2. What is Lent?
What is the first thing that
comes to mind when you
think of Lent?
3. What is Lent?
Purple vestments
Giving things up
Penitential season
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Imitating Jesus’ 40 days in the desert
Preparing for Easter
What else?
8. What the Church says
“In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal
commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment
for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.
“The key to fruitful observance of these practices is to recognize
their link to baptismal renewal. We are called not just to abstain
from sin during Lent, but to true conversion of our hearts and
minds as followers of Christ. We recall those waters in which we
were baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began
new life in Christ.”
(USCCB website)
10. The effects of our sins
Our sins “soil” the whiteness (Christ-
likeness) of our baptismal purity.
The Rite of Penance (Reconciliation) is
a way to recover that baptismal purity
Our bad habits incline us to sin
Lent is a time to work on virtues – the
antidote to bad habits
11. Lent: Penitential Season
The 3 Disciplines of Lent:
Prayer – what have you added?
Fasting - helps us discover what we are dependent upon.
Almsgiving/Charity – what do you give to the poor?
13. What to Give up for Lent: 19 things
Fear
The need to please everyone
Envy
Impatience.
Sense of entitlement
Bitterness and Resentment
Blame
Gossip and Negativity
Comparison
Fear of failure.
A spirit of poverty
Feelings of unworthiness
Doubt
Self-pity
Retirement (Lack of purpose/wasting time)
Excuses
Lack of counsel
Pride
Worry
Monsignor Keith Derouen
14. A practical list
Text 3 people a day to see if you can pray for them
Give away a dollar every time you complain
Bake cookies for someone you don’t like
Pick four outfits to wear all through Lent – or wear something
purple every day
Turn off your phone when you are with your family
Leave a post-it with a kind thought in every public bathroom
you use
Go one day a week without any makeup or hair products
15. A practical list…
Be PRESENT to people – give them your whole attention
Pray the prayer before meals - and make Sign of he Cross
when eating out in public
Tip 30% every time you eat out
Check your phone only 3 times a day
Use Instagram only for pictures of people you love or things
you are grateful for
Be aware of your stewardship of time and choose to be
disciplined about it
16. Approaching Easter
Participate in the liturgies of Holy Week/Triduum
Look forward to the renewal of baptismal vows,
either at the Easter Vigil or on Easter morning