Lent Is an Opportunity

Feb. 15, 2026

Lent begins this Wednesday. This is a season when we prepare ourselves for the celebration of Easter and the Sacraments of Initiation. All too often, I think people look at Lent as just a burden laid upon us by the Church, rather than as a time to grow in our relationship with Christ and to open ourselves to the graces of God in a fuller and more wondrous way than ever before. I hope that we can experience this Lent as a time of blessing and joy.
   
Certainly, there is a penitential aspect to the season of Lent. That is why the priest wears purple during this time. It is a call to conversion, to deepen our love for Christ and for His Gospel. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is highly encouraged during Lent, especially for anyone who has been away from that sacrament for some time. Jesus Himself gave us this sacrament on that first Easter night when He appeared to the Apostles, breathed on them, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive are forgiven them. Whose sins you shall retain are retained.” Please plan to go to Confession sometime during this Lent.
   
There are also three disciplines of Lent—prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These are practices that we should be engaged in throughout the year, but we focus on them especially during this time.

Prayer—To grow in relationship with Christ we must spend time with Him. In prayer we listen to Christ (especially if we are praying with Scripture) and sharing our own hearts with Him. One saint defined prayer as, “Heart speaks to Heart.” I suggest at least 15 minutes a day in prayer. It does not matter what prayer it is (Scripture, the rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, etc.). But pray, pray, pray. If you are already spending time in prayer, consider adding time to what you are already doing and try to focus on praying better, with greater attention and devotion.

A traditional Lenten prayer is the Stations of the Cross, when we reflect on the 14 moments of Jesus’ journey to Calvary. Deacon Brian will offer the Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent, immediately after the 12:05 pm Mass.

Fasting—The discipline of fasting includes those specific acts of fasting and abstinence that the Church requires of us and the tradition of giving something up during Lent. Catholics who are 14 years old or older are asked to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent. Catholics, ages 14 to 59, are to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, eating only one full meal and two smaller meals that do not add up to a full meal. When we catch ourselves feeling hunger or wanting meat, we are reminded of the deeper hunger for God. “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
   
Almsgiving—Traditionally, almsgiving is about giving money to the poor. But it also includes all acts of charity that we provide to those who are needy. This can include visits or calls to the sick and shut-ins, helping the elder neighbor, dropping off food for a family that is going through a health situation. The possibilities are endless.  Remember last week when Jesus told us that we are to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth.
—Fr. Mike Comer