Living Our Lenten Promises Throughout the Year

Today I found myself wondering, “why are fasting, praying, and giving alms (helping the poor) so important to Lent? And why do we only do it once a year?”

I’m sure most of us have thought about this question at one point or another.

Lent is a special time to offer up our actions to Christ so that we may not only be able to rise with him on Easter, but also so that we develop the strength and discipline to carry out our Lenten promises throughout the year.

The truth is that fasting, prayer, and helping the poor isn’t to be confined only to Lent. As Easter draws near and Lent comes to an end, we need to remember to carry out our Lenten promises throughout the year.

Praying for others and helping the poor are things that we are obligated to do as imitators of Christ throughout the year not just during Lent.  

"The development of each person, the honoring of his or her rights and the common good of all the human family are the responsibility of each and all. Each person is an heir of previous generations and the beneficiary of contemporaries." (from “Catholic Social Teaching: Our Best Kept Secret”)

I think it’s incredibly unique that serving others is literally part of our religion.

We cannot truly call ourselves “Catholic” if we are not living our Lenten promises year round.

1 John 3:17-18 says, “If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.” 

By: Savannah Olshove, Intern