What Is Lent? A Simple Catholic Guide for Families
What Is Lent? Understanding This Sacred Season as a Family
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “What is Lent?” — especially through the eyes of your child — you’re not alone. Lent is one of the most meaningful seasons in the Catholic Church, yet it can feel a little abstract when you’re trying to explain it in everyday family life.
Lent is the forty-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that prepares our hearts for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends before the celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. During these forty days, we walk with Jesus in a special way — remembering His time in the desert and preparing to celebrate His victory over sin and death.
For Catholic families, Lent is not meant to feel heavy or overwhelming. Instead, it is an invitation — a gentle, intentional return to God. It’s a season that helps us grow in love, gratitude, and sacrifice together as a domestic church.
If you’re looking for simple, beautiful ways to live this season at home, explore our Catholic Lent collection designed to help families bring faith into everyday life during this sacred time.
What Is Lent and Why Do We Celebrate It?
So, what is Lent in the simplest sense? Lent is a season of preparation. Just as Advent prepares us for Christmas, Lent prepares us for Easter — the most important celebration in the Church year.
The forty days of Lent remind us of the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the desert. During that time, He prayed, fasted, and resisted temptation. Lent invites us to do the same in our own small, everyday ways.
As Catholics, we focus on three pillars during Lent:
| Pillar of Lent | What It Means | Family Application |
|---|---|---|
| Prayer | Growing closer to God | Family prayer time, Scripture reading, quiet reflection |
| Fasting | Offering small sacrifices | Giving up treats, limiting screens, practicing self-control |
| Almsgiving | Loving and serving others | Acts of kindness, donating items, helping neighbors |
These practices aren’t about being perfect. They’re about turning our hearts back to Christ in small, intentional ways.
Lent for Kids: Making It Meaningful
When we think about Lent for kids, it helps to remember that children understand seasons through rhythm, repetition, and tangible practices. They don’t need complex theology — they need consistency and example.
Children thrive when Lent feels like a family journey rather than a list of rules. Instead of focusing only on “giving something up,” we can emphasize growing closer to Jesus.
Lent for kids can include:
- Lighting a purple candle during family prayer
- Attending Stations of the Cross
- Placing a simple cross in a visible spot in the home
- Adding short daily sacrifices they can understand
When Lent becomes visible and tangible, children begin to see it as something special rather than restrictive.
Explaining Lent to Kids in Simple Terms
If you’re wondering about explaining Lent to kids in a way that makes sense, try something like this:
“Lent is a special time when we practice loving Jesus more. We pray more, we give up little things, and we try to be extra kind so our hearts are ready for Easter.”
Younger children understand concrete ideas. You might compare Lent to training for something important. Just like athletes practice before a big game, we practice loving Jesus before Easter.
Older children can begin to understand sacrifice as an offering. We don’t give things up because they’re bad — we give them up as a gift of love.
Lent Activities for Kids
One of the most searched phrases each year is lent activities for kids — and for good reason. Hands-on activities help faith stick.
1. Lenten Sacrifice Jar
Place a jar on the kitchen table. Every time a child makes a sacrifice or does an act of kindness, they place a bead or token inside. Watch it fill up as Easter approaches.
2. Acts of Kindness Chain
Create a paper chain. Each link represents a kind act. By Holy Week, your home will visibly show the growth of love.
3. Family Stations of the Cross
Choose one evening a week to walk through the Stations together in a simple, age-appropriate way.
4. Scripture Memory Cards
Pick one short verse each week and memorize it together.
5. Quiet Prayer Corner
Create a small Lenten space with a cross, purple cloth, and children’s prayer books to make the season visible in your home.
Creating a Family Lent Plan
The most fruitful Lents are intentional but realistic. Choose one small practice for each pillar:
- Prayer: 5 minutes of family prayer before bed.
- Fasting: Skip dessert on Fridays.
- Almsgiving: Donate gently used toys before Easter.
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s consistency. Lent shapes hearts through daily faithfulness.
Lent FAQ for Parents
What is Lent in one sentence?
Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that prepares us for Easter.
How do you explain Lent to a 5-year-old?
Tell them Lent is a time to practice loving Jesus by praying more and making small sacrifices.
Do kids have to give something up for Lent?
No. Children can participate in age-appropriate sacrifices, but the focus should be on growing in love and kindness.
What are simple Lent activities for kids?
Sacrifice jars, kindness chains, prayer corners, and family Stations of the Cross are simple and meaningful options.
Why is Lent important for families?
Lent strengthens the domestic church by building shared habits of prayer, sacrifice, and service.
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