Lent is a penitential season of six Sundays and forty weekdays that prepares us for the high feast of Easter. We have all heard about giving something up for Lent, but what does that mean? Denying ourselves a human luxury, such as giving up desserts, candies, gum, soft drinks, alcohol and junk food, has been a popular way of fasting and abstinence. Almsgiving is the act of giving to the needy from what is saved by fasting and abstinence. This gives us self-discipline and self-control. Lent is a time of preparation when we should be growing as Christians. We use fasting and abstinence to discipline ourselves for a more fulfilled prayer life that in return leads us closer to Christ. The goal is for us to develop good habits during Lent and move forward from Easter so that we will continue to keep growing in our relationship with Christ.

Maybe you could spend this Lent giving up something that takes up your time — like watching TV, playing video games, or wasted time on the computer — and spend that time going to daily Mass, attending Stations of the Cross once a week, praying the rosary, or giving at least ten minutes of your undivided attention to God everyday. Then, when Easter arrives, you will celebrate not only Christ's resurrection but also your closer relationship with him.

You Know Who I Am
Lord hear me; I am open,
I surrender all my sin.
All my pride gets me nowhere
leaves me stranded,
empty-handed.

So shatter the darkness in my life,
as I carry this cross
both day and night,
all the way, all the way to heaven.
- Matt Maher and Tom Booth