What are you doing for Lent?

Lent is here. And God's timing never fails to amaze me. As we experience this historic transition in the Church with Pope Benedict XVI stepping down, Lent offers itself as a time for us to take a step back. It is a time to eliminate distractions, look at our own unworthiness, and reorient ourselves toward God. If you've gotten distracted over the last couple days and never finalized your plans for Lent, there's still time. If you don't know where to start, here are a few ideas to get you started. Simple and straightforward, some of these Lenten plans follow the 1-1-1 Plan outlined in the Feb. 17 issue of OSV Newsweekly (available as a PDF): Focus on one sin, add in one spiritual activity and give up one thing.

Lenten plans

Sloth, TV, spiritual reading
This Lent, I am eager to try Father Jim Shafer's 1-1-1 Plan. For some reason, I've been feeling very lazy lately, so I plan to work on sloth during the Lenten season. One thing that should help with that is the fact I am giving up TV viewing. (EXCEPT for the "Downton Abbey" season finale on Feb. 17 and the Academy Awards on Feb. 24!) As for my add-on, I plan to do more spiritual reading, including Paula Huston's "Simplifying the Soul" and Brother Victor Antoine d'Avila-Latourrette's "A Rhythm of Life: The Monastic Way." – Sarah Hayes, OSV editorial

New toys
I am giving up buying new toys and downloading new apps that cost money. I will try and play with stuff I already have instead of buying more. – Aidan, age 8, Minneapolis, Minn.

Envy, desserts, prayer
My goal this Lent is to deepen my relationship with Jesus Christ. I plan to focus on envy, give up desserts, and attend Chapel for prayer one hour during the week. – Ryan Kohnen, OSV customer sales

Greed
I have a weakness, at times, for purchasing too many media items: books, DVDs, and CDs. And so, focusing this Lent on the sin of greed, I will give up purchasing media items for myself and instead provide them to others, within a fixed budget — by the grace of God! – Anonymous

Pride, social media, spiritual reading
Pride (strive on being more humble), giving up radio and eliminating social media on Fridays in Lent, and doing spiritual reading. – David Dziena, OSV editorial

Alcohol
While I’m not Catholic I still participate in the Lent tradition of abstaining to practice discipline and become more in tune with how much I need God. I will be abstaining from alcohol during Lent. I’ll admit it is hard to drink in moderation sometimes, and Lent is a wonderful opportunity to refocus my intentions and allow God to convict my spirit for growth. – Brent Chamberlin, OSV advertising

Giving blood, red meat
I am giving blood and also fasting from red meat daily. – Adam C.

Adoration
I'm going to make a commitment to spend time in our parish's Adoration Chapel during Lent – it's something that I've never made time for, and I'm hoping it will become a longtime habit! – Denise Enos, OSV curriculum

Sloth, television, daily examination of conscience
As for myself, I have an unfortunate tendency of falling on my couch in the evenings after work and staying there instead of doing valuable things like exercise, budgeting, practicing guitar, praying ... you get the picture. So I'll be attacking sloth this Lent, both physically and spiritually. To help that, I will be examining my conscience every evening and giving up my, I'm ashamed to say, primary evening activity of watching television. Or maybe I should just get rid of the couch ... Either way, I am excited to see where God takes me, and all of us, this Lent. – Jennifer Rey, OSV web department

Share your Lenten plans

We would love to hear more ideas about how to experience a fruitful Lent. Please share your Lenten plans in the comment section below. If you need more ideas, read more about the 1-1-1 Plan, or visit our Lent page.