“Lent is a new beginning, a path leading to the certain goal of Easter, Christ’s victory over death.
This season urgently calls us to conversion. Christians are asked to return to God ‘with all their hearts’ (Joel 2:12), to refuse to settle for mediocrity and grow in friendship with the Lord.” – Pope Francis.

 Here are a few ideas on how to have a good Lent:.

#1 DEVELOP A LENTEN SPIRITUAL PLAN
Lent is not only about giving up; we should also start doing something, increasing our prayer and giving alms. The goal is to allow the grace of God to change your heart. You are called to gain a deeper freedom. Develop a Lenten spiritual plan that includes:

PRAYER: Pray more and pray better. Ideas to improve your prayer:
• Read the daily Gospel
• Read the Gospel of Matthew in 40 Days 
• Go to Mass one more time in addition to Sunday
• Do a Holy Hour every week
FASTING: Try to simplify your life. Renounce things that block your connection with God and others. What things or activities do you treat as a god but are not God? Some ideas:
• Social Media
• Limit the number of times you check your email in a day.
• Give up buying
• Give up Netflix
• Above all—Ask yourself, what is the main obstacle between me and God?
ALMSGIVING: Almsgiving is about growing in charity, focusing less on ourselves, and being more for others. During Lent, we want to make sure that our almsgiving really gives part of who we are, not just something that we have. How can you increase your capacity to give?

#2 TAKE THE FRIDAYS OF LENT SERIOUSLY

Every Friday of Lent join the passion of Christ by doing a small act of penance and praying the stations of the cross (or reading the passion narratives). Be faithful to the Church’s call to abstain from meat on the Fridays of Lent. You can also try fasting, as well, by eating bread and water, or eating two snacks and one full meal.

#3 MAKE A GOOD & PROFOUND CONFESSION
Start to prepare a good confession on Ash Wednesday, examining your conscience each evening, and writing down those sins that you see. This does not mean you will need to confess every minor fault, but above all to pay attention to the patterns of sin in your life, discover the root of those sins, and seek to uproot them. Write your confession down beforehand, so that you can make it clearly.

#4 READ A GOOD BOOK CONNECTED WITH CONVERSION
There are many wonderful religious books that call us to a deeper relationship with our Lord. 
Make regular time in your Lenten journey to read one of these books, pray with it, and put it into practice.

#5 PARTICIPATE IN ALL THE CELEBRATIONS OF HOLY WEEK
The four days of Holy Week (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday)
are the most important days of the Liturgical year. Block out time to participate of these liturgical celebrations.

#6 JOIN A LENTEN PROGRAM OR BIBLE STUDY
Many suggestions below include No Greater Love, Forgiven, The Crrux, Matt Fradd, Word on Fire, Blessed is She, Chris Stefanick, etc.

#7 REMEMBER JESUS IS IN THE DESERT FOR YOU—YOU ARE IN THE DESERT WITH HIM
Imagine Him praying for us during these forty days.

Here are a few specific resources we have compiled for your use:

  General Lenten Resources:

• Resource Packet Office of Divine Worship  
• Read Pope Francis' Lenten Letter HERE
• Bishop Barron's Lent Reflections
• Dynamic Catholic - "Best Lent Ever"
• CRS Rice Bowl
• USCCB Lenten Resources
• Creighton University - Praying Lent
• Example of Parish Welcome Card
• 25 Great Things You Can Do for Lent – Busted Halo
• Stations of the Cross from the American Bible Society (also in Spanish)
• Ignatian Resources
• Franciscan Media Lenten Resources
• Simply Catholic - A Guide to Lent
• Catholic Family Resources

   Small Group Recommendations this Lent:

   Forgiven (FORMED, through the Augustine Institute)
   No Greater Love (Ascension Press)
   The Crux  (FOCUS)

   A Biblical Walk through the Mass (Ascension Press)
   Praying our Way through Life (Twenty-third Publications) 
   Small Groups 101 (Bonus Small Group info HERE)

Lenten Resources for Married Couples:
Marriage in Christ Lenten Series
The Messy Family Project