The season of Lent may bring to mind ashes, Friday fish fries or the struggle of giving something up. All the rules and practices can be confusing, and the meaning behind them can get lost. Consider this your “How to Lent” guide.

Lent is the season in the liturgical calendar which spans the 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. As Jesus resisted temptations offered by Satan in the desert in order to stay in union with the Father, we also are called to resist worldly temptations and desires in order to grow in our relationship with God. It is an opportunity to turn away from sin and towards God. The practices of fasting, abstinence and almsgiving are a way to show solidarity with the poor and our gratitude towards God.

Ash Wednesday and all Fridays are days of abstinence from meat during Lent. There are fish fries at several locations in the area including ICD, Knights of Columbus in Cottleville and Sts. Jochim and Ann. A full list of St. Louis area fish fries can be found at http://stlouisreview.com/fishfries. Volunteering at these fish fries can be another beneficial spiritual activity during Lent.

When immersing yourself in the Lenten season, it is important to remember the reason behind this time of penance. It should not simply be a 40-day self-improvement plan, but an opportunity to truly deepen our relationship with God. We need to remember the sacrifice of the cross and order our hearts and minds towards love.

“It’s always about coming back to the cross; we are constantly focused on this singular moment that literally changed the world,” said religion teacher Mr. Matt Winkelmann.

As we continue through Lent, remember it is never too late to get involved! There are many opportunities to enrich your spiritual life this season. Right here at St. Dominic we have the Chaplet of Divine Mercy led by AD club every Friday in the chapel right after school. We also have Mass every Monday during contact time.

Lent is also a beautiful time to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. We will have the opportunity to go to Confession during school on March 1, and most parishes offer it on a weekly basis. The Stations of the Cross is another practice that many parishes will take up on Fridays during Lent. Taking out a little bit of time to reflect on the Passion of Christ will help you more deeply enter into Lent.

If you’re still having trouble investing yourself in Lent, there are countless online resources. Some of my favorites come from LifeTeen:

• 25 Creative Things To Give Up for Lent: http://lifeteen.com/blog/what-to-give-up-25-creative-ideas-for-lent/
• 7 Tips To Make Lent Joyful: http://lifeteen.com/blog/lent-feels-joy-less-7-tips-make-joyful/
• 102 Things To Give Up for Lent: http://lifeteen.com/blog/102-things-really-give-lent/

Make this Lent count! Challenge yourself, but remember that it’s okay if you slip up in your Lenten devotion; just start again! Entering into this season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving will make Easter Sunday that much more joyful.