The Church proposes a period of spiritual preparation for the most significant days of the Church’s year. These forty days are called Lent, a name taken from the Old English word meaning “spring.” The liturgical season of Lent is meant to be a time of spiritual spring-training, so to speak: six weeks during which we pay particular attention to prayer, penance, and works of mercy in order to prepare for Holy Week. The more deeply we live Lent, the more abundantly we will be able to receive the spiritual renewal that God wants to give us. (taken from https://rcspirituality.org/ A Lenten Retreat Guide on the Last Supper – Fr. John Bartunek, LC)

Any attempt to build a spiritual life that neglects the pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving is   building on sand. Prayer purifies our intentions and relates all we do to God. Fasting detaches us from our comfort and from ourselves. Almsgiving reflects our brotherhood with the poor of Jesus’ family and reminds us that our true wealth is not in things, but in the love of God. We all need to do a reality check on our spiritual lives to make sure we are committed to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. (taken from Regnum Christi Daily Meditations https://www.regnumchristi.org February 14, 2018 – The Joy of Lent)

Let us build our spiritual life on these solid pillars of tested practices. What am I going to commit to   in my prayer life? How am I going to sacrifice to show my love for God? How am I going to bring   that love to others?