This past Sunday at Mass, our priest pointed out that oftentimes, we choose a penance and go through Lent on autopilot. There’s a reason “giving up chocolate for Lent” is such a cliche. When he picked his first Lenten penance, he chose to give up candy and soda to detach from it, but every year when Ash Wednesday caught him by surprise again, he figured, “Oh, I’ll just give up candy and soda again like I did last year.” But by the time he was in his 20’s, he realized he was ready for a more mature approach to Lent. Not just what he gave up last year, but specifically asking the question, “What prayer, fasting, and almsgiving would most form me into a Saint?”
His homily was perfect timing because GabiAfterHours just released clear, concrete, actionable steps on how to do exactly that. He broke it down with more beautiful simplicity than I’ve ever seen before. Let’s follow his lead and structure this Lent to make us into Saints, as though this were our last Lent and we would face our final judgement this Triduum. We never know which Lent will be our last, but we know one of them will be. Reverse engineer this Lent from the end result to make Sainthood through God’s grace inevitable.
He brilliantly pointed out the connections between the three Lenten practices: Almsgiving, Fasting, and Prayer; the three monastic virtues: Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience; and the three threats to our salvation: the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Almsgiving detaches us from material goods and forms in us the virtue of Poverty. Through almsgiving, detachment, and poverty, God gives us the strength to overcome the temptations of the world.
Fasting mortifies our senses and forms in us the virtue of Chastity. Through fasting, mortification, and chastity, God gives us the strength to overcome the temptations of the flesh.
Prayer forms in us the virtue of Obedience. Through prayer and obedience, God gives us the strength to overcome the temptations of the devil.
If the world, the flesh, and the devil all have no power over us, what else have we left to fear?
If you’re serious about growing closer in your relationship to Jesus, make and set aside time before Lent starts to pray over these and in silence, imagine you are in a scene with Jesus and that He’s really there physically present with you, because He IS with you. Ask Him His Will for you this Lent. I pray this is the best Lent you’ve ever had and that God uses it to bless you and your loved ones for the rest of your life.
God bless you, and Mary keep you ❤️🔥🙏
Gabi’s instructions:
The worksheet: https://truefaith.tv/downloads
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