Lenten Opportunities for Teens
Lent is meant to be a reality check. It is a reminder that apart from God, we have no existence. In these six weeks, we are challenged to recognize the obstacles in our life that may be putting distance between us and God, and to spend time in fasting, almsgiving, and prayer.
Traditionally, we fast during Lent by giving up something. Through fasting, we gain clearer vision. We’re invited to see things in new ways. The difficult feelings we might experience when fasting can help us see that we’ve been leaning on the wrong things, and direct us to lean more on God.
We practice almsgiving as a way for us to turn our attention towards others. It is all too easy for us to fall into a habit of focusing only on ourselves. Lent challenges us to look outwards and to become more aware of the needs of others.
We are also encouraged to spend more time in prayer. Our lives become busy, and in our busyness, we can neglect to spend time with God. These 40 days are an opportunity to draw our awareness towards God and to grow in our relationship with our Creator.
If you’re looking for ways to deepen your experience of Lent this year, here are some resource to help you:
Traditionally, we fast during Lent by giving up something. Through fasting, we gain clearer vision. We’re invited to see things in new ways. The difficult feelings we might experience when fasting can help us see that we’ve been leaning on the wrong things, and direct us to lean more on God.
We practice almsgiving as a way for us to turn our attention towards others. It is all too easy for us to fall into a habit of focusing only on ourselves. Lent challenges us to look outwards and to become more aware of the needs of others.
We are also encouraged to spend more time in prayer. Our lives become busy, and in our busyness, we can neglect to spend time with God. These 40 days are an opportunity to draw our awareness towards God and to grow in our relationship with our Creator.
If you’re looking for ways to deepen your experience of Lent this year, here are some resource to help you:
- The Stations of the Cross are a prayer often used during Lent. If you’d like to pray with the station during Lent but are not sure how, try the virtual stations of the cross.
- One of the practices we’re encouraged to do during Lent is make more time for prayer. The 3-Minute retreat makes it easy to set aside time each day for you to stop and spend a few moments with God.
- Volunteer at Active Discipleship Day on Saturday, March 26, and check out our list of other volunteer opportunities.
- Track what you spend your money on and see where you can cut back in order to donate to your favorite charity.
- Download these apps to deepen your prayer:
- “Centering Prayer” will help you enter into the silence.
- “JesuitPrayer” offers daily inspirations, daily Examens, and reflections on the daily readings.
- “Reimagining the Examen” will guide you through a variety of different examen meditations.
- “Sacred Space” guides you through a meditation on a reading each day.
- “Hallow” offers audio-guided meditations, readings, music, and more.
- Listen to a podcast such as “Imagine: A Guide to Jesuit Prayer” with Fr James Martin or “Poco A Poco” with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.