Take 30 minutes to pray, ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance, look over this activities list for the Season of Lent, and make a few practical Lenten resolutions. Be careful. If you try to do too much, you may not succeed in anything.
During the Season of Lent, get up earlier than anyone else in your house and spend your first 15 minutes of the day thanking God for the gift of life and offering your day to Him.
Get to daily Mass. If you can’t do Mass daily, go to Mass on Fridays in addition to Sunday and thank Him for laying his life down for you. Maybe you can go another time or two as well.
Spend at least 30 minutes in Eucharistic adoration at least one time during the week. Recover the Catholic tradition of making frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament throughout the week, even if it is only for 5 minutes.
Get to confession at least once during the Season of Lent after making a good examination of conscience. In addition to the penance assigned by the priest, fulfill the conditions necessary for a plenary indulgence.
Make a decision to read at least some Scripture every day. Pray the Liturgy of the Hours. You can buy a one volume edition or a full four volume edition, or read ‘Magnificat.’
Make the Stations of the Cross each Friday of the Season of Lent either with a group or by yourself.
Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary often during Lent, especially on Friday and Wednesday. The glorious mysteries are especially appropriate on Sundays. Joyful and Luminous mysteries are great on other days.
Make it a habit to stop at least five times a day, raise your heart and mind to God, and say a short prayer such as “Jesus, I love you,” or “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” or “Lord, I offer it up for you.”
Pray each day for the intentions and health of the Holy Father.
Pray each day for your bishop and all the bishops of the Catholic Church.
Pray for your priests and deacons and for all priests and deacons. Pray for the millions of Christians suffering under persecution in various Muslim and Communist countries around the world.
Pray for the evangelization of all those who have not yet heard and accepted the Good News about Jesus.
Pray for your enemies. In fact, think of the person who has most hurt you or who most annoys you and spend several minutes each day thanking God for that person and asking God to bless him or her.
Pray for an end to abortion on demand in the United States. Pray for pregnant women contemplating abortion. Pray for our troops and for others in harm’s way.
Find a form of fasting that is appropriate for you, given your age, state of health, and state of life.
Find a written biography of a Saint that particularly appeals to you, and read it during the Season of Lent. When Easter comes, don’t drop the new practice you’ve begun during the Season of Lent! Make a permanent feature of a deeper Christian life!
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