Lent 2020
The Season of Lent is one of the big milestones of the Church's year. We can sometimes think it's just about 'going off something' for six weeks, but there's much more to it than that. Lent is a time to focus on our spiritual lives and to make more space in our hearts for God's mercy and love.
On this page, you can find prayers and resources to help you make the most of this holy time and to prepare yourself to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at Easter.
Lenten reflections from Pope Francis (@Pontifex)
"In this favorable time of Lent, may we listen to the voice of the Lord. The more we are fully engaged with His Word, the more we will experience the mercy He freely gives us."
"Our Lenten prayer can take any number of different forms, but what truly matters in God’s eyes is that it penetrates deep within us and chips away at our hardness of heart, in order to convert us to Him."
Follow Pope Francis on Twitter
Lenten course 'No Greater Love' now available online
This Bible course for Lent looks at the passion and death of Jesus in the Gospels and it's told with beautiful videos filmed in the Holy Land. The producers of the course have kindly made all the videos available for free online due to the current situation. The videos will be available until the end of April.
This is a great chance for all of us to learn more about the love of Jesus which triumphed over suffering.
Watch videos
A Special Lenten Fast
Give up harsh words: use generous ones.
Give up unhappiness: take up gratitude.
Give up anger: take up gentleness and patience.
Give up pessimism: take up hope and optimism.
Give up worrying: take up trust in God.
Give up complaining: value what you have.
Give up stress: take up prayer.
Give up judging others: discover Jesus within them.
Give up sorrow and bitterness: fill your heart with joy.
Give up selfishness: take up compassion for others.
Give up being unforgiving: learn reconciliation.
Give up words: fill yourself with silence, and listen to others.
How to Find Time in the Day for Lent
The fast pace of your life may seem to leave little time and energy for the traditional Lenten practices. But you can weave moments of spiritual awareness and service into even the busiest of schedules. Read more
8 Ways to Pray During Lent
What do we do when we’re facing an upcoming big event, celebration, or special occasion in our lives? We prepare for it. These few prayer methods can help us to spiritually prepare ourselves for Holy Week and Easter. Read more
Daily Lenten Prayer
Today Lord, I choose life,
I choose your love and the challenge to live it and share it,
I choose hope, even in moments of darkness,
I choose faith, accepting you as Lord and God,
I choose to let go of some part of my burdens,
day by day handing them over to you,
I choose to take hold of your strength and power ever more deeply in my life.
May this truly be for me a time of new life, of change, challenge and growth.
May I come to Easter with a heart open to dying with you
and rising to your new life, day by day.
Amen
Lenten Prayer for Transformation
Loving Father,
I invite you into my life today and make myself available to you.
Help me to become the best version of myself
by seeking your will and becoming a living example of your love in the world.
Open my heart to the areas of my life that need to change
in order for me to carry out the mission
and experience the joy you have imagined for my life.
Inspire me to live the Catholic faith in ways that are dynamic and engaging.
Show me how to best get involved in the life of my parish.
Make our community hungry for best practices and continuous learning.
Give me courage when I am afraid, hope when I am discouraged, and clarity in times of decision.
Teach me to enjoy uncertainty and lead your Church
to become all you imagined it would be for the people of our times.
Amen.
#LivingLent social media initiative
Follow daily suggestions on #LivingLent through Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving
Twitter: @catholicbishops
Instagram: @catholicbishops
Facebook: @IrishCatholicBishops
Footprints: Christian Aid Ireland
Christian Aid’s Footprints is a daily reflection based on a Bible passage, emailed to you every day through Lent. It's written by a whole range of Christians across Ireland and from some of the countries where Christian Aid is working.
Lent Made Simple: A Lenten Video Series by Redeemed Online
Join this free Lenten Video programme for daily videos, simple reflections, and prayers. Each week is a "retreat" with one speaker and one focus for the week.
Sign up today
Around the world, families are living under constant threat of conflict, drought and land grabs. In the face of those threats, many women hold their families together, battling enormous odds to provide for their children.
This Lent, Trocaire is highlighting the different ways in which women overcome the odds to keep their families safe from harm. Madris and Angela are two such women working to protect their families and communities from the devastating impact of climate change and from the actions of corporations.
We think of them and women like them all over the world this Lent.
Trocaire boxes are available from both our Churches or donations can be made online