Lent. You may be asking yourself, 'what is Lent?', 'why do we give things up?', or maybe even 'what's the deal with no meat on Fridays?'. Those are all very valid questions to have, let's start with the basics:
What is Lent?
- Lent lasts around 40 days (excluding Sundays) beginning on Ash Wednesday, and concluding on Easter Sunday. It is 40 days because of the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert before beginning His ministry. It is a time of spiritual cleansing, meditation, and penance. During this time, the Church calls us to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Why do we give things up for Lent?
- It is not mandatory that you give something up for Lent, but it is strongly advised. The focus of Lent is spiritual growth, we give things up in order to replace them with things that are more beneficial to our soul's prosperity. For example: giving up social media- replace the time that you would usually spend on social media, reflecting on a Bible passage or praying for someone. Often times, people also take things on, such as a Holy hour once a week, or spending 20 minutes each day reading and studying the Bible.
- Abstinence- On Fridays during Lent, we ( as Catholics ) practice abstinence. Abstinence, during Lent is when you abstain from eating meat and replace it with fish instead.
- Fasting- We fast and abstain on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, during the Lenten season. Fasting would be 1 regular meal + 2 smaller meals and no snacks.
Our abstinence and fasting reminds us of the tremendous sacrifice that Jesus gave for us. For example: something I am giving up this year is coffee -- coffee isn't a bad thing, it doesn't distract me from my prayer life, so why give it up? -- because now every time I want coffee or am tempted to get some coffee, I will remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus' life and that I can sacrifice one small thing that I like.
What are some major days in Lent?
- Ash Wednesday -"Remember, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Ashes is a sign of the sin that we carry and our willingness to repent for them. They are also a reminder of God's tremendous mercy for us.
- Palm Sunday - "With palms let us welcome the Lord as he comes." Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter, it recognizes Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. The crowd in Jerusalem waved palms as Jesus rode in.
- Holy Thursday - "I have longed to eat this meal with you before I suffer." Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, focuses on the Last Supper that Jesus had with His disciples. Holy Thursday is the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood. It is a celebration of Passover.
- Good Friday - "Jesus Christ loved us, and poured out His own blood for us to wash away our sins." Good Friday marks the day that at 3pm, on Calvary, Jesus Christ, our savior shed His blood and was crucified for the eternal salvation of all souls.
- Easter Sunday- "The splendor of Christ risen from the dead has shone on the people redeemed by his blood, alleluia." Easter Sunday is the day that Christ is resurrected from the dead, it is a time of rejoicing and it is a sign of hope for new life, the conquering of death, and forgiveness of sins.
"What the Christian should be doing at all times should be done now with
greater care and devotion, so that the Lenten fast … may be fulfilled, not simply
by abstinence from food but above all by the renunciation of sin.
There is no more profitable practice as a companion to holy and spiritual fasting than that of almsgiving. This embraces under the single name of mercy many excellent works of devotion, so that the good intentions of all the faithful may be of equal value, even where their means are not … The person who shows love and compassion to those in any kind of affliction is blessed, not only with the virtue of good will but also with the gift of peace."
St. Leo the Great
If you are like me, you never know what to give up for Lent. I usually linger on these long, drawn out, creative things to do/ give up and it never ends up happening or I talk myself out of it. Last year, I tried to do multiple things.
I tried spending less time on my phone, that didn't last long. I tried cutting shower time down to 3-5 minutes, that lasted a little longer but not much. But one thing I did that I stuck with (for the most part) was something that I found on twitter, it was a page ( @WhatToGiveUp ) that gave you something new and interesting each day. I liked it because it was like I was on a mission each day, it was always a surprise. Some I liked more than others; and some I found to be more challenging and unrealistic than others. But it kept me interested and I didn't get bored.
So with Lent quickly approaching, I decided to compile my own daily (and weekly) challenges with a list that I think everyone can do. Just some ideas for things you can give up/ do during all of Lent. I will definitely be following them, and I hope that you will also!
Ash Wednesday, March 5 - Get your ashes!
Thursday, March 6 - Limit your bath or shower to only 3 minutes of running water
Friday, March 7 - Say a decade of the rosary for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life
Saturday, March 8 - Make and effort to listen to only positive music
*First Week of Lent - Take one hour out of the week to spend with the Lord in adoration.
Sunday, March 9 - Sunday is a day for rest, family, and worship. Take some time to reflect on this passage: "I wait for you O Lord, I lift my soul up to my God. In you I trust; do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me. No one is disgraced who waits for you, by only those who lightly break faith. Make known to me your ways, Lord; teach me your paths." Psalm 25:1-4
Monday, March 10 - Give up snacking and eat only at regular meal times
Tuesday, March 11 - Take 10-15 minutes to learn about a Marian apparition ( Lourdes, Fatima, Medjugorje, Guadalupe, etc. )
Wednesday, March 12 - Clean out your closet! Get rid of at least 5 clothing items that you don't wear anymore and donate them.
Thursday, March 13 - Leave a surprise gift for someone.
Friday, March 14 - Give a thoughtful compliment to someone you know and to someone you don't know.
Saturday, March 15 - Do something that has been on your to-do list for a long time.
*Second Week of Lent - This week, write to someone who you appreciate/ haven't talked to in a while/ miss/ etc. and mail them a handwritten letter.
Sunday, March 16 - Sunday is a day for rest, family, and worship. Take some time to reflect on this passage: "But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through the water, I will be with you; in the rivers you shall not drown. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned; the flames shall not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior." Isaiah 43:1-3
Monday, March 17 - Give up your bed for the night
Tuesday, March 18 - Spend 10 minutes in prayer for someone you have difficulty relating to
Wednesday, March 19 - Give up all social media for the day
Thursday, March 20 - Text or email someone a good morning/ good day message and say a small prayer for them
Friday, March 21 - Replace all your usual beverages with water
Saturday, March 22 - Give up all sweets for the day
*Third Week of Lent - Make it a point to check your local Church's schedules for the sacrament of reconciliation and go to confession to cleanse your soul and receive God's infinite mercy.
Sunday, March 23 - Sunday is a day for rest, family, and worship. Take some time to reflect on this quote: "Better to illuminate than to merely shine, to deliver to other contemplated truths than merely to contemplate." -St. Thomas Aquinas
Monday, March 24 - Put a rock in your shoe and wear it all day as a constant reminder of the pain and agony that Jesus suffered for your salvation
Tuesday, March 25 - Write a letter to God
Wednesday, March 26 - Spend 30 minutes reading the Bible
Thursday, March 27 - Give up TV and video games for the day
Friday, March 28 - Try something new
Saturday, March 29 - Buy a religious item for yourself and a friend
*Fourth Week of Lent - Say a rosary How to Pray the Rosary
Sunday, March 30 - Sunday is a day for rest, family, and worship. Take some time to reflect on this quote: "Lord, take me from myself and give me to yourself." -St. Catherine of Siena
Monday, March 31 - Go a whole day (24 hrs.) without charging your phone
Tuesday, April 1 - Clean your room
Wednesday, April 2 - Make an effort to let others go first
Thursday, April 3 - Hold back from gossiping and unnecessary talking
Friday, April 4 - Say a decade of the rosary for people who are living in poverty
Saturday, April 5 - Listen to some Gregorian Chants "Salve Regina" (Hail Holy Queen in Latin)
*Fifth Week of Lent - Take time that you would usually spend on social media learning about the lives of saints.
Sunday, April 6 - Sunday is a day for rest, family, and worship. Take some time to reflect on this quote: "We always find that those who walked the closest to Christ, our Lord, were those who had to bear the greatest trials." -Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Monday, April 7 - Use lights as little as possible
Tuesday, April 8 - Use your least dominant hand to do daily tasks such as brushing your teeth and eating.
Wednesday, April 9 - Collect as much spare change as you can and donate it.
Thursday, April 10 - Clean something for someone else
Friday, April 11 - Sleep without pillows
Saturday, April 12 - Offer up chores for someone you know is going through a hard time
*Holy Week - Set time aside or use any spare time you have to go through and read the stations of the Cross and meditate on each station.
Palm Sunday, April 13 - Sunday is a day for rest, family, and worship. On this Palm Sunday go to mass and receive you blessed Palm to represent the palms that the crowd scattered as they welcomed him into Jerusalem, just as you are preparing to allow Jesus into your heart.
Monday, April 14 - At times when you would usually listen to music, refrain.
Tuesday, April 15 - Recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
Wednesday, April 16 - Today is Pope Emeritus' ( Pope Benedict XVI ) birthday. Take some time to learn about his life and before and during his papal ministries.
Holy Thursday, April 17 - Have a meal with your family or friends
Good Friday, April 18 - Have a jam session to this beauty of a song Good Friday - Josh Garrels
Holy Saturday, April 19 - Refrain from talking in person and over the phone as much as possible. Use the silent time to remember Christ's passion and death.
*Bonus Easter Party*
Easter Sunday, April 20 - Happy Easter! Sunday is a day for rest, worship, and family. Go to mass, spend some extra time ( with Christ in the Eucharist if possible ) in prayer of thanksgiving.
"God our Father, by raising Christ your Son you conquered death and opened for us the way to eternal life. Let our celebration today raise up and renew our lives by the Spirit within us. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever."
"I will not remember your sins… I have swept away your transgression like a
cloud, and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you."
Isaiah 43:25 ; 44:22
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
{ + JMJ + }
Awesome stuff here! I LOVE those daily challenges!! Those are great ideas!!
ReplyDeleteAw thanks! We can do them together :D
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