Five Easy Ways to Prepare for Lent

“Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”  Romans 13: 11-14

A week from today is Ash Wednesday.  Lent begins.  Like a runner prepares for a race, we must prepare for the spiritual journey of penance and reparation.  Advent is a time of preparation for a meeting with the newborn Jesus.  Lent is a season of endurance as we detach ourselves from the world to meet the Risen Christ in grace.  As this sacred season begins, let us  journey together determined, expecting, and prepared to grow in holiness as we follow Jesus on His road to Calvary and His Resurrection.

1) Meditate on the meaning of Lent and pray.  Spend 5 minutes or more each day focusing on what Jesus might ask of you during this season.  Open your mind, heart, and soul to Him.  Ask Jesus to inspire you in this  journey.  Seek His direction as you walk  the way of the cross with Him.

2) Focus on Jesus.  No matter what you do in preparation for Lent, focus your time and energies on Him.  Prepare to surrender all to Him so that you, as His child, can give your “fiat” to walking that painful way of the cross that He walked.  Keep Jesus in your sight.  Never take your eyes off of Him.  Vow to follow Him with love and joy, no matter the cost.

3) Learn the requirements for fasting and abstinence that our Church asks us to perform during Lent.   Commit yourself to practice these requirements without resentment.  Study and decide which other practices of repentance and reparation you will use to grow in holiness during Lent. 

4)  Mark your calendars.  Note the days on which we must fast.  Note the days on which we must abstain from meat during Lent.  Mark the days of special services at Church, for example,  the Stations of the Cross.  Make note of times when the Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered at your church or other churches in the area.  Mark the days and times of special prayer  services, such as Eucharistic Adoration that you will attend.  Be prepared.  Reserve your babysitters now,  if necessary.  Mark those days down and attend the services that you can. 

5) Make your grocery shopping list in preparation for Lent.  If you know when the days of fasting and abstinence are observed, then you will have the necessary foods on hand for fasting.


“I can do all things through him who strengthens me. “ Philippians 4:13