Lent 2024 Resource Round-up

This year,  Lent begins on February 14, aka St. Valentine’s Day.  In case you have yet to discern the way God is inviting you to travel through the next 40 days with Him, here are some resources that can help.

The Amen App from the Augustine Institute is completely free. This year, they are providing a daily email meditation from The Tears of Christ, by St. John Henry Neuman.  Additionally, each week an audio drama for kids plus a lectio divina meditation from the Sunday readings will be sent out.  Go to Amen for more information or download the app from the App store. 

Pray40 on the Hallow app.  The internationally known Hallow app is offering a Lent meditation of the book He Leadeth Me, by Fr. Walter Ciszek.  Fr. Ciszek recounts his 23 years in Russian prisons and labor camps in Siberia, and how he was able to develop a profound prayer life that gave him hope, courage and a path to the heart of God, finding peace and purpose in the worst conditions. Many of the features on the Hallow app are available for free. There is also a paid version for $9.99 a month or $69.99 a year ($6 a month) Sign up by going to: Try Hallow

Bonus: There are plenty of Lent resources available on the Hallow website, in case you prefer to stay off of apps. Go to Lent 2024: The Complete Guide to the Catholic Season of Lent – Hallow for prayers, to learn the Biblical roots of Lent, changes in the liturgy and much more.

‘My father’s Father’ on Wild Goose TV. Perhaps this is the Lent that God is calling you to examine the idea of fatherhood and to reflect on the fathers and father figures in your own life, especially if those have been turbulent relationships. Wild Goose TV has released a six episode series called My father’s Father, which explores topics like “A Good Father", " Priestly Fatherhood" and "The Father Waits". Hosted by Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, this series can be watched for free on the Wild Goose app, or online at Wild Goose TV streaming platform Donations happily accepted.

The Sorrowful Rosaries on Wild Goose TV.  Just in time for Lent, a new video series on the Sorrowful Mysteries has been released, also on the Wild Goose app.  Filmed on location in the Holy Land as well as parts of the US, this series integrates art, music, theology and prayer to make the rosary come alive. Stream it on the Wild Goose app or watch it at https://wildgoose.tv

Exodus & Exile at the St. Paul Center’s Emmaus Academy.  Journey through Lent with popular speakers Dr. Scott Hahn and Dr. John Bergsma as they work through the book of Exodus. Taking a chapter a day, listen to Dr. Bergsma unpack the journey of the Israelites from slavery to freedom, then see if you can do his daily challenge. Dr. Scott Hahn offers 8 weekly talks to help us focus on our return to our heavenly home.  A complimentary Lenten devotional, Journey through Lent, is also included. Sign up at: Exodus & Exile – St. Paul Center

Bonus: You’ll get all access to the entire St. Paul Center’s Digital Content for free until April 8.

Pray with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.  Join the Oblate family around the world with a series of short, daily reflections. Offered freely as a sign of gratitude to the co-missionaries of the Missionary Oblates, this ebooklet helps us focus our hearts and minds on what is truly important. Sign up at  Daily Lenten Reflections 

Pray with Catholic Extension.  Lift people around the US up in prayer by listening to their stories. These short video reflections are on Ash Wednesday and each of the Fridays in Lent. Listen, pray and remember those in our country who are helped by Catholic Extension. Sign up or watch at Catholic Lenten Reflections - Video Series by Catholic Extension

Pray with Loyola Press.  Catholic publisher Loyola Press offers a series of reflections called Living Lent Daily, based on the book God’s Voice Within, by Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ.These reflections are especially geared around discernment, decision-making and listening to the voice of God. Sign up at Living Lent Daily | Loyola Press

Bonus: Register for the free webinar 'Journey Through the Life of Jesus: A Lenten Webinar with Andrea Tornielli and Sr. Bernadette Reis, FSP' and gain insight into seeing Lent through the eyes of Christ. Register at Webinars | Loyola Press

Make this the Best Lent Ever by joining Dynamic Catholic in a spiritual journey to Eucharistic Consecration. In these years of the Eucharistic Revival, draw close to God in the Eucharist. Sign up at: https://dynamiccatholic.com/lent.html

Finally, contemplate the cross of Christ with ‘40 Crosses for 40 Days.’  This is my own Lent offering. In addition to journeying with many of the resources above, one of my Lent offerings to the Lord is to write a short (possibly very short) daily reflection on images of crosses.  Each day will feature a different image of a cross with a reflection and a prayer. I will publish both here and on my blog, The Strawberry Vine*.  My hope is that by focusing on the many different artistic and/or naturally occurring crosses each day. I’ll be able to see THE cross from a myriad of perspectives on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  Please follow along and keep me accountable!

*My blog is very much a work in progress, so I appreciate your kindness and patience. 

The Strawberry Vine - Cultivating a Catholic Imagination

In the words of a priest I once heard at a conference many, many moons ago, “It doesn’t matter what you do. Just do SOMETHING!”  Pick one or two options that speak to you, and make this Lent one in which something, even something very small, changes within you.