Help With Lent

[Chrystal-J]

Hello All!
I was curious about the different parts of Lent. I wanted to fully participate this year. When I was a child, I always fasted one meal a day, did not eat meat on Fridays, and I gave up something I really liked (usually chocolate) for the duration of Lent. I also took any spare change that I had and put it in the poor box (more than my usual donation).
I have participated in Lent most years--but, wasn't aware of any other aspects of Lent besides the ones I mentioned above.
I need to mention that I'm in poor health and--at times--a "shut in", so I am not able to go to church on a regular basis. But, I do watch Mass on TV.
Is there anything else that I need to know in order to fully participate during the Lenten season this coming spring?
Thanks!
Your Sister-In-Christ,
Chrystal

 

[Carrye]

The three traditional aspects of Lent are: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It sounds like you hit all three of those. How you put them into practice will vary from year to year, and that's pretty much up to you.

 

[FullyMT]

The three traditional aspects of Lent are: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Aren't those all things we should be doing all the time anyways, but just concentrating moreso during Lent?
See if there's something you enjoy doing that you can give up, like watching a certain TV show, and in place of it reading Scripture (or an inspirational book from a Saint, if you so wish), or praying a certain prayer every day/during certain times of day. I'd advise going to a church and spending time with Jesus in adoration (as long as the Blessed Sacrament is exposed or in a tabernacle, it's adoration), but if you can't make it, as you said it can be hard for you, don't worry about that!

 

[MParedon]

There is a book called The Essential Catholic Handbook it really helped me with Lent this year.

 

[Carrye]

Aren't those all things we should be doing all the time anyways, but just concentrating moreso during Lent?

Yes, we're to concentrate on them more, and make them more significant. For example, I don't eat meat on any Friday, so what sacrifice would it be for me to do the same thing during Lent? It wouldn't. And so I would do something in addition to my usual practice.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

I also usually read only Catholic novels (I am one of those apparently rare fiction readers) and I chose 1 or two books for spiritual reading specifically geared towards Lent. I'm always up for giving recommendations should you want any!!

Making the Stations of the Cross everyday or at least every Friday is a great thing to do, too-- you don't need to really "do" anything- just mentally go from one station to another....

 

[Chrystal-J]

Thank you all so much for your advise! I really appreciate it!