Lent is a season of penance and mortification—or at least it used to be. Western culture is so fixated on pleasure that a time of self-denial feels out of place. The Catholic Church urges us to make the most of Lent, however, and see beyond the mortifications. When approached in a humble, penitent manner, we open ourselves up to a deeper spiritual life, growth in virtue, and a richer celebration of Easter. 

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving will look different for each of us, depending on our state in life. I invite you to put the pedal to the metal this Lent. Giving up chocolate isn’t bad, but it won’t advance us very far down the road of building virtue and growing in holiness.  Here are some suggestions in preparing for Lent. 

Undergo a Thorough Examination of Conscience

Dan Burke from SpiritualDirection.com has a great piece of advice: start Lent with an examination of conscience. He recommended looking at the seven deadly sins—pride, avarice, gluttony, envy, sloth, lust, and wrath. Next, take that inventory of our concupiscence and weaknesses to target areas for growth. This approach provides a practical starting point, rather than an ambiguous ‘get holier’, ‘do better’, or ‘make it to Holy Saturday intact.’  

Each of the vices has a corresponding virtue, which provides further light to the path we must walk. For example, countering pride means developing the virtue of humility. In prayer, that could include praying daily to a specific saint (a great chance to discover a new friend in heaven) and regularly going through the Litany of Humility. In ordinary daily life, that could include not complaining about the faults of others and holding one’s tongue (and internal thoughts!) while driving. Don’t forget that “with God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).  

Find a Study Program

God blessed men and women with an eternal soul to love Him and an intellect with which to know Him. Whenever we read the Scriptures, a spiritual book, or study theology, we have the great gift to exercise both our soul and our intellect. The two are meant to work seamlessly together.  

I recommend finding a study program that will do just that: increase your knowledge and love of the Catholic faith. Some parishes have Lenten book groups, Bible studies, and faith sharing groups. For the individual, there are an immense amount of resources available. Try one of Ascension Press’ Bible/Catechism/Rosary in a Year podcasts, which are completely free. The St. Paul Center has a number of studies, although they require a monthly subscription.  Their study, The Bible and the Virgin Mary, was one of the best I’ve ever done. Many parishes offer free access to Formed, which also has several studies. I particularly recommend the Lectio series on the Gospel of St. Mark.  

Walk With Our Sorrowful Mother

Don’t be afraid to lean into the penitential and sorrowful side of Lent. Who better to show us that than Our Blessed Mother? Who was the only person that was with Jesus from birth to death? Who knew Him better than anyone else in the world? She knew the joys, the ordinary days, the spectacular miracles, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, what it felt like to stand at the foot of the cross, and seeing Him on Easter Sunday. Sometimes we can put blinders on to the Passion of the Lord, whether for well-intentioned reasons or because it’s very human to avoid the cross.  

During Lent, try praying the Seven Sorrows rosary. Say a daily rosary, like Our Lady Herself asked us at Fatima. Pray the rosary during a commute (there are plenty of recordings and apps to help), or better yet, with friends or family.  The gentle rhythm of the prayers and the meditations will bring us under her mantle for us to sit and learn.  

For Men

Join your nearest Exodus 90 group for the remainder of Lent.  All fraternities are taking new members, take a look for a nearby group.  

Build a Cadence into Your Week

Lent can be a shock to the system when it comes to meatless Fridays and the Stations of the Cross. If that happens to be you, try adding other things to your week as well. On Sundays, find a special way to celebrate the Lord’s Day. On Monday and Tuesday, find a charitable organization to either offer a donation or volunteer hours. On Wednesday, the day that Judas met with the chief priests and made his deal for 30 pieces of silver, add some mortification to your day.  The children at Fatima, for example, gave up their favorite games for a day. They put little, uncomfortable things in their shoes and a cord around their waist. There are many potential, little comforts we can sacrifice!  

On Thursday, find a nearby Eucharistic adoration chapel to honor the evening of the Last Supper. If there are none, would your parish priest consider opening up the church for prayer? By the time Friday rolls around, the devotions of the week have already been building up. On Saturday, try going to morning Mass and asking for special graces from Our Lady. 

Lent is not a time to be dreaded or feared. Turn a blind eye to the rest of the world that already planning egg hunts. Let this be the Lent that lights your heart on fire for Jesus!