Ways to Celebrate the Sacred Season of Lent

Make Lent your own! Many people give up the same thing year after year, and that can be a wonderful decision – if it helps them to free up time or energy to devote themselves to faith and family. Reflect on what you want out of the Lenten journey and make a choice that will help you achieve your goal.

• Are you looking to spend more time in prayer or attending services? Limiting your time on social media can help you do that. Or try listening to sacred music during your commute instead of podcasts or the radio to encourage more prayerful reflection.
• Do you want to have more quality time with your family? Choosing a weekly night to fast from activities and focus on family might be a good choice.
• Do you want to help spread the Word of Christ? Choosing an act of service that embodies discipleship can help share what it means to be Christian. Simply being mindful that your words and actions can be a reflection on Christianity is also a good place to begin. Start by acting with love!
• Consider what it means to you to be loved by God. Is there something you can do that can make you feel God’s embrace?

There are three major ways that we as a Catholic community celebrate Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

PRAYER - Attend a different service. Many people receive ashes on Ash Wednesday and attend mass on Easter Sunday, but taking part in the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday, the Stations of the Cross or the liturgy of the Passion on Good Friday, or any of the daily services during Lent can help you delve into scripture that you may not take the time to explore every year.

FASTING - Fast from Loneliness and commit to community! Opening up to other people’s points of view can deepen your understanding of your faith and help you build connections and relationships, just as the disciples did with Jesus and with each other. RENEW’s Lenten collection is full of resources designed to facilitate small group-faith sharing for these 6 sacred weeks. Explore the collection HERE and use code OSV25 for 10% off! The collection also includes a FREE downloadable resource that can help overcome polarization and build bridges in your community.

ALMSGIVING – it’s all about outreach – what about reaching out with forgiveness?

• Embrace Forgiveness. Are you open to receiving forgiveness? Are you ready to forgive yourself? Are you prepared to let go of anger and hurt to forgive others? Devote these 40 days to opening up your heart to forgiveness.
  
  
• Celebrate the Sacrament of Penance. Lent is a penitential season, an opportunity to ask for God’s forgiveness and move forward in hope, peace, and love. Partaking in Reconciliation Monday or any other penance service can help to heal old wounds and prepare you for the joy of the Resurrection and the Easter season.

May you all have a blessed and healing Lent and a joyful Easter!