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When I got my first teaching job, at the age of 21, I taught 7th and 8th grade in a Catholic school. I remember two of my students (boys) asked if they could put a quote or a random fact on the board every day. I said yes. They loved it and so did I.
For most of my adult life, before becoming a mother of two boys and a girl, I worked with tweens and teens. Both young men and young women.
I learned a lot about what makes them tick.
With that knowledge, I give you this list of suggestions. I hope your son finds a few that resonate with him, and allow him to grow in faith and know that he can always pray to Our Lord whenever he feels the need.
23 Ways Boys Can Honor Lent
Prayer: Learning about God and Saints, Talking to Jesus and Nourishing Faith
1. Go to your room, close the door and sincerely spend 10 minutes in prayer. Here are two ways to do that: Say an Act of Contrition slowly and with all your heart or; make the sign of the cross, pray “Come Holy Spirit” and start (or continue) reading one of the Gospels in the Bible.
2. Start or write in a prayer journal.
Two simple prompts are
* Write a letter to Jesus and
**Tell the Lord what you are most thankful for from yesterday or this week.
3.Watch a Catholic Youtube video. I recommend Father Kyle Manno or Father Mike Schmitz
4. Read a Catholic Comic Book
5. Combine exercise with prayer. Instead of going for a run with an ipod, pray on the uphills, take a break from prayer on the downhills. Or shoot some hoops, each time you miss the basket, pray a Glory be to the Father . . .; no matter what sport your playing, each time you stop to sip water, say an Our Father too.
6. Create a quote board for the family. Each day on a white board or chalkboard, post a Scripture quote, Saint quote or a short prayer.
7. Take the How to Be A Good Catholic on Social Media Course.
8. Create a meme or graphic that encourages followers to pray or read Scripture (perhaps post what you wrote on the quote of the day board)
9. Play some Matt Maher music while you clean your room.
10. Take a Virtual Tour of a church, Cathedral (you make need Flash Player for this)12 Amazing Virtual Tours of Spectacular Churches
11. Pray a Rosary (or at least one decade). Remember, at Fatima, Our Lady is reported stating that if Francisco “prayed many rosaries,” he would go to heaven when he died.
12. Draw or sketch:
what heaven might look like;
a picture of Jesus’s Sacred Heart;
or
one of the Stations of the Cross.
13. Spiritually adopt an unborn baby
14. Spend 15 minutes reading a Catholic book. (recommended: Saint Francis of the Seven Seas
and Blessed Pier Giorgio: Journey to the Summit
Almsgiving: Service
15. Create a Youtube video about the Mass readings for this Sunday
16. Read a Faith based book to a younger sibling (Angels)
17. Donate old or unused Legos to The Lego Project
18. Bake Crown of Thorns Bread for your family
19. Offer to organize a game with younger siblings.
20. Do an extra chore without being asked.
Fasting
21. Don’t eat any snacks for one day
22. Pick a day to only drink water
23. Fast from playing video games or looking at your phone for a day (or more).
Want more ideas for Lent? Check out
39 Ways to Keep Lent Holy (without giving up sweets)
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