At Billings Central, where faith is central, the season of Lent is a special time for students and teachers alike to refocus and grow closer to God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—the three main pillars of a Catholic Lenten experience. Many students and teachers have decided to enter into this season with personal commitments that will improve both their spiritual lives and their physical well-being through positive habit formation. Billings Central has created many activities to help students better enter into this special liturgical season and encourage personal initiative to prepare their hearts in the best way possible for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery of the Triduum and Easter.
The Lenten season is a liturgical season of the Catholic Church celebrated beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Thursday, which marks the beginning of the shortest liturgical season, the three-day Triduum. Many students have taken personal initiatives to better themselves and prepare their hearts for the joy of Easter. “I gave up sweets, and I’m trying to go to chapel Mass,” said junior Annie Hanser. This is just one example of an opportunity offered by Central for students to grow in their faith, especially during the Lenten season. Senior Ava Romee is focusing more on the prayer pillar of Lent by, “trying to spend more time in prayer and reflection.” As we near halfway through Lent, here are some ideas to help you refocus your Lenten journey:
FASTING:
- Spend less time on your phone. Use this new time to spend with God.
- Give up a food or drink that you enjoy. Every time you are tempted to break your fast, think of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross and give it to Him.
- Fast from procrastination. You’ll find yourself less anxious and feel more free.
- Fast from complaining. Instead, count your blessings and say “thank you” more often.
- Fast from gossip. Focus yourself around building respectful and healthy relationships.
PRAYER:
- Set aside 15 minutes after you wake up or before you go to bed (or both) to sit in silence with God.
- Attend chapel Mass on Monday mornings at 7:30 A.M.
- Find a helpful podcast or reflection pamphlet to guide you in meditation.
- Attend the Stations of the Cross at your parish on Friday evenings.
- Find a time to sit with Jesus in adoration or participate in the 24-hour adoration challenge on March 27.
- Make a point to go to Reconciliation at least once.
ALMSGIVING
- Go beyond the required community service hours to volunteer in the community.
- Help in Mass ministries either through Lumen Christi or your parish.
- Set aside some of your allowance or income to spend on someone else.
- Give your time to someone who is struggling to listen to them.
- Go through your closet and donate clothing to Goodwill or Montana Rescue Mission. Take a piece of clothing that you may like and give it as a sacrifice of love.
