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The three traditional pillars of Lent are, as we shall hear in the Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday from Matthew 6, prayer, fasting and alms-giving. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness and for forty days and nights he gave himself up to prayer. That might be a bit beyond most of us, but we all know our need for prayer and Lent is the perfect time for examining our daily pattern of prayer and for making the changes we know we need to make. What time do we make for prayer? Do we keep a “prayer list” for those who have asked our prayers? Do we meditate on the daily Mass readings? Perhaps we might resolve to attend an extra Mass during Lent, or attend the Stations of the Cross on Fridays. There are many excellent prayer guides for each day of Lent; the “Walk with me” series is one that comes to mind. Linked with our prayer life is our need for self-examination and reconciliation, and a good Confession should be part of everyone’s Lent.

When we talk about Fasting, we tend to think of food and drink, but we shouldn’t stop there. Fasting is not dieting, but if our fasting helps us to lose a few pounds so much the better. We should fast, in union with the Lord’s sacrifices, from things that we enjoy, and will miss. Perhaps it means no sugar in tea or no spirits, but it could also mean less television or less time with the newspaper. And what about fasting from our bad habits, our besetting sins? Remember Robert Herrick’s famous lines; “To show a heart grief-rent; to starve thy sin, not bin; And that’s to keep thy Lent.”

Alms-giving, too, can take many different forms. Putting aside the money we have saved from our fasting, supporting a particular charity or appeal, being more generous to the CAFOD Lent Fast Day are all admirable, but remember that Pope Francis is calling us to generous acts of mercy and love - reaching out to the disadvantaged and the suffering in whatever way we can. “Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these different graces of God, put yourselves at the service of others.” 1 Peter 4:10-11.

Lent begins next week. Don’t let it catch us unprepared. Now is the time to ask ourselves “How will I keep Lent this year?”

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