Preparing for Lent

We begin with ashes. 

It is frequently said more Catholics participate in Ash Wednesday by coming to church and having ashes placed on their forehead, than any other church celebration other than Christmas. Catholics are not hesitant to display their sinfulness and begin the Lenten season. But what follows Ash Wednesday is what’s really important. 

So, what does Lent offer us…?

A time for reflection, a time to take inventory of our prayer life, a time to repent. 

The next 40 days offer all Christians an opportunity to get closer to our Savior Jesus Christ. It offers us an opportunity to really take a good, long look inside our hearts and determine if we are living a Christian life.

Reflecting on how to prepare for and then exercising a meaningful Lent requires some pre-thought. If we don’t think about what Lent offers and how we can grow as Christians as we go through Lent, the next 40 days will pass without the benefit it offers. Ashes will have been washed off and their meaning reduced to nothing more than a display. 

So, how do we prepare for lent …? 

Begin by taking a spiritual inventory. Ask yourself if you have a regular and consistent daily prayer life. Do you take your faith and the practice of our Catholic beliefs seriously? Do you take advantage of the sacraments, especially with Confession and the Eucharist? 

Ask yourself if you provide evidence of your Christianity with your words and actions. Look at your daily activities in terms of carrying out your faith. 

If you are a spouse do you share a supportive and loving Christian relationship which includes praying together, worshiping together and treating each other with the love and spirit our Lord teaches us regarding forgiveness and acceptance? 

If you are a parent of children do you provide an environment that encourages praying together as a family and worshiping together so as to reinforce your children’s relationship with Jesus Christ? 

If you are a young adult do you live within the teaching of the church in terms of the moral standards and teaching of our faith? 

Once you’ve taken inventory, create a plan of action to improve. 

There is no better way to get close to Jesus Christ than through the sacraments and the participation at daily Mass. Mass is the greatest of all prayers and it’s the perfect prayer. It requires no additional words. By participating in daily Mass and receiving the Eucharist you are blessed with graces that help you in all aspects of your Christian daily life. 

As a result of the graces received through the sacraments you are better able to fight off the temptations of the evil one. Your entire daily life will be strengthened because you will have a defense against the devil as a result of the graces. 

In addition to attending daily Mass, pray throughout the day. 

Make daily prayer a daily habit, beginning as soon as you wake up. Begin with: “Good morning sweet Jesus, everything I do and say, I offer up to you today”. 

Include the Rosary in your daily prayer life. It has been said the Rosary is one of the strongest defenses against the devil and temptations of the world. The Rosary, often referred to as a perfect prayer, can be recited in as little as 17 minutes. One of the beautiful benefits of the Rosary is that it can be said alone as you are driving in the car or with the entire family after dinner. 

Making an effort to bring Jesus Christ in everything you do and in every activity of your daily life will strengthen your relationship with him. I assure you, whatever effort you put into your Lenten practice, will determine how meaningful you will celebrate Easter Sunday. 

At the end of the 40 days, will you be able to enjoy the beautiful Easter Sunday with the knowledge that your relationship with Jesus Christ is stronger? The choice is yours, but it begins with a plan beyond that of just receiving the ashes on Ash Wednesday; it’s the daily practice that follows throughout the 40 days.

Our hope is that this Lent is the most meaningful of your life and at the end, your relationship with our Lord and Savior is stronger than ever before.