The Church, with maternal wisdom, offers us throughout the year the so-called liturgical seasons. Their purpose is to reflect the life of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the liturgy: His mysteries, His steps, His sufferings, and His glories are made present in the Holy Mass, in the Divine Office, and in the proper celebrations of each season.
Among all the liturgical seasons, there are two that the Church calls strong seasons: Advent and Lent. These are moments of special recollection, of renunciation of sin, of sincere conversion. Times that seek to transform us in Christ, because He is the goal and the model of all authentic interior renewal. For this reason, the Lord grants special graces to imitate His life during Lent.
Let us not forget that being Christians implies being other Christs in the world and that our goal is holiness. Saint Peter exhorts us:
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all your conduct; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. (1 Pet 1:14-16)
Lent, in particular, is a preparation. It is a dying to ourselves to rise with and in Christ. And if we live it with fervor, it can be a time of great spiritual growth.
The season of Lent leads us towards the most sublime celebrations of the entire liturgical year: the Paschal Triduum, in which we relive the redemptive work. On Holy Thursday, we contemplate the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood in the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Then we accompany Christ in the Garden of Olives, in His prayer full of anguish and in His surrender to the Father’s Will. On Good Friday, we pause before His painful Passion. Holy Saturday opens with the solitude of Mary, that firm faith that kept hope in the Resurrection intact.
And finally, the great night arrives: the Easter Vigil. The most important celebration of the entire liturgical year. It begins in darkness, when the new fire is blessed, a symbol of Christ breaking the darkness of sin and death. The light expands, the Easter Proclamation proclaims victory, and with the Resurrection, the Easter season begins: fifty days of joy for the definitive triumph of the Lord.
How beautiful and decisive this time is. To the extent that we prepare well during Lent, we will arrive at the Paschal Triduum—and especially at the Easter Vigil—with a purer heart, more willing, more open to grace. Therefore, it is worth asking ourselves: how can we live this Lent in a concrete way? What attitudes should we adopt to make it truly fruitful?
This is where the saints—and particularly Saint John Bosco—become sure guides.
Don Bosco’s Advice for Lent
Saint John Bosco, based on his experience with the youth of the oratory, recommended a series of practical resolutions focused on the mastery of the senses and daily charity so that the “body does not rule” over the spirit.
Fasting of the Senses
Fasting helps us to master our passions and our unrestrained or unbalanced desires for pleasure. Don Bosco emphasized that mortification should not only be dietary but should involve what we perceive and communicate:
- Fasting with the eyes: This consists of avoiding looking at images, photographs, or paintings that are contrary to purity or modesty. Likewise, he urged never to read immoral books or those that went against the faith. An excellent way to carry out this fast today is to limit or omit the use of social media. Also, reduce the consumption of series and prioritize those with healthy content (and Catholic/Christian if possible). Of course, if an inappropriate scene appears, change it immediately or turn off the television.
- Fasting with the ears: He recommended fleeing from conversations that offend purity, as well as refusing to participate in or listen to gossip and murmuring.
- Fasting with the tongue: This resolution includes not scandalizing others, avoiding harsh jokes, and refraining from speaking ill of other people. An excellent practice is to save the intention of one’s neighbor and avoid all judgment. And if it is evident that they acted with malice, have mercy on them because they are a soul deceived by the enemy and pray for their conversion.
Mortifications in Daily Life
For the saint, self-mastery is reflected in one’s attitude towards the small difficulties of the day:
- Do not complain: He recommended not complaining about the inclemency of the weather, specifically heat or cold. We can also apply this advice in other circumstances: when tired, hungry, or facing an inconvenience with a colleague or family member. What better than to offer these situations to the Lord!
- Patience in adversity: He proposed enduring problems or difficulties that habitually arise with fortitude. Furthermore, to see them with eyes of faith: God allows them for our good, and nothing escapes His plans.
- Avoid bad example: He emphasized the importance of guarding one’s personal conduct so as not to be a stumbling block for others. We cannot fast, give alms, and pray in private and then behave worldly in public. We must be consistent. Our good example of life can lead many souls to conversion.
Living Fraternal Charity
Don Bosco saw in community life a unique opportunity to live a spirit of spiritual penance:
- Tolerance: A central purpose was to charitably tolerate the defects of others.
- Charitable silence: He suggested the concrete effort not to speak ill of a person about whom one usually makes negative comments.
Cultivating Sacramental Life
Finally, Don Bosco reminded us that no external practice makes sense without an intimate union with Jesus. Therefore, he insisted on frequent and fervent communion. He recommended receiving the Most Holy Sacrament with a spirit of profound gratitude for the Lord’s presence on the altar.
How to live Lent well?
Above all, let us remember that Lent is a time of prayer, a time of recollection, a spiritual desert that will also prepare us to receive the graces of the Paschal Triduum with an even more prepared heart.
It obliges us to die to our will to depend totally on God’s will. Therefore, it is a special time to discern God’s will in our lives, to make decisions, and to ask for graces.
It is about 40 days of spiritual combat, in which we imitate our Lord Jesus Christ in the desert. We not only learn to fight, but we also grow stronger. It prepares us, purifies us, and also helps us grow in love for God by renouncing what displeases Him.
Precisely, all the commandments of our Lord are concentrated in one: to love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves. This is precisely the goal of Lent: to increase our love and our union with God. In turn, this manifests itself in love for those around us. We do not see God, but we do see our neighbor. So, through love for our neighbor, we love God and draw closer to Him.
Finally, our Lenten cross has a redemptive meaning. With our sufferings, we unite ourselves to the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly life, particularly during His passion and death on the cross. And through them, we can collaborate in the salvation of souls.
Let us ask Saint John Bosco for the grace to practice his advice and to live this Lenten season with fervor and devotion.
Want to live Lent with devotion? Here are some articles that may help you do so:
- All about Ash Wednesday: Do you want to start Lent in the best possible way? Gather your heart, meditate and participate in the Ash Wednesday Liturgy!
- What is Lent and why does it last 40 days?: Discover what Lent is, why it lasts 40 days, when it begins, and how to live this liturgical season with its beautiful spiritual practices.
What are the strong seasons of the Church?
The strong seasons are periods of the liturgical year dedicated to more intense spiritual preparation. The Church especially recognizes two: Advent and Lent. Both invite recollection, conversion, and interior renewal to prepare us to celebrate the great mysteries of Christ.
Why is Lent a preparation for the Paschal Triduum?
Lent leads us to the Paschal Triduum—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday—where the Church relives the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. Living these 40 days well helps us to arrive at the Easter Vigil with a more purified heart, ready to receive the graces of Easter.
What are Saint John Bosco's tips for living Lent?
Saint John Bosco recommended concrete and practical resolutions: fasting not only with the body but also with the senses (eyes, ears, and tongue), practicing small daily mortifications, avoiding bad example, living fraternal charity, and strengthening sacramental life through confession and frequent communion.
What does it mean that Lent is a spiritual combat?
It means that during these 40 days, we imitate Christ in the desert, fighting against our weaknesses and temptations. It is not just about avoiding sin, but about growing in virtue, purifying ourselves internally, and strengthening our union with God.
How is love for God concretely lived during Lent?
Love for God is manifested in prayer, sacrifice, and fidelity to His will, but also in concrete love for our neighbor. By practicing patience, avoiding judgment, and offering our small sufferings, we unite ourselves to the Passion of Christ and spiritually collaborate in the salvation of souls.
