The Countdown to Lent

It’s the final countdown … for Lent that is. That’s right, Ash Wednesday is February 17th this year so Lent will be here before we know it. The good news is, you’ve still got some time to prepare yourself for these 40 days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Emily Jaminet, a regular Morning Air® contributor, recently shared why it’s important to not let Lent sneak up on us but to take the time to prepare for this penitential season.

“If we don’t prepare then oftentimes it doesn’t happen,” she pointed out. “I see that in my own life as a busy mom of seven children and active in ministry work. If we don’t set the plan, the roadmap to what it’s going to look like, no matter what it is we can sure miss those opportunities.”

Emily suggested that in your preparation, the best place to start is to think about your goal.

“What do we want at the end of Lent?” she asked. “We want to be one step closer to Our Lord. We want to be more like Him. We want to know Him better. What’s most important is our hearts. Are people able to see Christ in us? In our homes?”

Whatever your days look like right now, think about where you could invite Christ to enter in. Taking the time before Lent begins to assess where you are in your relationship with the Lord will set you up to have a more fruitful, holy Lent. And the time to prepare is now.

“It’s a great time to assess where we really just need more Jesus,” Emily said. “It might be in our morning routines or our evening prayers. Wherever that is take the time to assess. It’s a beautiful way to prepare.”

Listening to Relevant Radio® is a great way to learn, grow, and share your faith before, during, and after Lent. But we have one special tip to help you be ready for Lent before Ash Wednesday.

Last year, tens of thousands of people journeyed together through Father Rocky’s Lenten Lessons on the Mass. Delivered to your inbox daily, these Lenten Lessons are a popular way to renew your love of the Mass and reconnect with Christ in the greatest sacrament.

And this year, Lenten Lessons on the Mass are better than ever! In addition to the 60-second audio reflections, Fr. Rocky has recorded daily bonus videos that go behind the scenes and dive even deeper into the meaning of the Mass. Learn more about the Mass while you drive to work, at dinner time with your family, or while you brush your teeth!

Sign up for Lenten Lessons today and you’ll be prepared to learn, grow, and be inspired with the first lesson on Ash Wednesday.

SIGN-UP FOR LENTEN LESSONS

Stephanie Foley serves as a Digital Media Producer at Relevant Radio®. She is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, where she studied journalism, and she has worked in Catholic radio for 12 years. Stephanie is a wife, a mother of three boys, and in her free time she enjoys reading, running, and really good coffee. You can find more of Stephanie’s writing at relevantradio.com and on the free Relevant Radio mobile app.