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Lenten Calendar 2017

by Filed Under: Lent, Lent 2017, Lenten Calendar 6 Comments

Almighty God! I unite myself at the beginning of this holy season of penance with the Church militant, endeavoring to make these days of real sorrow for my sins and crucifixion of the sensual man. O Lord Jesus! in union with Thy fasting and passion, I offer Thee my fasting in obedience to the Church, for Thy honor, and in thanksgiving for the many favors I have received, in satisfaction for my sins and the sins of others, and that I may receive the grace to avoid such and such a sin, N. N. and to practice such and such a virtue, N. N.

Lent begins on March 1 this year!  I hope this calendar helps you get a jumpstart on your Lenten journey.

This Lenten Calendar follows the Traditional Calendar (1962) of the Extraordinary Form of the Liturgy with some Historical (H) feast days noted. It extends from Shrove Tuesday to Easter Sunday.

We only celebrate First Class Feasts during Lent.  The other saints are included for private devotion and will be called upon for intercessory prayers. 

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I print my calendar at Costco Photo in 16×20 ($6.99) for our family altar display and 11×14 ($3.99) or 8×10 ($1.49) for my children upstairs.  The calendar can also be printed at an office store or at home.

  • You may download and print the calendar for your personal use.
  • You may also link to this post but please do not link directly to the file download.
  • Email me at JOYfilledfamily{at}gmail{dot}com if you need my assistance.  

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Click the image to download the calendar jpeg file or the box link for the PDF version.

 

 

O most benign Jesus! who didst so desire to suffer for us, grant, that we may willingly suffer for love of Thee; that we may hate and flee from the detestable pleasures of the world and the flesh, and practice penance and mortification, that by so doing we may merit to be released from our spiritual blindness to love Thee more and more ardently, and finally possess Thee forever.

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2017 Lenten Calendar Guide

  • The bottom portion of each day represents the feasts and ferias proper to the season for the Extraordinary Form
  • Saints listed without notation are from the Extraordinary Form liturgy
  • Saints listed with (H) are from the Historical calendar
  • Each saint featured with a picture is identified by the name immediately above the image
  • This calendar is the work of a lay Catholic for one’s personal observance of Lent and private devotions

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Resources for Children:

 

Lenten Resources:

 

Lenten Plan {Printable}

by Filed Under: Lent, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

But if there be one Season of the Year more than another in which the Faithful ought to reflect upon what is taught us both by faith and experience, as to the existence and workings of the wicked spirits,—it is undoubtedly this of Lent, when it is our duty to consider what have been the causes of our last sins, what are the spiritual dangers we have to fear for the future, and what means we should have recourse to for preventing a relapse.”    ~The Liturgical Year of Dom Prosper Gueranger concerning the Season of Lent

Here is a simple printable that we use for the Lenten & Advent seasons.  It serves as a tool to help us stay committed to our Lenten plans.  We sit down as a family to discern and finalize our family Lenten Program.  Then Dad sits with each child to discuss what they want to offer Jesus and how they are desiring to grow in virtue during the Lenten season.

This year’s family Lenten program will be focused on the Nineveh 90 Challenge, in preparation for the 100th Anniversary of Fatima.

The daily section is designed to list the commitments to be done at least 3x per week.  While the weekly section is reserved for those commitments that change from week-to-week in Lent or must be performed only 1-2x per week.

I print 2 copies/page times the number of weeks in the Lenten season/Nineveh 90 Challenge for each child.  You could also laminate and use a wet erase pen.  A full sheet is printed each week for the master family list.  A child rotates the weekly duty of leading us in our Lenten program and checking off the items for the day/week.  This shifts the accountability and gives each child another opportunity to grow in virtue.

Having shared all that, there is no one way to use this printable.  You are free to use this printable as you see fit for your own personal use and share.

Dearly beloved Brethren: you know that the day of Scrutiny, when our elect are to receive the holy instruction, is at hand. We invite you, therefore, to be zealous and assemble on N., (here, the day was mentioned) at the hour of Sext [the sixth hour of the day]; that so we may be able, by the divine aid, to achieve without error, the heavenly mystery, whereby is opened the gate of the kingdom of heaven, and the devil is excluded with all his pomps.”  ~ The Roman Sacramentary of St. Gelasius

 

This Lenten season, we pray for a complete transformation, total abandonment to God’s will, with child-like trust in His fatherly care, and readiness for service in profound humility after the example of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

We also pray that your Lenten journey be all that the good Lord wills for you and that you may joyfully cooperate with His grace.

+Ad Jesum Per Mariam+

Advent Plans 2016

by Filed Under: 12 December, Advent Leave a Comment

The focus of Advent is preparation for the coming of the Lord — both in commemoration of His Nativity and His coming again at the end of time… The Christmas season does not begin until the first Mass at Christmas Eve, and doesn’t end liturgically until the Octave of the Epiphany on January 14. It goes on in the spiritual sense until Candlemas on February 2, when all celebrations of Christ’s Childhood give way to Septuagesima and Lent.

 

Advent: advent-calendar-and-plans

 

Christkindl {Christ Child}

by Filed Under: 12 December, Advent, Christkindl Leave a Comment

The beautiful thing about this particular custom is that the relationship is a reciprocal one. The person whose name I have drawn and who is under my care becomes for me the helpless little Christ Child in the manger; and as I am performing these many little acts of love and consideration for someone in the family I am really doing them for the Infant of Bethlehem, according to the word, “And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me.” That is why this  particular person turns into “my Christkindl.” At the same time I am the “Christkindl” also for the one I am caring for because I want to imitate the Holy Child and render all those little services in the same spirit as He did in that small house of Nazareth, when as a child He served His Mother and His foster father with a similar love and devotion.                                                                                                                             

~ Around the Year with the TRAPP FAMILY

christkindl-printable-2016-joyfilledfamily
This is such a simple tradition but it provides a beautiful and joyful anticipation within our home as we prepare for Jesus Christ.   Each child gets a checklist to help them stay accountable (see printable link at the end of the post).  The numbered boxes represents a day in Advent (this year Advent starts on Nov. 27) to Christmas Day.  
christkndl-view
Here is how it works!
INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Write names of all family members on pieces of paper. *
  2. Place all family member’s names (on folded paper for secrecy) in a container.
  3. Take turns drawing a name.  The person whose name one has drawn in now in one’s special care.
  4. From this day  (Start of Advent) until Christmas, one has to do as many little favors for him or her as one can.
  5. One has to provide at least one surprise every single day — but without ever being found out. Use the printable Christkindl checklist for accountability.
*Adjust who is included in your Christkndl as it works best for your family.  For families that are smaller, include other distant family or friends.  One could even adopt a neighbor, single or windowed parishioner, etc..
This creates a wonderful atmosphere of joyful suspense, kindness, and thoughtfulness. Perhaps you will find that somebody has made your bed or shined your shoes or has informed you, in a disguised handwriting on a holy card, that “a rosary has been said for you today” or a number of sacrifices have been offered up. This new relationship is called “Christkindl” (Christ Child) in the old country, where children believe that the Christmas tree and the gifts under it are brought down by the Christ Child himself.
Get your printable at the link below, share freely!  I’d love to hear about your family’s experience with Christkindl or other favorite family traditions.
christkndl-printable
Print as a single page or 2 copies per page

Advent Plan {Printable}

by Filed Under: 12 December, Advent Leave a Comment

If our holy mother the Church spends the time of Advent in this solemn preparation for the threefold coming of Jesus Christ; if, after the example of the prudent virgins, she keeps her lamp lit ready for the coming of the Bridegroom; we, being her members and her children, ought to enter into her spirit, and apply to ourselves this warning of our Saviour: ‘Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands, and ye yourselves be like unto men who wait for their Lord!’ [St. Luke xii. 35, 36]. ~Dom Prosper Guéranger

advent-plan-printable-2016-joyfilledfamily

We observe a “mini-Lent” throughout Advent, a “Lent” with a joyful Alleluia.

It is evident, from what we have said, that Advent is a season specially devoted to the exercises of what is called the purgative life, which is implied in that expression of St. John, so continually repeated by the Church during this holy time: Prepare ye the way of the Lord! Let all, therefore, strive earnestly to make straight the path by which Jesus will enter into their souls. Let the just, agreeably to the teaching of the apostle, forget the things that are behind [Phil. iii. 13], and labour to acquire fresh merit. Let sinners begin at once and break the chains which now enslave them. Let them give up those bad habits which they have contracted. Let them weaken the flesh, and enter upon the hard work of subjecting it to the spirit. Let them, above all things, pray with the Church. And when our Lord comes, they may hope that He will not pass them by, but that He will enter and dwell within them; for He spoke of all when He said these words: ‘Behold I stand at the gate and knock: if any man shall hear My voice will open to Me the door, I will come in unto him.’ [Apoc. ii. 20].  ~The Liturgical Year, by Dom Prosper Guéranger

Our days are not perfect but we seek to persevere in daily prayers, spiritual readings, and almsgiving – all in joyful waiting and desire to prepare our hearts for the coming of JESUS CHRIST.

Below is a printable that we use to help us along our Advent journey.  You’re invited to use it as it best suits your family and Advent plans.

advent-plan-joyfilledfamily

advent-printable

May you have a holy and fruitful Advent.

advent-printable

For a more complete planner system – check out our Advent Planner.

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