The Season of Lent

Lent, which begins Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday, is a period of spiritual renewal that helps us prepare for the celebration of the Paschal mystery of Christ—that is, his passion, death and resurrection. The three pillars of the Lenten season are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.   By spending time in prayer and in reflection on the Scriptures, through penance and through giving up (sacrificial acts) and giving to others (charitable acts), we look to experience a spiritual reawakening that brings us closer to Christ.

Lent's origins can be traced in part to a short period of fasting and prayer undergone by catechumens / elect, who are preparing for full initiation into the Church at Easter through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist.  The season is a reminder of the great gift of baptism, both the salvation it offers, as well as the challenge that comes with it.  As Pope Francis expressed in his Lenten message,  we must "imitate Christ who became poor and enriched us by his poverty."

You will find some resources below to help you in your Lenten journey. Click on any of the lines.

Prayer Opportunities & Reflections

• Echoing God's Word Scripture Reflections

• Prayer Opportunities around the Diocese including churches open for private prayer 

• Bishop Robert Barron's Weekly Reflections (Sign up to receive via email)

• EWTN Lenten Reflections

• Father Rocky's 40 Lenten Lessons on the Mass - Relevant Radio

• Ignatian Solidarity Network: Harden not your hearts

• Journey Begins Lenten Reflections - Prison and Jail Ministry

• Lectio Divina for Lent

• Lent: A season of fasting and feasting - Fr. Wilfred Labbe

• Meet me in the Desert - CRS Lenten Prayer

• Saints for the Lenten Season

• Seven Penitential Psalms and the Songs of the Suffering Servant (USCCB)

Prayers during the pandemic  

• Pope Francis' prayer to Mary

• Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe

• Prayer for solidarity

Lenten Calendars

• A Moment for the Missions - Missionary Childhood Association Calendar

• CRS Rice Bowl Lenten Calendar

The Season of Lent  

• The 40 Days of Lent

• Questions and Answers about Lent (USCCB )

• Questions and Answers about Lent (EWTN)

• Ten things to Remember for Lent (USCCB)

Retreats

• CRS Lenten Digital Retreat

• Retreats in the Diocese of Portland

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

• A Brief Examination of Conscience Based on the Ten Commandments

• Pastoral exhortation on the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

• Exhortación Pastoral sobre el Sacramento de Penitencia y Reconciliación

• The Light is On

Lenten Fasting

• Fasting and Abstinence

• Prayer for Abstinence - CRS

• Prayer of the Wilderness for those who are fasting - CRS

• Reflection on Fasting and Abstinence - USCCB

Stations of the Cross

• Stations of the Cross in our Diocese

• Living Stations of the Cross in our Diocese

• Praying the Stations of the Cross

• Stations of the Cross for Autistic People

• A Scriptural Way of the Cross for Lent

• Stations of the Cross - Creighton University

• Stations of the Cross - CRS Video Reflections

• Stations of the Cross for Victims of Human Trafficking

• Stations of the Cross for Vocations

Sharing Our Gifts

• Ash Wednesday collection for the Church in Eastern and Central Europe

• CRS Rice Bowl

• Opportunities in our diocese

Pope Francis's Lenten Messages

• Pope Francis' Lenten Messsage 2022

• Pope Francis' Lenten Message 2021

• Pope Francis' Lenten Message 2020

• Pope Francis' Lenten Message 2019

• Pope Francis' Lenten Message 2018

• Pope Francis' Lenten Message 2017

• Pope Francis' Lenten Message 2016

• Pope Francis' Lenten Message 2015

• Pope Francis' Ash Wednesday Homily 2021

• Pope Francis' Lenten Message 2020

• Pope Francis Ash Wednesday Homily 2020

Other Resources

• Six Ways to Evangelize during Lent (USCCB)