How to Live Lent

Your guide to Lent in Catholicism, including Stations of the Cross, customs and traditions, and more. Includes a range of books and blogs.

Lent is a season of penance of forty days before Easter, when Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and is traditionally a time of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving (which means giving away your money, resources or time). It is a time for spiritual renewal.

The final week of Lent is Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday. During this week, Christians remind themselves, in a special way, of the suffering and death of Jesus. Holy Week, at first, starts triumphantly. The people of that time welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with great rejoicing. They spread palm branches and clothes at his feet. ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ They received Him like a king.

After Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem the mood changed dramatically. People who had hailed Him as king, called for His death only a few days later. Knowing what was to come, Jesus had one last supper with His disciples, where He made them and us a gift: He gives himself to us in bread and wine as they become His Body and Blood.

On Good Friday Christians walk with Jesus on his painful journey to Calvary, the place where Jesus was crucified. On Good Friday, the faithful listen to the Passion of Jesus and think of the painful path He walked.

The darkness of death is broken by the light of Christ is risen! Three days after the death of Jesus, on Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate His Resurrection. This Easter joy lasts for fifty days, culminating in Pentecost.

Stations of the Cross & Prayer in Lent

Large Print Stations of the Cross Catholic Truth Society

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D844 Meditations on the Stabat Mater

Meditations on the Stabat Mater Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP

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Stations of the Cross - Alphonsus

Stations of the Cross: With St Alphonsus Liguori Fr Jim McManus CssR, St Alphonsus Liguori

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Understanding and Living Lent

Liturgical Living in Lent

Liturgical Living in Lent

Why do we fast in Lent? Why is Lent 40 days? How is Lent traditionally observed? What is the purpose of the Stations of the Cross? Discover Catholic customs & traditions for Lent in this blog.

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What is the meaning of Ash Wednesday?

What is the meaning of Ash Wednesday?

Why do Catholics receive ashes on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday? How should Ash Wednesday be observed? What does it mean to fast? How do parishes mark the beginning of Lent? Explore Catholic customs and traditions associated with Ash Wednesday in this blog post.

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Lenten Meditations and Reflections

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The Road that Leads to Life Pope Francis

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A Blessed Lent

A Blessed Lent Fr Philip G Bochanski, CO

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The Passion of Jesus

Why did Jesus have to die?

Why did Jesus have to die?

Christians believe that Jesus gave his life for us by dying on the Cross, and then rose from the dead on the third day, in the glory of the Resurrection. His death brings forgiveness for sin. But why did he have to die?

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Why did God want His only Son to die on a cross?

Why did God want His only Son to die on a cross?

Why was a man of peace like Jesus condemned to death on a Cross? Why did Jesus have to redeem us on the Cross, of all places? Did Jesus really experience fear of death? Understand the crucifixion and death of Jesus and what it means for Christians in this blog.

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Holy Week Resources

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Holy Week Missal (For Priests) Catholic Truth Society

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Holy Week

The Triduum: Catholic Customs & Traditions

The Triduum: Catholic Customs & Traditions

What does the word "Maundy" mean? Why does the Queen distribute Maundy Money? Why do we eat Hot Cross Buns? Why is Good Friday called "Good"? What happens at the Easter Vigil? Discover Catholic customs & traditions for the Triduum in this group of blogs.

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