25 Ways to Live By This Lent

How can we get the most out of Lent? Fr Michael Najim suggests 25 ways of living a spiritually enriching Lent.

Lent is a time of great grace, a time a spiritual renewal. Traditionally there are three main components to Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

So, here are 25 ways to live the Lenten season in a spirit of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  There is no particular order to these 25 ways, and I don’t pretend that these are the best or most creative ways.

However, if you’re looking for some ideas, hopefully you will find one or two here. Without further ado, here are 25 way to live the Lenten season.

1) Read a little scripture (choose one of the Gospels).

2) Read a spiritual book for ten minutes.

3) Spend ten extra minutes in silence.

4) Pray the rosary.

5) Pray the Way of the Cross.

6) Stop by a church for five minutes on your way to/from work (if possible).

7) Go to daily Mass or try to go once or twice during the week besides Sunday.

8) Put aside R10-20 a day and give it to charity at the end of Lent.

9) Give up desserts.

10) Give up unhealthy snacks.

11) Give up alcohol.

12) Give up or cut down on coffee or tea.

13) Give up bread.

14) Wake up earlier than usual (get up as soon as the alarm goes off).

15) Go to bed earlier than usual.

16) Give up or spend less time on the Internet, especially Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites.

17) Give up or cut down on television.

18) Don’t listen to the radio while you drive; use the silent time for prayer.

19) Cut down on the number of times a day you check your private e-mail.

20) Fast on Fridays if your health allows for it (one meal or just bread and water).

21) Call a friend or family member each day—or a few times during the week— to see how they’re doing.

22) Volunteer your time at a local soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or another place that is committed to serving the poor, addicted, or abused.

23) Remain calm when driving.

24) Simplify your life: each week go through your closets and drawers and get rid of clothes and give them to the needy; each week get rid of books and find a place to give them away.

25) Begin and end your day on your knees.

I pray that you have a blessed and holy Lenten season!—CNA

n Fr Michael Najim is serving in the US diocese of Providence, Rhode Island.