"Lent is the ideal time to unmask these and other tempatations, to allow our hearts to beat once more in tuen with the vibrant heart of Jesus.  The whole of the Lenten season in imbued with the conviction, which we could say is echoed by three words offered to us in order to rekindle the heart of the believer:  pause, see and return."  Pope Francis, Ash Wednesday homily, February 14, 2018

To help you to have the best Lent ever, we have put together a list of resources to help you.

1.  Videos:

Resource Center - St. Mary's Press has an extensive list of videos.  https://www.smp.org/resourcecenter/category/Lent/15/



2.  Devotionals

St. Bartholomew Lenten Challenge - Take the St. Bartholomew Lenten Challenge.  Each day for twenty-five days you will receive an email or text challenging to do something.  Sign up by contacting Kellie in the Faith Formation Office at 562-438-3826 or kdeleo@la-archdiocese.org.

Best Lent Ever from Dynamic Catholic delivers a daily Lenten Video to you via email.  https://dynamiccatholic.com/best-lent-ever

Bishop Barron daily Gospel reflection delivered to your email each morning.  Sign up at https://www.lentreflections.com/

3. An Overview of Lent:

Lent lasts 40 days.  It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at the beginning of Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy thursday evening.  The 40 days of Lent recall Jesus' temptation in the desert and rejection of sin.

• Ash Wednesday
  • The ashes we receive symbolize the dust from which God made us.  As the ashes are applied to aperson's forehead, the following words are prayed:  "Repend, and believe in the Gospel," or "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

• Three Pillars of Lent:  Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving

• Do You Know:
  • The ashes we receive on Ash Wednesday are often palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday liturgies, which are burned and used as ashes for the following year.
  •  
• What is Fasting:
  • One full meal and two smaller meals.
  • Days of Fasting:  Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
  • Who participates?  It is mandatory for those aged 18 to 59. (Those pregnant or sick are not obligated to fast.)

• Good and Bad Habits:
  • Many people choose to let go of a bad habit (like gossiping or too much screen time) or strengthen a good one (attending Mass more often or praying on a consistent daily basis).

• What is Abstinence?
  • No meat
  • Days of Abstinence: 
    • Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Every Friday during Lent
  • Who participates?  Mandatory for those older than 14 years.