7 PRACTICAL WAYS TO HAVE A GOOD LENT

Lent is a season of penance and spiritual warfare. The goal is pure hearts so that we can joyfully celebrate the resurrection of our Lord at Easter, the greatest feast of the liturgical year.

7 PRACTICAL WAYS TO HAVE A GOOD LENT.

1. HAVE A PLAN: 

All our good intentions which we set right from the beginning of Lent begin to vanish because we don’t have plans. For an example, “I’m going to pray more” but this just remains as an intention. My advice, once you have determined what you are going to do, stick to it every single day. Often, we are overly ambitious and when we fail in our Lenten goals, we become discouraged and give up completely. This is a victory for the devil. Make your commitments practical, and your Lent will be the better for it.

2. READ A GOOD BOOK: 

Do read good spiritual books, and there is no better time to begin this practice than during Lent. Reading Scripture or the writings of the saints is a great place to start.

3.EXAMINE YOURSELF:

Lent is an excellent time to take an inventory of the state of your soul. What are your predominant faults? What is keeping you from following the will of God with all your heart? Thorough examination of conscience helps you assess your spiritual health. Remember, Lent is not ultimately about giving up sweets or other things we enjoy. It is first and foremost about repentance, which means giving up sin and returning to God.

4.CONFESS YOUR SINS:

Lent is a great time to go for confession. Do remember the five    requirements for a good confession:

1  Examination of conscience 

2  True contrition for having offended God 

3  Firm resolution to sin no more 

4  Clear confession (don’t hold any sins back) 

5  Penance for the sins you have committed

5.PRAY: 

During this season we should especially focus our daily prayer on repentance and contrition for our sins that can guide us for rest of the year. Some suggestions for Lenten prayer –The Seven Penitential Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143, the Stations of the Cross, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Rosary.

6.FAST: 

During Lent, we especially remember the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. This is the greatest act of generosity in history, for Jesus who died for all. The generosity of God in Christ should impel us to be generous and merciful to others, especially those poor and in need.

This Lent, do your best. Strive to root out sin and cultivate holiness. “For though the upright falls seven times, he gets up again; the wicked are the ones who stumble in adversity,” (Prov. 24:16).