The Little Ways of Lent
I’ve been reflecting a lot on Lent. This is one of my favorite liturgical seasons of the year— weird, I know. I tend to feel as if I need more penance in my life as this is the season I typically grow the most spiritually. I need to be stretched. I’m grateful for the wisdom of the Church that draws us into a spiritual desolation of sorts every year so we can prepare for the great gift of the resurrection.
Every year, Catholics ask themselves— what are some of the best things to “give up” for Lent? I think it is necessary to consider what things keep us from God the most, and I’m not talking about sin. We don’t abstain from sin for Lent. We should always refrain from sin!
The question we need to ask ourselves revolves more around the things in our life that are morally neutral, but that have taken up more space in our lives than they should. What inclinations in our lives are disordered? This is where we should begin.
Not that there’s anything wrong with giving up sweets for Lent (I think we probably all should anyway), but this thinking is a bit elementary. I think most of us who have moved past those penances of our younger years are searching for penances that are a little more challenging. I’ve compiled a list of practices to consider that are a little outside of the box but might help get at the core of some of the disorders we are so prone to so that we can recalibrate this Lent and get our spiritual lives in order.
Give up podcasts and music. This is a favorite of mine, actually. I think Lent is the best time to cultivate an atmosphere of silence in our lives because God speaks in the silence. Eliminating all the noise that bombards us in our daily lives via podcasts (I know— ironic that I create a podcast, and I’m telling you to give it up!) music, audio books, the radio, and whatever else you are listening to. You’ll likely find you will have more clarity and peace without all the extra auditory processing and noise. I also think your mind will reveal to you the things you are avoiding in your life— things about yourself, your wounds, where God wants to heal you, your vices, and so much more. You might be surprised what you discover about yourself and God in the silence.
Incorporate more liturgy throughout the day. The sacrifice here is time and discipline. You have to discipline the will to maintain a prayer schedule. The Church is naturally liturgical, and our prayer life should be the same way. Some ideas include praying the Angelus at 6:00 am, Noon, and 6:00 pm, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, The Little Office, Stations of the Cross at 3 pm (we do this on Fridays during Lent), or committing to praying a family rosary at after dinner every day. Consider your state in life and craft a plan that you think might work best. Less is usually more to start with. You can always add more disciplines as you go! See how well you can organize your life around prayer thereby making it a priority instead of an afterthought. Consider doing an evening examination of conscience as well. This is an excellent practice, and will transform your life.
Combat materialism: If you struggle with spending money, it might be a great penance to focus on living as if you are materially impoverished. Look for ways to make more at home from scratch, stick to a tighter budget, refrain from buying things that are not legitimate needs (new clothing, make-up, hair care, cigars, alcohol, sweets). This is so difficult! How many of us would struggle if we simply gave up Amazon? We live so comfortably now, and this leads to spiritual poverty— materialism often leads us to fail to rely on Our Lord for our every need. “Think of the sparrows, they neither reap nor sow…”
Give up creature comforts. Pick a few things to sacrifice for specific intentions every single day. For example, take cold showers and offer that suffering for the conversion of someone in your life. Refrain from sugar and creamer in your coffee (make sure you eat a meal with lots of fat and protein first!), and offer this small suffering for the spiritual growth of your children/god-children. What little things do you enjoy every day that you could offer up?
Sacrifice time by volunteering. Part of Lent involves almsgiving. This is an important aspect of being a member of the Body of Christ and is often overlooked, especially by families who fill their days with work or sports. Is there a food shelf in your area? Can you offer a service for free a day or two a week? Can you volunteer to do a little cleaning or organizing at the local pregnancy center? Can you sidewalk counsel outside of the local abortion facility? Does your parish have a need?
Only read the Bible. If you are someone who loves to read many books, it could be quite the challenge to sit down with the Bible and read nothing else for all of Lent. Individuals who have a love of learning tend to read several books at a time and struggle to finish what they start (or maybe that’s just me!) I bet that you could get through quite a bit of Sacred Scripture, and your soul would be deeply nourished. There’s actually research that demonstrates that our brain structure changes when we read the Bible every day!
Give up social media. This one seems obvious and largely relates to my first point about consumption and noise. Social media is naturally very addictive, and for many of us, it leads to an inordinate amount of time being spent virtually instead of in reality. Lent is a great time to reconnect with our surroundings and our family. There’s little doubt that social media can also lead us to despair of the current state of the world— focusing on the issues of the world— and neglecting the spiritual. It also entices us to compare ourselves to others, and “comparison is the thief of joy” as they say. And lastly, if you struggle with having custody of the eyes or lust, removing the temptations that crop up is a no-brainer. I also recommend checking out a new platform called Vineyard. It’s a Catholic alternative to social media that focuses on “balance over binge.” I’ll be on Vineyard as a creator, and I love what Vineyard is all about. Go check it out and sign up!
Give up makeup. If you are someone who is prone to vanity (on any level— and this is something to really reflect on) consider not wearing makeup this Lent as an expression of not being as concerned about appearances. Does this mean you can’t look presentable? No. Scripture reminds us to not go out of our way to appear as if we are fasting, but this admonishment has to do with our disposition rather than merely physical appearances. Making sure everyone knows how “holy” you are in your fasting is not the goal and is counter-productive. This ought to be a quiet discipline wherein no attention is drawn to the fact that you are abstaining from things that would beautify you. You might also find that you learn to love yourself more and see yourself as God sees you!
Go vegan. This is a penance that I recommend with caveats and caution— I think strict meal fasts and changes are generally tolerated better by men. Women, especially those in their years of fertility— experience a lot of hormone fluctuations, which strongly impact their metabolic state and ability to remain nourished and have healthy eggs. The Church already acknowledges this to a degree by exempting pregnant or nursing mothers from the rules of fasting and abstaining. Meat and animal byproducts are some of the most bioavailable foods out there, and women’s bodies are designed to nourish other little humans. That being said— it is customary for Eastern Orthodox to go totally vegan for all of Lent. This could be a great penitential practice particularly if you are a man who needs something more challenging to strive for during Lent. In the Roman Rite, our dietary observance is quite lax comparatively. I don’t recommend this if you are someone who has struggled with an eating disorder of any kind, however.
Make frequent acts of devotion and entrustment to Our Lord. A simple but powerful way to pray without ceasing is to set a timer for the top of every hour and offer a simple prayer every time the alarm goes off. You could repeat the same thing all day or offer whatever is on your heart at that moment. It’s a great way to pray without ceasing and return your thoughts and heart back to Christ throughout the day. Some prayers might be: “Jesus, I love you. Help me to love you more!” “Jesus, I surrender this moment to you.” “Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” or “Jesus, help me surrender to your Divine Will.”
What else would you add? Comment below!
I hope you have a wonderful Lent! Praying that it is fruitful for you and your family.
