent is prayer. Consider using your prayer time to pray for more vocations to the priesthood. You can also pray that members of your family discern the path God is calling them to.
How to pray for more vocations to the priesthood
Make Blessing Bags for the Homeless
Almsgiving is also a traditional Lenten practice. You can make up some bags with practical items which will give a little comfort to those living on the street. Give them to a local agency which serves the homeless population in your area. Or keep a few in your car to give to those you meet who are in need.
Learn how to make blessing bags for the homeless