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The penitential season of Lent helps the faithful prepare for the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.

The Church particularly recommends prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during these 40 days. These three “pillars” of Lent help bring about a conversion of heart preparing you to receive the grace and mercy offered through Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. 

Prayer

Prayer is an essential component of the spiritual life; how can you grow in friendship and love of God if you never speak or listen to Him? During Lent, we are particularly called to connect with God more intentionally and reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice. 

The Sorrowful Mysteries of Rosary or the Stations of the Cross can help guide your meditations on Christ’s Passion and Death. You might also try praying with Scripture using Lectio Divina or Ignatian Meditation.

And of course, novenas are an accessible way to focus your prayer during this season. Pray More Novenas has several novenas for Lent including ones that center on significant events like the Transfiguration Novena, the Novena for Good Friday, and the Divine Mercy Novena, as well as major feast days like the Solemnity of St. Joseph.

Click the links to find more novenas to pray in February and March.

Fasting

After Jesus was baptized, he retreated to the desert for 40 days where he prayed and fasted. Fasting allows us to unite ourselves to Christ in the desert in a real way, and is an efficacious way to pray for a particular intention.

Denying yourself something through fasting allows you to strengthen your resolve in your pursuit of virtue, and grow in detachment of the world thereby increasing your awareness (and hunger) for God.

The Church requires you to fast from food on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and abstain from meat on every Friday during Lent. However, you may also choose to give up something like chocolate, coffee, or social media for the whole season. 

Almsgiving

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus frequently reminds us of the Christian call to charity and Lent provides an opportunity to renew our efforts in responding to this call. 

This giving of alms can look like donating money or items to people in need or performing other acts of kindness. God wants us to use our time, talent, and treasure to build up the kingdom of God. 

Take some time to think about what gifts God has given you and how you can use those gifts to glorify Him and love others. Consider the Corporal Works of Mercy–which ones can you do this Lent? 

Pray to saints known for their works of charity and almsgiving–like St. Mother Teresa, St. Katherine Drexel, or St. Felix–for the grace to follow their example.

You can’t be too generous with the Lord. 

What are your plans for this Lent? What intentions are you lifting up in prayer these 40 days? Leave a comment below and let us know.