Truth & Beauty

Q: What exactly should I do during Lent?

Lent is a time of prayer and reflection—a special opportunity the Church provides to help us detach ourselves from the preoccupations of the world and reorient our lives toward Christ.

The 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter (not including Sundays) mirror Jesus’ 40 days of prayer and fasting in the wilderness. As Jesus emerged from His 40 days of prayer and fasting ready to begin his public ministry, we leave the Lenten season renewed and ready to live a life of love and service for God and others.

The Church proposes three areas to focus on during this season, known as the Three Pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (giving to the poor). The Bible presents all three of these as important elements of the Christian life. Jesus specifically lists all three in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:2–16. When you read this passage, notice that Jesus doesn’t say, “IF you, pray, fast, and give alms do thus-and-so,” but “WHEN you pray, fast, etc.” He assumes His followers will do these things. Of course, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving should be staples of our daily lives all year long, but over time it’s all too easy to become distracted or complacent. Lent is the perfect time to refocus our attention on what’s important. If we want to be Jesus’ disciples, we must do as He did. 

So, how should you go about your Lenten observance? The Church lays out certain fasting requirements for Catholics; other than that, you are free to choose the practices you believe will be most helpful. You might consider choosing one practice from each of the three Pillars to maintain a balanced and fruitful Lenten experience. They should challenge you but should also be simple enough to sustain for six weeks without getting discouraged. For example, you might choose to engage in 15 minutes of silent prayer each day, give up your favorite specialty coffee, and place the money you save from that into the poor box. This is just one example. There is no wrong answer here, as long as you’re motivated by love. 

We pray you will encounter the Lord in a new way this Lenten season. If you are new to the observance of Lent, or are just looking for some fresh ideas, there are many resources online, including this link to the US bishops’ website. Another good resource is the daily devotional In Conversation with God(Vol. 2 for Lent and Easter), available from Scepter Press. 

May God bless you on your journey toward Easter!