Lent is a time of prayer and renewal and an opportunity to refocus relationships with God that lead us to the Easter Sunday celebration of our risen Christ. This year, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22, and continues through Holy Saturday, April 8, with Easter Sunday on April 9.
We have provided a resource page with links to material, prayers and reflections to guide you through this Lenten season. We also have provided links to Lenten video reflections from the Catholic Health Association as well as our Way of the Cross prayers.
Below are some Prayers and Reflections for you to download this Lenten season:
A reading from the book of the prophet Joel: "Even now," says the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing".
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; According to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
Dear Lord Jesus, by Your Passion and Resurrection You brought life to the world. But the glory of the Resurrection came only after the sufferings of the Passion.
Dear Lord, in this Lenten season we come to you in prayer. You know the deepest prayers of our hearts before we frame them in words.
Download the 'Together with God Prayer'
Where can the weak find a place of firm security and peace, except in the wounds of the Savior? Indeed, the more secure is my place there the more he can do to help me.
Catholic Health Association Lenten Reflections
The Catholic Health Association is offering its annual series of Lenten reflections. This year they have created a special series of video reflections inspired by the images crafted by artist William Frank, at the request of SSM Saint Louis University Hospital, entitled Via Dolorosa, meaning "sorrowful way" or "way of suffering." Also enjoy their video 'Journey with Jesus to the Cross.'
Virtual Sit Meditations for Lent
Join the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) online contemplative community for a free series of Virtual Sit Meditations broadcast every Friday during Lent. As we enter the season of Lent, many of us feel called to clear away the ashes of what has been, making room for new growth to emerge. Contemplative wisdom invites us to embrace this time of silence and sparsity as an opportunity to reveal the hidden truths of our lives.
Since its founding in 1987, the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) has begun each day with a 20-minute period of contemplative prayer that our founder, Father Richard Rohr, likes to call “Daily Sit.” In that spirit, they invite you to journey through this Lenten season with a series of free Virtual “Daily Sit” Meditations broadcast on YouTube each Friday in Lent, from February 24 to April 7, from 10:00am – 10:30am PT (1:00–1:30pm ET; 6:00–6:30pm GMT).
Stations of the Cross: Ecological Way of the Cross
During the Stations of the Cross, we retrace Christ's steps by enacting the biblical record of his Passion, with each station commemorating a stage in Christ's journey to crucifixion. The Eco-logical Way of the Cross puts the suffering of Christ's Passion in our time by relating it to the suf-fering of the earth and the poor.
Way of the Cross Prayer #1
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Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
ALL: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Leader: Jesus replied, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Lk 23:43)
ALL: God the Father delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:13-14)
Way of the Cross Prayer #2
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Leader: Let us walk the Way of the Cross in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL: Amen.
Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you
ALL: Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Way of the Cross Prayer #3
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Lord Jesus Christ, we give you praise and thanks for your Passover from death to life. As we carry about in our human existence your death on the cross, so may your life also be manifested in our whole being. For we, who are constantly being given up to death your sake, believe that your life will be always displayed in our mortal flesh both now and for ever.
