A spiritual declutter
I love a good declutter. When I lose my way and life gets on top of me, decluttering helps restore a sense of order.
Room by room, compartment by compartment, I take an inventory of our belongings. I ruthlessly cull what no longer serves my family and replenish the items that are low in stock. The process is not a once-done event; it is an ongoing affair if I am to stay on top of my home.
The same goes for Lent.
The Catholic Church gives us this season every year as a way of taking stock of our hearts. By making a spiritual inventory of our weaknesses and bad habits, we plan out practical steps to clean out our souls so that we can come closer to Christ.
What is Lent?
Lent is a 40-day period during which Christians prepare for Jesus’ death and resurrection at Easter. Beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Thursday, it is a time of renewed prayer, repentance, and conversion.
The ultimate purpose of Lent is to deepen our relationship with God. The Church presents three pillars to guide us during Lent:
Prayer – seeking God through personal prayer and devotions
Fasting – denying ourselves worldly comforts to focus on our spiritual hunger for God
Almsgiving – giving of ourselves by serving others and offering material assistance
Prepare for Lent in four steps
As is the case when forming new habits, it is important to be clear on our intentions from the outset. Planning our Lenten spiritual commitments, and preparing for them accordingly, helps set us up for a spiritually fruitful season. Here are some key ways to get ready:
1. Pray for guidance
Spend some time in prayer asking God for clarity on how He wants you to grow during Lent. What weaknesses or sins is He inviting you to work on? What do you want your relationship with God to look like come Easter?
2. Plan your commitments
Decide what steps you will take during Lent and write them down. Consider making yourself accountable to another person so that you follow through with your commitments. Be sure to consider the three pillars:
Prayer: Choose your daily prayers and plan where and when you will carry them out (being specific increases the likelihood you will follow through)
Fasting (and abstinence): Decide what you will give up and what sacrifices you will make
Almsgiving: Elect which acts of charity and service you will perform
3. Go to Confession
Lent is a season of renewal. Begin the season with a clean heart by going to Confession. The graces of the sacrament will provide strength for the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that lie ahead.
4. Prepare your home
Make your daily prayer time more appealing by preparing your designated personal prayer space. This could be in the corner of a room or a special chair. Keep a basket with the prayer items you need (Bible, rosary beads, spiritual book, etc) for easy access.
Set up the family prayer altar ready for the Lenten season. Some items to include on the altar could include:
- a purple cloth (representing the liturgical colour for Lent),
- a candle,
- a crucifix,
- a print or icon (e.g. image of Our Lady of Sorrows or The Pieta)
- stations of the cross booklet
- rosary beads
By taking the time to prayerfully prepare for Lent, we set ourselves up for a season of true spiritual renewal. As we declutter our hearts and recommit to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, may we be drawn closer to the risen Christ.
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