Lent is a penitential season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to renew one's baptismal commitment in preparation for Easter. The key is to recognize how these practices help us turn away from sin and toward true conversion of heart and mind as followers of Christ. Lent calls us to work on virtues that are the antidote to bad habits through spiritual disciplines like giving up distractions in order to focus on prayer, fasting to discover what we depend on, and almsgiving to help those in need.

1. Come to the Water
A LENTEN JOURNEY

2. What is Lent?
What is the first thing that
comes to mind when you
think of Lent?

3. What is Lent?
 Purple vestments
 Giving things up
 Penitential season
 Sacrament of Reconciliation
 Imitating Jesus’ 40 days in the desert
 Preparing for Easter
 What else?

4. What is Lent?

5. What is Lent?

6. What is Lent?

7. Dust

8. What the Church says
“In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal
commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment
for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.
“The key to fruitful observance of these practices is to recognize
their link to baptismal renewal. We are called not just to abstain
from sin during Lent, but to true conversion of our hearts and
minds as followers of Christ. We recall those waters in which we
were baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began
new life in Christ.”
(USCCB website)

9. At Baptism
“You have put on Christ.”
Rite of Baptism

10. The effects of our sins
Our sins “soil” the whiteness (Christ-
likeness) of our baptismal purity.
The Rite of Penance (Reconciliation) is
a way to recover that baptismal purity
Our bad habits incline us to sin
Lent is a time to work on virtues – the
antidote to bad habits

11. Lent: Penitential Season
The 3 Disciplines of Lent:
Prayer – what have you added?
Fasting - helps us discover what we are dependent upon.
Almsgiving/Charity – what do you give to the poor?

12. Lent: Penitential Season
“What are you giving up for Lent?”

13. What to Give up for Lent: 19 things
Fear
The need to please everyone
Envy
Impatience.
Sense of entitlement
Bitterness and Resentment
Blame
Gossip and Negativity
Comparison
Fear of failure.
A spirit of poverty
Feelings of unworthiness
Doubt
Self-pity
Retirement (Lack of purpose/wasting time)
Excuses
Lack of counsel
Pride
Worry
Monsignor Keith Derouen

14. A practical list
 Text 3 people a day to see if you can pray for them
 Give away a dollar every time you complain
 Bake cookies for someone you don’t like
 Pick four outfits to wear all through Lent – or wear something
purple every day
 Turn off your phone when you are with your family
 Leave a post-it with a kind thought in every public bathroom
you use
 Go one day a week without any makeup or hair products

15. A practical list…
 Be PRESENT to people – give them your whole attention
 Pray the prayer before meals - and make Sign of he Cross
when eating out in public
 Tip 30% every time you eat out
 Check your phone only 3 times a day
 Use Instagram only for pictures of people you love or things
you are grateful for
 Be aware of your stewardship of time and choose to be
disciplined about it

16. Approaching Easter
 Participate in the liturgies of Holy Week/Triduum
 Look forward to the renewal of baptismal vows,
either at the Easter Vigil or on Easter morning

17. Do you believe?