Using a calendar template is a simple, daily, and playful (but serious) practice for praying our way through the forty days of Lent. Each day, choose a word to ponder or a person to pray for. Write the word or name in the allotted space with a pen and draw or doodle around it. Add color with pencils or markers. Ask God to speak to be with you in this time. Drawing/doodling invites the body into the prayer, gives the eyes and hand something to do, and helps to focus attention on the word or person. The accumulation of words or peoples’ names on the calendar creates an emerging tapestry of your Lenten spiritual journey.
See the sample of a completed Lenten calendar below, and download a blank Lenten calendar template here: https://prayingincolor.com/lent-2022-calendars-desert-heart-stained-glass-circle. Although Lent is officially 40 days, there are 46 spaces on each template to include the weekends. (Sundays are not part of Lent, but I don’t like to break the rhythm of my daily practice.)
Ways to use the calendar:1)
Pray for a person each day of Lent.
2)
Use the vocabulary of Lent from Scripture and tradition–ashes, desert, temptation, denial, repentance, Passion, cross, forgiveness, fasting….
3)
Describe the nature and character of Jesus in your calendar using nouns and adjectives: Savior, Redeemer, Healer, radical, obedient, forgiving, etc.