Lent 2022: Part II by Cameron

In this blogpost, I wanted to tell you about what our family does on Fridays during Lent. First of all, we treat every Friday throughout the year like a mini Good Friday (and every Sunday like a mini Easter). Fridays in our family are focused on prayer, fasting (abstaining from meat), and works of mercy (except on Solemnities). Because we aren't a huge meat eating family, it isn't really a sacrifice to give up meat on Fridays. So, in addition to giving up meat on Fridays, we also give up sweets. On Fridays during Lent this year, we are also giving up all animal products (including dairy, meat, eggs, etc). 

Now, during Lent, we also try to add in Stations of the Cross at our church on Fridays, followed by a Holy Hour in the chapel. During that Holy Hour, we read Scripture, I write in my gratitude journal, and usually I read some saint books. We also usually pray the Rosary and/or the Divine Mercy Chaplet. At the Stations of the Cross, we go from station to station of how Jesus died, and we will say some prayers along the way. I really like doing these things because it helps me grow in my faith, and it gives me time to pray before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Since Jesus died on the Cross in extreme agony for us, we should be trying to do whatever we can to grow closer to Him, especially during Lent. I am not trying to be prideful, like the Pharisees, by telling you what we are giving up. All I hope for is that maybe this will give you some ideas for how to grow closer to God during this Lent.