Lent //

Hello internet world,

Do you remember me?

I'm so sorry I neglected you.

I was on spring break.

I went to visit Ave Maria University.

I had so much fun.

Hopefully sometime soon I can write a post about it! 

But for right now I'm going to share with you guys what I think about lent, and what I'm giving up for Lent!

Lent stimulates us to let the Word of God penetrate our life and in this way to know the fundamental truth: who we are, where we come from, where we must go, what path we must take in life…

                                                                                                                           Pope Benedict XVI

What is Lent?
Lent is forty days of sacrifice and Penance, as well as prayer and almsgiving. The Church unites herself each year to the mystery's of Jesus in the desert and suffering on the Cross. Catholics all around the world make sacrifices, give alms, and offer up their prayers and unite their sufferings to be one with Christ on Calvary.

Lent can be seen as something very dreadful and repetitive..
"Are you serious, is it really time for Lent again?"
"Didn't we just have Lent?"
 "Man, I hate giving up meat."   etc…

Personally for me Lent has always felt the same as it did last year, and the year before.But it's always my favorite time of the year also.  But this year I want to make  Lent different.  I want to feel the calling to pray the Stations of the cross every friday. To pray the divine mercy Chaplet three or four times a week. Pray the Rosary every day with my family. And to offer up all the little crosses God sends and to do it all with a smile.

But I always find the road to holiness in Lent so hard to achieve.  I usually start out wanting to give up A LOT of things; but I often feel like just plain giving up. I just want to throw in the towel and tell myself "well there's always next year." NO, I REFUSE TO THINK SUCH THOUGHTS! I'm thankful that I have my family and friends to hold me accountable. I recommend getting an accountability partner this lent. We all need one! Don't be afraid to tell people what your giving up. For me whenever I tell my family and friends what I'm giving up it's like: "Hey you, yes you! I need your help. I'm a poor human being with weak flesh in the sight of temptation (delicious food), please HELP ME! Lest I fall into temptation". Of course yours can be less dramatic as mine.

So here is a little list of somethings I'm giving up for Lent. *disclaimer this is not a post about "look at me! Look at how holy I am". No, I just want to help give you guys some ideas on what we all can do to grow in holiness. Because my road to being holy is bumpy and challenging. And I know how tough it can be to try to live out your faith in this world. That's why I'm writing this blog post so you guys can help keep me accountable. And hopefully give you guys some ideas, also.

- No sweets, chocolates, or Pop.

- No Netflix (heaven help me, I'm going to die)

- No Facebook

- No Temple Run

- Less time on social media

- No Pop, indie, or country music

- Work out 3 to 4 times a week. ( LOL)


“The observance of Lent is the very badge of the Christian warfare. By it we prove ourselves not to be enemies of Christ. By it we avert the scourges of divine justice. By it we gain strength against the princes of darkness, for it shields us with heavenly help. Should mankind grow remiss in their observance of Lent, it would be a detriment to God's glory, a disgrace to the Catholic religion, and a danger to Christian souls. Neither can it be doubted that such negligence would become the source of misery to the world, of public calamity, and of private woe.”—Pope Benedict XIV

Pray for me you guys!! And I'll pray for you and all your Lenten adventures. Please comment and tell me what you're giving up for Lent.  I can't wait to hear it all.