Lent: Fuel Up for the Rest of the Year

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Ash Wednesday will soon take place, bringing us into the Lenten season.Traditionally, Catholics have practiced prayer, fasting, penance, and almsgiving during Lent as ways to grow closer to Christ, and better model their lives after him. Will this Lent be a fruitful one for you?

St. Francis de Sales writes,

“Lent is the autumn of the spiritual life during which we gather fruit to keep us going for the rest of the year. Enrich yourselves with these treasures, which nobody can take away from you and which cannot be destroyed. I am accustomed to say that we will not spend Lent well unless we are determined to make the most of it. Let us, therefore, spend this Lent as if it were our last, and we will make it well. Listen to the sermons, because holy words are pearls; they are ships of infinite mercy – the true ocean of the East.”

Indeed, he makes a good point that the four practices will not make us holy if our heart is not involved. In this excerpt from St. Francis’ sermon for Ash Wednesday, the saint reminds us,

“Prepare yourselves to fast with charity, for if your fast is performed without it, it will be vain and useless, since fasting, like all other good works, is not pleasing to God unless it is done in charity and through charity. When you discipline yourself, when you say long prayers, if you have not charity, all that is nothing. Even though you should work miracles, if you have not charity, they will not profit you at all.”

In our Living Jesus Chat Room this Sunday, we will discuss these points:

  • In the above quote by St. Francis, what is the spiritual fruit he talks about?
  • Is Lent a struggle for you, or do you enjoy the challenge to grow in holiness? What are some particular obstacles you may face?
  • What are examples of the four typical Lenten practices done well: prayer, fasting, penance, and almsgiving?

Check out our Free Salesian Courses for Lent!

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