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

 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

Comforing Mothers Who Have Lost Children, Especially on Mother's Day

 Mother's Day is a favorite holiday. I have four lovely kids plus my mother, step mother and mother-in-law. Mother's Day can be bittersweet for kids who have lost moms. And what about the mother who has lost a child? Mother's Day may just be bitter for her. The Mother of Sorrows understand. She had to watch her precious Son, ripped to shreds physically and emotionally. She had to see him completely rejected and be unable to do anything about it. Because she knew He was the Savior of the World, that He had to suffer and die. It must have been hard for her to be the first to understand, the first disciple. With the Blessed Mother as a guide and comfort, here are ways to acknowledge Mother's Day (or just survive) if you or someone you love has lost a child. Mother's Day Activities for Moms Who Have Lost Children

Keep Lenten Virtues Alive, Plant a Memory Garden

For years, my husband and I have maintained graves of loved ones. We always felt a special connection to them when we put flowers on their graves. It's a sore spot, however that once planted, we never got to enjoy the flowers. The only way to take care of them was to make time to visit the cemetery, which in this hectic time is virtually impossible.

So we devised a plan to keep our loved ones' memory sacred by keeping them near. We've developed a memory garden which we maintain right in our backyard. You can make a memory garden easily and inexpensively in any size yard, even make on your patio or deck if you live in an condo or apartment. Here is a step-by-step guide. Keep the Lenten Virtues alive all year in spiritual works of mercy by "praying for the living and the dead."Plant a Memory Garden for Earth Day or Memorial Day

Free Printable Palm Sunday Lessons, Bible Crafts, Coloring, Activities

Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christians commemorate Palm Sunday as the Biblical triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem one week before His crucifixion. It starts out Holy Week and the countdown to Easter. Palm Sunday is a floating holiday; linked as it is to Lent and Easter which fall at a different time each year. In  2014, it's Sunday, April 13 and Easter is April 20. Here are crafts, coloring and activities for parents to use with children. Use as lessons in homeschool, Christian school, Sunday school or Catholic religious education. These printables provide inexpensive, hands-on ways to explore and celebrate the Palm Sunday.  Free Printable Palm Sunday Crafts, Coloring, Activities

Teach Children Generosity With Printable Lenten Almsgiving Lessons

Catholics, Orthodox and some other Christian denominations entered the penitential season of Lent on Ash Wednesday. From now till Easter, we practice Lenten virtues of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We give up things in imitation of Jesus's temptation in the desert. We pray to draw closer to God. And we share with those in need. Here are 40 ways kids can give, one for each day of lent. Teach Children Generosity With Lenten Almsgiving Activities, Donations

Free Easter Printables, Crafts, Devotions, Prayers, Games for Catholics

Easter is the major feast day in the Catholic church. For forty days of Lent we've fasted, prayed and journeyed with Our Lord in His walk to Golgotha. Lent is like an inward spiritual pilgrimage that takes place amid our everyday lives. Children in the Catholic faith take part in this journey as well. Some are making first reconciliation and are preparing for first Holy Eucharist. At the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, catecumens and candidates will be welcomed into the Church. Many will be baptized. The new Easter candle is lit for the first time. The sacred oils are blessed on Holy Thursday. The parish priest renews his vows of ordination. The Holy Eucharist is placed in repose for the three days of the triduum in a solemn and lovely pageant.

These are only a few of the awesome and significant events we Catholics celebrate in at Easter and the Holy Week preceding it. Children see, hear and celebrate many wondrous experiences at Eastertide. Some may be new or unremembered from last year. Here are several websites for you to print free Easter materials for your students or children to explore the lovely symbolism and ritual of Easter in the Catholic Church.  Read more

Free Printable Rosary Prayers, Blessed Virgin Mary Coloring Pages

In May we Catholics and Orthodox celebrate our Blessed Mother Mary. Our Lady shows us to pray the rosary; the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries. Here are free printable coloring pages and devotional activities of Mary, and the rosary. The rosary, given to us by Mary, Mother of God, helps us to focus our minds and hearts on her Son Jesus. Free Printable Rosary and Blessed Virgin Mary Coloring Pages and Devotional Activities 

Free Printable Lent Activities from Operation Rice Bowl

For Catholics and Orthodox Christians, Ash Wednesday begins the season known as Lent. Lent is a penitential liturgical season of the church calendar. As we prepare for Christmas during Advent, in Lent, we prepare for Easter. With prayer, fasting and almsgiving (the three penitential virtues), we ready our minds and hearts for the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. With the imposition of the ashes, we are reminded--"turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel." We think of ways to follow this admonition by practicing spiritual virtues.

Many people confuse the purpose of lent; they talk about what they or someone else is "giving up for Lent." There is the practice of fasting, but it's not just about giving up. Sometimes fasting means doing rather than not doing something. We always taught our children that while we may fast or give up meat, sweets, candy or pop as a physical fast, it's important to think of spiritual ways to fast. One of my besetting sins is selfishness. So at Lent, I try to make a better effort not just to 'give up' selfishness, but also to be more selfless. Do I succeed? Yes and no. But we don't call them lenten practices for nothing. We are practicing prayer, fasting and sacrifice.  Here are activities to help. Free Lenten Printables

Free Printable Stations of the Cross Lenten Coloring Pages and Devotional Booklet

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday of the Catholic liturgical calendar and continues for 40 days up to Easter. We try to imitate Jesus with prayer, fasting and alms-giving. Here are free printable Stations of the Cross coloring pages to guide lent devotions. Each year during Lent when our family was homeschooling, we drew images, one for each of the Station of the Cross, to use as a guide for prayer and devotion. We hung them at different places in our home or yard. The children would begin each Friday in Lent by following the Stations of the Cross. The older children drew images for the each of the Stations of the Cross, but for younger children I used the Fr. Lovasik coloring book. Here is are several sets of free printable Stations of the Cross. Print a booklet for CCD and religious education classes, Catholic school, homeschooling and family devotions. Read more at Stations of the Cross Prayer Coloring Book Printables

Stations of the Cross Prayer Garden

The Stations of the Cross are an essential part of spiritual exercises during Lent in the Catholic Church. Each Catholic Church has in it's nave a series of 12 to 15 images representing the agony and death of Our Lord. Here is a garden plan to set up stations of the Cross in your backyard or church. Read more

Lenten Candle Holder Craft for Catholic Families

We are a Catholic family that homeschooled our four children for ten years. In my ongoing quest to bring religious truths home to my family and myself and to make learning experiences more meaningful and permanent, I avidly collected any and all devotional craft projects. My goal was not just to find coloring or paper craft but real 3-D materials that would take our understanding of faith deeper. Here's a lenten candle holder craft to make for Ash Wednesday on your family altar. Read more

Free Printable Lenten Devotion Activities for Operation Rice Bowl

Catholic Relief Services is the single largest non-governmental relief agency in the world. Each year at Lent CRS initiates what is called 'Operation Rice Bowl'. Operation Rice Bowl is a program which focuses our attention on the cardinal aims of the Lenten season: prayer, fasting and alms-giving. Here are activities to use your Lenten Rice Bowl. Read more

Free Printable Ash Wednesday and Lent Activities

Lent begins with the Imposition of the Ashes on Ash Wednesday which falls on February 13, 2013 on the western calendar. Lent begins a 40 day journey of fasting, acts of mercy and spiritual pilgrimage. We try to live, in our poor humble human way, in solidarity with Our Lord as he fasted in the desert for 40 days and made his final pilgrimage to Jerusalem. A Roman cross, torture and crucifixion awaited Him. But so did the glory of Easter, the Resurrection. Lent is a season for intense and deep personal and spiritual reflection. Here are free lessons plans and activities for families, homeschoolers and Catholics. Read more