Something Different for Lent

Every year, we focus on what we’ll give up for Lent—an admirable practice. Mastering passions by denying ourselves is a good thing—but the ultimate goal of penance (of any spiritual practice) is to draw us closer to God.

Why not try a different kind of Lent, one that might shake you out of your spiritual doldrums and help make you ready for the wonder of Easter and the fire of Pentecost? Here is a weekly program, in which you take a different discipline every week—or add one to what you did the prior week. It’s rigorous, so don't despair if you fall short of your goal. Just try again! It is, after all, ajourney.

Week 1: Fast from handheld electronics (and sometimes, your computer). Give up all social media, especially Facebook. They tend to feed our outrage and make us waste time arguing about things we cannot control when there are needs right in front of us that go unseen and unmet. Instead of social media, try writing—a real, inky letter—to someone different each day. Longhand. Maybe just a few lines. But do it. And if you’re up for it, make this the drone string of your Lent. Keep this one up for six weeks. And by the way, turn the phone off at dinner and in Mass as well.

Week 2: Fast from news. Trust me, the world will go on. Don’t read the paper, listen to the radio or watch news or commentary shows. Instead, spend time—really spend time—with your family or use the time you save to read or pray or, like Jesus, go about doing good. Trust me, there is plenty to do.

Week 3: Fast from diversion: Avoid the TV and movies, whether for Netflix or cable programming. Or the newest blockbuster. Instead find a good book to read, one that touches on Jesus in your life. Maybe read it aloud to your spouse or children. (I suggest Grandmother and the Priests by Taylor Caldwell, but that’s just me.)

Week 4: Fast from criticism. All of it. And add to it something positive. When you think a negative thought about someone—especially if it involves name-calling (That jerk! He cut me off!) do your best to think of 9 (yes 9) positive things you can say. (Well, he’s skilled enough that we avoided a crash. He keeps his car in good shape. Looks like he goes to church from his bumper sticker, so he’s a brother in Christ. Maybe I was following too close and wool gathering…you get the idea). And add one Hail Mary for the person for each thing you think of. You’ll find yourself praying a lot.

Psychologists tell us that in order for someone to be able to even hear a critical comment, it must be preceded by enough positive comment to allow criticism to take hold without being threatening. Apply this discipline to yourself as well. Thinking of positive things about your own life may be the hardest thing of all. But making affirmation greater than criticism helps us find commonality when our first response is otherwise division.

Week 5: Fast from overwork. For one week only, spend the time after you arrive home being with the people who share your home. No projects, no work or volunteer calls, and on Sunday, after Mass, try not to engage either in servile labor or in spending money. The dishes can wait and you can get by with what’s in your pantry. Rest. Really rest. And spend time together with each other—avoid that customary golf game or tennis match or even the basketball game on TV.

Week 6: Fast from the world. Spend Holy Week with Jesus. Pray the Stations of the Cross. Read or listen to Lenten meditations, especially on the seven last words of Jesus. Bp. Barron and Fr. Larry Richards have some excellent ones available online. To the extent you can manage it, attend whatever is going on at your parish. Go to the Chrism mass if you are able; it’s an incredible experience to see the priests of a diocese convened together in one place at one time and a great opportunity to pray for them. Attend as much of the Triduum as you can. Spend time with Jesus before the Altar of Repose after the Mass of Holy Thursday. Take Good Friday off if possible and spend the three hours waiting at the foot of the Cross. Slow down and walk with Jesus during the last days before the crucifixion.

Lent is meant to shake us up a bit, in our very core and this ought to do it. Give it a try—but if the traditional way of fasting is still appealing, you can give up chocolate too!