Lent Activities

Lenten Kitchen: Healthy recipes for no-carb weight loss and spiritual fasting

2018-01-31T01:45:00.001-05:00

If you're a Catholic fasting for Lent, I have good news. You can also hit your weight loss goals with Lenten fasting. My Lenten Kitchen recipes feature simple, natural, healthy ingredients that help you live lighter. Here are zero point foods from Weight Watchers. The famous weight loss program tracks points so "pointless" or free foods, you can eat as much as you want. This will help you to calm cravings if you're giving up certain foods for Lent. These recipes feature ketogenic and paleo-free foods. With tweaks, these can be used for vegetarian, vegan or gastric bypass surgery diets which Dr. Now of "My 600-lb Life" gives patients. ' My 600-lb Life'-type no-carb weight loss recipes with Weight Watchers free food

Lenten fasting, Catholic social justice inspired weight loss tips and spiritual diet tips

2018-01-16T21:38:00.001-05:00

As Lent approaches, it's time to begin thinking Lenten fasting. And there's great news if you're trying to lose weight. The penitential season is a great time to hit weight loss goals. Use these diet hacks, based on the church social justice teachings to live simply, focus on weight and probably drop pounds! .'My 600-lb Life' Weight Loss Tips: Essential diet hacks to nail New Year goals

Free printable Shrove Tuesday activities to prepare for Ash Wednesday and Lenten season

2017-02-08T14:02:00.000-05:00

Mardi Gras--also called Fat Tuesday, Pancake Day and Shrove Tuesday--anticipates Ash Wednesday and Lent in the Catholic, Orthodox and some protestant Christian churches. These observances count down to holy week and the Easter Triduum. Shrove Tuesday falls at a different day each year with the movable Easter feast. In 2015, it's Tuesday, Feb. 17. Although the term Mardi Gras is used synonymously with the Carnivale ("farewell to the flesh") celebration, it's actually one day. Here are activities children can do to learn more about Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and Lent.

Pray, fast and give alms. Print the calendar at the left to organize your lenten practices. Mardi Gras is the last day of ordinary time before Lent, the 40-day spiritual pilgrimage that follows Christ on his journey through the desert where he was tempted by Satan. As Jesus fasted, Catholics are called to imitate. Fasting means giving up self-centered practices and practicing selfless acts. The principal virtues of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving (donating to those in need). At Ash Wednesday mass, the first religious event of Lent, the faithful are marked with ashes and told to "turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel."

http://www.thereligionteacher.com/lent-project-and-lesson-plan-ideas/

Confess sins. For Catholics, Mardi Gras is more than just a day to party before the fasting begins. The traditional name "Shrove Tuesday" more accurately reflects the purpose of Mardi Gras. To be shriven means to be purged of sin and purified by acts of confession and reconciliation in the Sacrament of penance. On Shrove Tuesday, Catholics go to confession, pray, repent and attend prayer services.
Explore with printable Lent lesson plans. Operation Rice Bowl has free Lenten printables.

http://www.crsricebowl.org/

Catholic Mom offers free printable Lent worksheets, puzzles, coloring pages, crafts, games and activities. Children can color Bible pictures, read from the Gospels, follow mass readings, pray the rosary and other Catholic prayers. Printables help reinforce lessons.

http://catholicmom.com/kids/lenten-activities-for-children/

Enjoy Pancake Day. Traditionally, during Lent, people abstain from eating meat, sugar, sweets, oil, butter and fats (hence the term "Fat Tuesday"). To use up these ingredients so they would not be in the home during Lent (and hence a temptation), Catholics made pancakes. That's why it's called Pancake Day.

Abstain from bad, practice good.
Giving up things (fasting) is a spiritual exercise. Catholics fast from
meat on Fridays (in remembrance of the death of Jesus). Many give up chocolate or other sweets. Fasting is particularly healthy for everyone, not just Catholics. It purges the body and soul. Fasting helps the mind focus on spiritual things. Lenten fasting resembles the dietary laws of other religions, notably Kashrut (kosher) Jewish laws, Buddhist and Muslim Ramadan fasting practices. But it's not just about giving up bad habits. It's about learning new healthier ones. So encourage children to give up something they like (candy) and work on improving a behavior--manners, tidiness, getting along.

'My 600-lb Life': drugs drive Kirstin Perez to bariatric surgery weight loss

2017-01-28T14:50:00.001-05:00

This Lenten season, here are some thoughts on food addiction and what it means to truly give something up. The path to obesity was scary enough for Kirstin Perez. But what drove her to bariatric surgery on "My 600-lb Life" is the real horror story. Season five asks: can gastric bypass surgery and weight loss steer a 600-lb 38-year-old away from a head-on collision with death? Dr. Younan Nowzaradan believes it can, but only Perez can say for sure. 'My 600-lb Life': drugs drive Kirstin Perez to bariatric surgery weight loss

Pope Francis against un-Christian Donald Trump, Mexico wall, 'false prophets' in Election 2016

2016-11-09T17:37:00.001-05:00

In a bizarre election, one of the biggest #Election 2016 oddities was the Catholic vote. As Catholics rallied to support "pro-life" Donald Trump and oppose "pro-choice" Hillary Clinton, their leader Pope Francis went the opposite way. Without naming names, the Pope warned against tyrannical governmental terrorism, fear-mongering and "false prophets." He alluded to un-Christian, anti-life Trump policies including a proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Pope Francis opposes un-Christian Donald Trump, walls, 'false prophets' in Election 2016

Halloween candy leftovers use-up recipes, ways to reuse stale candy from Trick-or-Treat

2016-11-03T13:39:00.001-04:00

Trick-or-treat is over and now your kids have a haul of Halloween candy. Maybe you're stuck with stale candy you couldn't give away because it rained on Halloween or you didn't get as many trick-or-treating children. You might not be thinking Lenten activities at Halloween, but it's a great time to really. Here are pay-it-forward ways to get a jump on Lent virtues of sharing, almsgiving and even fasting with these candy use-up ideas. Halloween candy leftovers use-up recipes, ways to reuse stale candy from Trick-or-Treat

Free printable Passover kids crafts, Jewish activities on Hebrew Pesach holidays

2016-03-23T15:30:00.001-04:00

Passover or Pesach, is a high celebration in the Jewish Hebrew calendar. Passover is an eight-day holiday, beginning with two days of no work, four days of limited work and ending with two days of no work. The Passover celebration includes several Seder meals, with roast lamb, bitter herbs and matzo bread. Passover, or Pesach commemorates the passing over of the angel of death during the ten plagues of Egypt. God punished the Egyptians for the enslavement of the Hebrews. First born male infants were to die unless the blood of a lamb was put on the lintels and door posts. Passover, or Pesach, is part of Christian calendar as well; it was at the Passover meal that Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist or communion. Free printable Passover kids crafts, Jewish activities on Hebrew Pesach holidays | Examiner.com

Lenten almsgiving: No-cost good deeds, donations, ROAK, volunteer work for kids | Examiner.com

2016-02-22T22:46:00.001-05:00

Catholics around the world enter into the penitential season of Lent on Ash Wednesday. In 2016, Ash Wednesday will be on Feb. 10. Starting after Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), until Easter, Catholics practice Lenten virtues of prayer, fasting and almsgiving (charitable giving) Catholics "give up things" in sacrifice for others and in imitation of Jesus's temptation in the desert. So abstaining--got it. But what about almsgiving if you're poor yourself? What about kids who typically don't have much money? Can they practice Lent sacrifice? Yes, because almsgiving doesn't have to involve donations of money. You can make donations of time and talent as well as treasure. Here are no-cost good deeds, ROAK (Random Acts of Kindness) and volunteer work for kids. Use this Lenten calendar of no-cost good deeds, one for every day of Lent. Lenten almsgiving: No-cost good deeds, donations, ROAK, volunteer work for kids | Examiner.com

Pancake Day recipes, Shrove Tuesday pancakes, waffles for Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday feast

2016-02-09T11:53:00.001-05:00

Happy Pancake Day! Also called Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, it's the day Catholics celebrate in preparation for Ash Wednesday and the sacrificial Lenten season. Catholics give up things for Lent. Traditionally that meant abstaining from meat, dairy, eggs, fat and sugar for 40 days till Easter. So they would use up or "shrive" the house of those foods and make them into pancakes. A house shriven (purged) of temptation symbolizes a soul purged of sin (Catholics also to confession before Lent to ready themselves for the penitential season). Here are delicious pancake and waffle recipes for Pancake Day. You can cheat and use pancake mix--the best is Krusteaz Honey Wheat. Krusteaz uses unbleached and whole grain flour. Pancake Day recipes, Shrove Tuesday pancakes, waffles for Mardi Gras feast

Free printable Catholic rosary coloring: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious mysteries

2016-02-08T11:55:00.001-05:00

Catholic and Orthodox Christians have a devotion to the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady taught to the Catholic faithful to pray the rosary--the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries--to turn the focus away from selfishness and onto her son Jesus Christ. Here are free printable Catholic rosary coloring pages and Marian devotional activities. The events in the rosary are called mysteries because they are so miraculous that human beings can't fully understand them. Free printable Catholic rosary coloring: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious mysteries

Catholic Lenten fasting: Vegan pretzel recipes, pretzels object lessons for Lent

2016-01-28T18:11:00.001-05:00

Pretzels date back almost 14 centuries to an Italian monk, who, while baking bread for Lent, twisted a roll of dough to resemble the sign of the cross. To genuflect or make the sign of the cross is a prayer posture of Catholic Christians. Pretzels have become a traditional Lenten fasting food as they are made without sugar, fat, meat or dairy. In traditional Catholic homes, all fat, dairy and sweeteners are used up on Shrove Tuesday (also called Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday) in anticipation of the "vegan" Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lenten fasting. Shrove Tuesday is also sometimes called Pancake Day because these ingredients were made into pancakes for the pre Lenten Mardi Gras feast. During Lent, Catholic Christians observe meatless Lenten fasting on Fridays. They may refrain from eating fats, oil, butter, sugar, sweets and dairy products as a spiritual Lenten fasting. Catholic Lenten fasting: Vegan pretzel recipes, pretzels object lessons for Lent | Examiner.com

Free printable Catholic liturgical calendars with 2016 holidays and holy days

2016-01-18T19:06:00.001-05:00

Liturgical calendars guide the Catholic and Orthodox Christian church year. They show when holidays, holy days, saints' feast days, movable feasts and seasons occur. Parents and teachers can use them plan devotions and activities, Homeschool families can follow the calendar at home. Here are free printable Catholic liturgical calendars and church season activities. Free printable Catholic liturgical calendars with 2016 holidays and holy days | Examiner.com

Teach kids awareness of poverty, curb selfishness, entitlement, develop empathy | Examiner.com

2016-01-07T22:18:00.001-05:00

Ever get tired of seeing entitlement and selfishness in kids? It is annoying, but so are people who complain about insensitive, lazy, unappreciative "kids today." Like entitlement was never a problem before this generation and all who came before were models of selflessness. They weren't--selfishness has been a problem since time began. Where do these self-righteous folks think children learned selfishness? By watching adults! If kids lack sensitivity, it's because adults have fail ed to model it. Parents and all of society must demonstrate compassion or it has no right to complain. Children learn empathy, especially with those in need. Here are ways to break children's selfishness and entitlement attitude and develop empathy, awareness of poverty, sensitivity, compassion and generosity. Teach kids awareness of poverty, curb selfishness, entitlement, develop empathy | Examiner.com

Advent wreath devotions for children: Catholic Christian Christmas worship for families

2015-12-18T01:18:00.001-05:00

Candle ceremonies are common components in many faith traditions and religious rituals. Jews pray the menorah at Hanukkah and African American Kwanzaa employs mishumaa candles. The Christian faith uses the Advent wreath at Christmas. The Advent wreath is an ancient practice observed in many Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christian churches and homes around the world. Catholic families generally have their own advent wreath. Prayers and devotions are said as Advent candles are lit. Advent wreath devotions for children: Catholic Christian Christmas worship | Examiner.com

Free printable Catholic Advent calendars for a Christian Bible Christmas

2015-12-14T15:38:00.001-05:00

The Catholic Christian season of Advent begins November 30, 2014 and goes for four weeks till Christmas. Many families follow Advent calendars. Some contain candy or prizes to countdown to Christmas. The Daily Mail, on November 24, listed even more lavish commercial Advent calendars prizes: nail polish, gifts, toys, jewelry, cosmetics, even beer! While there's nothing wrong with a little treat, materialism defeats the Advent purpose: to focus on God. Constantly receiving teaches children (and adults) to be even more aquisitory than they already are at Christmas. If they're getting all season long, where's the magic of Christmas morning? Advent is about preparing for the coming of Christ with acts of charity. Free printable Catholic Advent calendars for a Christian Bible Christmas | Examiner.com

Dunkin' Donuts tops Starbucks in Christmas holiday cups: Good Christians rejoice

2015-11-16T14:45:00.001-05:00

Christmas 2015 might go down as the schmaltzy and most superficial ever, thanks to the Starbucks "War on Christmas" Red Holiday Cup Controversy. The Christian Science Monitor reported Nov. 11, that Starbucks put out plain red holiday cups, devoid of Christmas ornamentation (reindeer, snowflakes, etc). Some Christians said it was a full frontal attack on Christmas (even though real Christian Christmas symbols are a Baby Jesus, nativity, angels). Donald Trump called for a boycott of Starbucks (good Christian that he is!) Now Dunkin' Donuts tops Starbucks offering Christmas holiday cups with holly on them. Really good Christians, rejoice! (bad Scroogy Starbucks, don't you know that putting coffee in plain red cups means you hate God? Looks like somebody will be getting coal this year!) Dunkin' Donuts tops Starbucks in Christmas holiday cups: Good Christians

Free Catholic Bible printables, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week coloring pages

2015-10-18T22:19:00.001-04:00

Catholics celebrate several special religious days, referred to as holy days of obligation. These days center around a Bible event in the life of Jesus or His Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary. Holy Days are All Saints Day (Nov. 1), Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Christmas (preceded by the holy season of Advent), Solemnity of Mary (Jan 1), Ash Wednesday (movable feast which kicks of the holy season of Lent and leads up to Easter), Ascension Thursday (movable feast) and the Assumption of Mary (August 15). Here are free printable Catholic coloring pages featuring Bible stories. prayer, sacraments, mass, Gospel, saints, Lent, Advent, holidays and holy days, life of Jesus, Catholic saints' feast days, rosary and stations of the cross.Free Catholic Bible printables, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week coloring pages | Examiner.com

Allegedly raped 11-year-old girl gave birth to daughter in Paraguay

2015-08-18T21:37:00.001-04:00

An allegedly raped 11-year-old girl gave birth to a daughter in Paraguay, reported the Associated Press August 13. The pre-teen had been denied an abortion. Parguayan law prevents abortion except when the mother's life is at stake. When she was found to be pregnant, at five months, she was in good health. The young girl bore her child Thursday and shone a brighter spotlight on child rape in the South American nation. Allegedly raped 11-year-old girl gave birth to daughter in Paraguay - Grand Rapids News | Examiner.com

Pope Francis blasts divorced remarried 'excommunication' urges open sacrament

2015-08-05T19:55:00.001-04:00

On his audience in Rome. Pope Francis blasted divorced remarried 'excommunication' reported CNN on August 5. The Pontiff says remarried Catholics need the sacrament just like the rest of the faithful. According to the catechism, divorced remarried Catholics cannot receive communion unless the first marriage was annulled. That's a complicated process that determine if the first marriage was sacramental or not. However, the prelate says keeping any divorced remarried Catholic from communion is more hurtful that helpful to their spiritual welfare.Pope Francis blasts divorced remarried 'excommunication' urges open sacrament

Catholic Stations of the Cross prayer garden: Stepping stone path prayer garden

2015-05-18T14:02:00.001-04:00

Praying the Stations of the Cross is an essential Catholic spiritual exercise during Lent. Churches display the 12 to 15 stations representing Jesus's via dolorosa (way of sorrows) to Golgotha. Each station is a grotto, depicting Biblical passages of Christ's journey to Calvary. Stations may be mosaics, bas-relief, paintings, plaster dioramas, carvings or sculptures. Some are outdoor statuary. Here's a Stations of the Cross prayer garden tutorial for your home. Design an outdoor grotto of cement stepping stones each representing a different station. Catholic Stations of the Cross prayer garden: Stepping stone path prayer garden

Saint Patrick printables, free printable Catholic St. Patrick's Day crafts

2015-03-15T14:56:00.001-04:00

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17. Many people think the holiday is about green beer, shamrocks and leprechauns. But that 's just commercial hype. And the feasting and partying is verboten in a Catholic Lenten fast. The real Saint Patrick was a Catholic Roman Britain taken as a slave by Irish raiders. Patrick later returned as a missionary to convert Druidic Ireland. Here are St. Patrick's Day lesson plans, crafts and activities to explore the saint behind the legend and the religious beyond the secular, perfect for Lent lesson plans. Saint Patrick printables, free printable Catholic St. Patrick's Day crafts

Free printable Lenten calendars, Catholic liturgical calendars, Lent activities and printables

2015-03-03T21:48:00.001-05:00

Our Lenten journey in the Catholic church begins on Ash Wednesday and follows Jesus Christ for forty days of suffering in the desert, up to Holy Week and the Easter Triduum. Here are free printable Lenten calendars to help your experience of Lent.Free printable Lenten calendars, Catholic liturgical calendars, Lent printables

Pancake Day recipes, Shrove Tuesday pancakes, waffles for Mardi Gras

2015-02-17T17:02:00.001-05:00

Free printable Catholic St. Valentine activities, Valentine's Day lesson plans

2015-02-14T15:47:00.001-05:00

The story of St. Valentine has nothing to do with Valentine's Day as we celebrate it on Feb. 14. Except in one way (we'll get to that). It has nothing in common with romance as we know it. But Valentine's story is spiritually romantic. Valentinius was a Roman Christian priest. In those days, this was not popular. In fact, it was downright illegal. So here are Free printable Catholic St. Valentine lesson plans, Valentine's Day worksheets so you know the real story.

Free printable Jesse Tree ornaments and Christmas Bible coloring pages for Advent

2014-12-16T20:11:00.001-05:00

Advent is the Catholic Christmas liturgical season leading up to Christmas. It's a minor penitential season like Lent. For four weeks, we pray, fast, read Bible passages on the gospel Christmas story and give alms to the poor. The theme of Advent is to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. One way is to pray an Advent calendar. Another, related to the Advent calendar is to follow a Jesse Tree. Free printable Jesse Tree ornaments and Bible coloring pages for Advent