Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues for forty days until Holy Thursday (when the Easter Triduum begins). During Lent, we look more intently at our lives, repent of our sins, and offer personal sacrifices of alms, prayer, and fasting as penance for our sins. We spend these days in preparation for the new life of Easter.

See Liturgical Calendar–Seasons–Lent for additional background information and prayer.


"Following Jesus" Prayer Celebration Notes

Focus		Celebrating the opportunity to become better children.
Materials Needed		Prayer table with Bible, candle, crucifix, activity page, and music. Click here to print the footprint activity page.
Reading		Mark 1:16-18
Music		"Be Merciful O Lord," Blest Are We Music CD 2; "With Open Hands," Gifts for a Lifetime Music CD; "Come Follow Me" (OCP Publications)
Preparation		Prepare your role as leader for the prayer celebration. Children will not need copies of the liturgy. Write the response, "Lord, have mercy," on the chalkboard or have the children repeat it after you. Practice bowing heads during the response. Make copies of the footprint for each child. Beforehand, have them write in it a good action they will promise to do in the coming week.
Adaptation		Plan a group Lenten activity. This might include praying for a special intention every week, participating in a service project, or making real efforts to maintain peace and harmony within the group itself.
Additional Materials		For a full year of liturgies, from which this one was adapted, see: Prayer Celebrations, Primary Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-30567-1 / 9780382305672 Blest Are We Music CD 2 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36653-0 / 9780382366536 Blest Are We Song Book for Grades 1-8 Words and melody for children; contains music for grades 1-8 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36617-4 / 9780382366178 Blest Are We Accompaniment Book for Grades 1-8 Contains accompaniment music for grades 1-8. Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36618-2 / 9780382366185 Gifts for a Lifetime Music CD Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36113-X / 9780382361135 Gifts for a Lifetime Accompaniment Book Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36104-0 / 9780382361043