Mark from Honolulu called into The Patrick Madrid Show with a Lent question that you might have wondered about:

👉 “Can I add something extra for Lent (like good deeds or ministry work) instead of giving something up?”

Sounds appealing, right? You don’t have to suffer through black coffee and no streaming services… just do extra good stuff! 😇

Patrick’s take? 🚨 Not so fast. (no pun intended)

He explains that this whole “just add something” idea actually became trendy in the ‘90s.Lent is about self-denial; just like Jesus said: “If you wish to be my disciple, deny yourself.”

Giving something up is about:

✅ Mastering our bodily appetites (self-control)

✅ Learning to detach from things we like

✅ Deepening our dependence on God

So, bottom line?

💡 Adding good deeds = Good ✅

💡 Skipping self-denial = Not so good ❌

You can add something extra, but don’t skip the sacrifice. Time to say goodbye to that daily coffee run (or, you know, whatever your comfort is) and embrace the Lent struggle. 💜

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS