Lent is coming up very quickly and now is to time to start evaluating where we need the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. A couple weeks ago, I suggested some ways to prepare for Lent. It involved listening to God, keeping to your previous commitments to God and practicing saying yes to God.  If you took on my suggestions and really thought about them, then you should realize where you need a little help and be able to more readily pick some sort of penance for Lent to address it. Here are some of my suggestions for those who suffer from particular faults and how do address them this Lent. 

If you are distracted during prayer: find a good spiritual book or a meditation app (like Hallow) and pray with it. Or purposefully remove TV and internet from your daily life such as a one hour fast from technology before going to sleep or when waking up.  

If you find yourself gossiping or lacking charity toward others, vow to turn away from negative language or purposefully try to compliment three different people per day. Or, pray for people, especially those you hate. 

If you are struggling with lust, vow to go to confession every week, cut yourself off from things that lead you into this sin or stay away from bad company and situations that lead you into bad habits.  

If you struggle with the faith, educate yourself with either good Catholic books, the bible, podcasts or other media. Seriously, there is so much great stuff out there to educate yourself.  

If you get angry often or curse, match every outburst with a prayer to God for help. Practice apologizing to those you needlessly offend or have offended in the past.  

If you are materialistic or greedy, give to the poor or volunteer your time to a charity. 

If you inordinately depend on food or drink like alcohol, sweets or coffee, cut back or go without that food or drink.  

If you are prideful or constantly look down on others, pray the litany of humility every day.  

If you think you have no real problems in life, make a sacrifice of something you enjoy for the sake of the salvation of others.  

If you do not take any of my suggestions, that’s fine. Just try something (and I highly suggest only one thing) and I am sure the Holy Spirit will use your good will for a good end. The point is to learn to rely on God and to focus on Him this Lent. For the more we focus on Him, the less we rely on ourselves and what we think we need. Instead, we realize God is everything we need and more. Ultimately, He gives our lives purpose.  

I am praying for all of you to have a Holy Lent.  

God bless! 

Father Carter 

P.S.  If something on this list or something you came up with is particularly helpful for you this Lent, feel free to let me know.  I always love hearing stories about people’s faith.