40 Ways to Improve Your Lent

By Brian T. Olszewski

Prior to Lent 1985, my wife, Ruth, and I informed our children that we were removing the TV from our house for that season.

"How long?" asked our six-year-old son.

"Forty days," I replied.

"And nights, too?" he asked.

It included the nights, too. But we survived. Seven of us. Oh, did I mention that Ruth did child care in our home? I came home from work on Ash Wednesday to find two of her charges sitting on the floor and staring at the wall where the TV used to be. Eventually, the glazed look left their eyes and they recovered.

Our family did well – even during a blizzard that kept us snowbound for four days. The only side effect was that after the storm Ruth and I hid "Candy Land" and "Chutes and Ladders" from the kids until they were in high school.

If you're not sure how to observe Lent, consult the following list. Some of the ideas are more penitential than others. We suggest you try as many as possible, but remember the purpose is for you to strengthen your relationship with God through your words and actions.

1. Learn about your patron saint.
2. Pray for – by name – people you don't like and for people that don't like you.
3. Participate in a healing service.
4. Read a Catholic publication every time you visit the library.
5. Add a Catholic Web site to your list of favorites.
6. Buy two of everything on your grocery list, and give the duplicates to the local food pantry.
7. Find out why you should have fun on Laetare Sunday, and then do so.
8. Start a "cuss bowl." For every unkind word you utter, put in a dollar – two dollars during Holy Week. After Easter, give the money to an English as a second language program.
9. Bring a "Baltimore Catechism" to a gathering of friends, and start asking each other questions.
10.  Give away a material item you really value.
11.  Pray for those, e.g., siblings, children, parents, spouse, who have left the church.
12.  Talk to a neighbor you rarely or never talk to.
13.  Keep a dish of ashes in a prominent place as a constant reminder of this season.
14.  Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
15.  Test your knowledge of Scripture.
16.  Read a biography about Archbishop Oscar Romero and/or watch the video "Romero."
17.  Open a Christmas Club account with the intention of giving the money to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
18.  Visit a church when you don't have to.
19.  Download Catholic programming for your iPod.
20.  Pray the news – for the people whose stories of hardship are reported daily and weekly.
21.  Read an entry from a Catholic encyclopedia.
22.  Attend Mass at a parish other than your own.
23.  Tithe your tax return
24.  If Catholic schools get NCAA basketball tournament bids, learn about those for whom the schools were named.
25.  Observe five minutes of silence every day.
26.  March 15, the day on which the Feast of St. Joseph, patron saint of carpenters and fathers, is celebrated this year, build or build upon a relationship with one of your children.
27.  Use a Lenten theme in decorating part of a room.
28.  Memorize a Proverb.
29.  Participate in a faith formation presentation.
30.  Tell someone your story(ies) of faith – how God has made a difference in your life.
31.  Disconnect the TV and/or computer.
32.  Identify your God-given talents, how you use them, and how you could use them better.
33.  Fast from gossip.
34.  Pull the rosary out of your drawer and say it. Too boring? Say the Scriptural rosary.
35.  Remove your watch before leaving for church on Palm Sunday.
36.  Develop a prayer list.
37.  Read a history of the papacy.
38.  Find out who Raamah, Putiel, and Uzzah are.
39.  Sacrifice your time in order to help others.
40.  In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, "Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words."

Brian Olszewski is the general manager of your Catholic Herald www.chnonline.org .