For those preparing to become Catholic, Lent is a period of formation and preparation for receiving the sacraments at the Easter Vigil. Baptized Catholics use Lent as an opportunity to reflect on their faith and grow in holiness through increased devotion, discipline, and charity.

The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church’s penitential practice. These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works). 

CCC 1438

Read Catholic Answers: Top 20 Questions and Answers About Lent

During Lent, we practice fasting (especially by abstaining from meat with small meals on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) to imitate Christ and humble the body in the service of prayer and conversion.

While giving up something (yes, like chocolate) is encouraged and can contribute to a successful Lent, we can go deeper with a focus on the core Lenten disciplines of prayer, penance, and almsgiving.

Finally, we can enrich the Lenten season by reading the Bible and/or a good Catholic book daily. This can draw us closer to God as it should lead us to greater prayer, humility, charity, and trust.

Each day of the 40-day period is a new day to start over if we feel like we are failing. Surrender to God’s will this Lent by continually returning to God in prayer and focusing on love. The joyful Easter season is around the corner, and so we must do our best to be fruitful with this time of preparation.