10 tips for living a holy Lent- in the words of Pope Francis
1. Get rid of the
lazy addiction to evil -“[Lent] is a
‘powerful’ season, a turning point that can foster change and conversion in
each of us. We all need to improve, to change for the better. Lent helps us
and thus we leave behind old habits and the lazy addiction to the evil that
deceives and ensnares us.” – General Audience, March 5, 2014
2. Do
something that costs us-“Lent is a fitting
time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in
order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real
poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. I
distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt.” – Lenten Message,
2014
3. Don’t remain
indifferent-“Indifference to our neighbour and to God also represents a
real temptation for us Christians. Each year during Lent we need to hear once
more the voice of the prophets who cry out and trouble our conscience. God is
not indifferent to our world; he so loves it that he gave his Son for our
salvation.” –Lenten Message, 2015
4. Pray: Make our
hearts like yours!-“During this Lent, then, brothers and sisters, let us
all ask the Lord: Make our hearts like yours (Litany of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus). In this way we will receive a heart which is firm and
merciful, attentive and generous, a heart which is not closed, indifferent or
prey to the globalization of indifference.” – Lenten Message, 2015
5. Take part in the
sacraments-“Lent is a favourable time for letting Christ serve us so that
we in turn may become more like him. This happens whenever we hear the word of
God and receive the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. There we become what
we receive: the Body of Christ.” – Lenten Message, 2015
6. Prayer-“In the
face of so many wounds that hurt us and could harden our hearts, we are called
to dive into the sea of prayer, which is the sea of God’s boundless love, to
taste his tenderness. Lent is a time of prayer, of more intense prayer, more
prolonged, more assiduous, more able to take on the needs of the brethren;
intercessory prayer, to intercede before God for the many situations of poverty
and suffering.” – Homily, March 5, 2014
7. Fasting-“We must be careful not to practice a formal
fast, or one which in truth ‘satisfies’ us because it makes us feel good about
ourselves. Fasting makes sense if it questions our security, and if it also
leads to some benefit for others, if it helps us to cultivate the style of the
Good Samaritan, who bends down to his brother in need and takes care of him.” –
Homily, March 5, 2014
8. Almsgiving-“Today
gratuitousness is often not part of daily life where everything is bought and
sold. Everything is calculated and measured. Almsgiving helps us to experience
giving freely, which leads to freedom from the obsession of possessing, from
the fear of losing what we have, from the sadness of one who does not wish to
share his wealth with others.” – Homily, March 5, 2014
9. Help the Poor-“In
the poor and outcast we see Christ’s face; by loving and helping the poor, we
love and serve Christ. Our efforts are also directed to ending violations of
human dignity, discrimination and abuse in the world, for these are so often
the cause of destitution. When power, luxury and money become idols, they take
priority over the need for a fair distribution of wealth. Our consciences
thus need to be converted to justice, equality, simplicity and sharing.” –
Lenten Message, 2014
10.
Evangelize-“The Lord asks us
to be joyous heralds of this message of mercy and hope! It is thrilling to
experience the joy of spreading this good news, sharing the treasure entrusted
to us, consoling broken hearts and offering hope to our brothers and sisters
experiencing darkness.” – Lenten Message, 2014.
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