10 - St. Thomas More Boynton Beach

Parishioners, contact the
Parish office at
Tel. 561.737.3095
Saint Thomas More Catholic Church
Tel: 561.737.3095 www.stmbb.org
Activities for children during Lent
There are many things that children can do during lent (pray, fast, volunteer).
1. The "Jelly Bean Prayer" for children is a sweet way of teaching
children all about what Lent really means. Using various colors of
jelly beans to describe a virtue, children are given a jelly bean for
each good deed collecting them up until Easter.
Red for the blood of Christ (a sacrifice)
Green for the shade of the palm (doing a good deed).
Yellow for God's light (kindness to others).
Orange for prayers at twilight
(good behavior at bed time prayers).
Purple for days of sorrow (apologizing to someone).
Pink for each new tomorrow (forgiving others).
Starting on Ash Wednesday, begin rewarding your child(ren) with
a jelly bean of the appropriate color each time they do something
that corresponds with an act. On Easter, allow them tvo receive all
the jelly beans they have collected.Credit.
2. Children should be encouraged to pray during Lent. One simple
prayer that we are adding to our morning routine this year is
called, "My Morning Offering".
God, our Father, I offer you today
all I think and do and say.
I offer it with what was done on
earth by Jesus Christ, your son.
3. Almsgiving is tied closely to fasting. Whatever we "give up",
the money we save will go to the needy. It is also considered that
almsgiving is to give one's time and goods to those who are in need
(I could use some help here - how can my three children 9, 7, 5
volunteer locally, any ideas are welcomed). Now that my three children
are a little older and more understanding we will introduce
and focus more on almsgiving during the Lenten season
PREPARING
FOR LENT:
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
are days of fast and abstinence.
Fridays of Lent are also days of
abstinence.
Fasting is to be observed by all 18
years of age through age 59. On a
fast day, one full meal is allowed. Two
other meals, sufficient to maintain
strength, may be taken according
to each one’s needs, but together
they should not equal another full
meal. Eating between meals is not
permitted, but liquids, including milk
and juices, are allowed.
Abstinence is observed by all 14
years of age and older. On days of
abstinence no meat is allowed. Note
that when health or ability to work
would be seriously affected, the law
does not oblige. When in doubt
concerning fast and abstinence, the
parish priest should be consulted.
Fasting, Almsgiving and Prayer are
the three disciplines of Lent. The
faithful and catechumens should
undertake these practices seriously
in a spirit of penance, and of
preparation for baptism or of
renewal of baptism at Easter.
March 10th, 2013 // Fourth Sunday of Lent // 13