The 40 days of Lent begin with Ash Wednesday on March 5th. Lent is the most solemn season in the Catholic liturgical year. Lent is a time of reflection and prayer as we try to move away from the worldly desires that cause us to sin and focus on God and the spiritual life. Catholics are asked to spend this time preparing to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter morning. Let’s take a look.
The Three Pillars of Lent
Catholics receive ashes on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday as a reminder of our sinful lives and a need for repentance.
The three pillars of the Lenten season are:
- Prayer—During Lent, we spend more time in prayer with God. Communication is key to building a close and intimate relationship with God. We need to remove the behaviors in our lives that cause us to sin. During prayer, we tell God how sorry we are for our sinful behavior and ask Him to help us turn away from sin. Catholics are required to go to confession (Reconciliation) during Lent.
- Fasting – Catholics practice self-control by fasting during Lent, with Ash Wednesday and Good Friday being days where we are asked to fast all day if our health permits. Catholics must abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent. Fasting is not only from food. We can and should fast from bad behaviors that cause us to sin. Fasting from social media is rapidly becoming a common practice for Catholics during Lent.
- Almsgiving (Charity) – Almsgiving is performing acts of charity for others. Jesus washed his disciples’ feet on Holy Thursday to set an example for the rest of us. During Lent, we should commit to putting others’ needs before ours, hoping that this practice becomes a big part of our lives after Easter.
We practice each of these three pillars through Lent to get closer to God and change our behaviors to put others first and do God’s will.
Activities During Lent
There are many activities that you can do to enhance your Lenten experience:
- Commit to daily prayer. If you don’t pray, start during Lent. If you do pray, consider extending your prayer time or using a devotional book or online activity to enhance your prayer during this time.
- Practice Forgiveness and Reconciliation. Forgiving others can be hard, but forgiving ourselves for something we have done is sometimes even harder. You may be surprised at how free you feel after forgiving someone. Catholics are required to go to confession (Reconciliation) during Lent.
- Attend church more often. If you don’t attend regularly, commit to doing so. If you do, try and spend additional time in church, whether at mass or in silent adoration.
- Volunteer at a local charity. This is an excellent way to practice service to others, and you may be surprised by what you learn and how you feel after helping others.
- Pray for others’ intentions. We can never have enough prayer. If someone you know is sick, struggling, or going through a particularly bad time, pray for them. Ask your friends and co-workers if they have any prayer requests.
These are just some of the many activities you can do to enhance your Lent!
Please let me know your thoughts on this article, and if you have a special Lenten practice you would like to share, please add it to the comments section as well.
Peace
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