Is this year’s Lent another season for “giving up” something?

Steve O. Alabi

When asked what Catholics are doing for Lent this year, they will probably mention giving up a favourite food, a beloved pastime, or anything else they cherish but isn't essential in their lives.
Many people, unfortunately, view Lent merely as a time to “give up something.” They grudgingly accept a small sacrifice, struggle to maintain it for 40 days, and then, once Easter arrives, return to business as usual. However, Lent should not be lived like that. It should be a season that leads us to a deeper conversion of heart and a closer identification with Christ.

We need to understand that giving up something for Lent helps us develop self-discipline and control our natural desires. It is a form of fasting and penance that promotes spiritual growth.
If you are giving up something for Lent, that is great! Improving our spiritual life is also a step in the right direction to make the world a better place. Let us look for ways to increase our knowledge of faith, strengthen our spiritual life, and above all, perform acts of mercy and kindness at home, at work, in our parish, or community.

Lenten Prayers and Devotions
Let us begin each morning with the prayer: "Lord, I offer you this day, and all that I think, do, and say." This keeps our minds focused on the obligations and reasons we are participating in the Lenten seasonal activities.
As much as possible, let us make attending Daily Mass a priority. This could help us cultivate the habit of frequent, if not daily, Mass attendance. Praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary is also very important.

We need to make the Stations of the Cross at home or in a parish celebration a vital part of our Lenten activity. Devote special time to Bible study and devotion, reading Scripture for 10 minutes every day, and spending another 10 minutes in meditation or quiet time.
The Lenten season is a great time to pray the Seven Penitential Psalms (Psalm 6, 31, 50, 101, 129, and 142). Quality prayer time could be spent in quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

Make a concerted effort to listen to spiritual music or a spiritual speaker as often as possible. We need to seize this opportunity to get closer to God in all we do. Abstaining from meat for an extra day or two each week will also help improve our health while observing this Lenten obligation.

To track our progress regarding our Lenten resolutions, keeping a Lenten journal with our spiritual insights, special intentions, people we want to pray for, and hurts and disappointments that we want to offer up is very important.

May this year's Lenten season lead us to a better discovery of ourselves and a closer relationship with Christ