Go Deeper During Lent

Throughout Lent, Catholics are encouraged to observe the 3-fold discipline of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer to prepare for Easter and the renewal of baptismal promises (or baptism). 

During all the Fridays of Lent, Catholics 14 years and older traditionally abstain from meat.  On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59 traditionally abstain and fast. 

These practices are not to self-punish or to promote religious pride, but to be powerful reminders of the call to holiness and unity, as they, in varied ways, remind folks of the sacrifice and love of Christ, our sharing in the poverty of people in the world, a call to simplicity, a call to respect creation with a smaller carbon footprint, and many other spiritual insights.

Besides the Lenten activities found in our parish and archdiocese,
here are some personal resources:

• 25 Great Things You Can Do for Lent (Busted Halo)

• 10 Things to Remember During Lent (USCCB)

• What is Lent? (USCCB)

• Pope Francis 2025 Lenten Message

• Pope Francis Encyclical Letter: Dilexit Nos (On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ)

• Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation) - This year marks this Vatican II document’s 60th anniversary on sacred Scripture and God’s self-revelation.

• Nicene Creed - We’re in the 1,700th anniversary for the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. Click here for a 5 minute summary.

• The Three Ordinary Voices of God by Matthew Kelly - you can pick this book up at our parish and use it to explore how to better listen to God. If you’d like to work with others, join our in-person discussion group or online discussion group.