St. Ignatius throughout the Spiritual Exercises suggests that we prepare ourselves before we enter into the specific exercise. He suggests preparing the night before: “After retiring, just before falling asleep, for the space of a Hail Mary, I will think of the hour when I have to rise, and why I am rising, and briefly sum up the exercise I have to go through” (Puhl SE #73).
The preparation before prayer is important. It allows us to physically carve out space in our day for prayer, and it allows our minds to be mentally ready for prayer. As Lent approaches, the same idea of preparation that St. Ignatius suggests can be helpful in our preparation for Lent.
- Have we physically set aside a prayer space for our Lenten journey?
- What time of day will we pray during Lent?
- What are the “exercises” or prayer methods we will be using during Lent?
In our preparatory prayer during the Spiritual Exercises, we pray for specific graces. What is the grace we desire to deepen within us during Lent?
- To deepen our understanding of Jesus’ Passion?
- To walk with Jesus through his Passion and Resurrection?
- To work on overcoming a temptation that keeps us from fully entering into life with Christ?
- To foster a new spiritual practice to ignite or inflame our relationship with Jesus?
In these last few days before Lent begins, I invite us to begin our preparatory prayer. We can turn to Jesus and ask, “What is the grace you desire to deepen within me over these next 40 days?”
Wow! What a find on Facebook. I am so happy to have got into Ashes to Glory and to meet again Fr. Tetlow. He may remember me from Calcutta, India. I am now in Mississuaga Canada but still involved with Christian Life Community and Ignatian Spirituality. At age 83, it is so good to meet you all and read your fine articles , which I have copied for personal reflection and prayer during Lent
Good wishes to Fr.Tetlow sj and your group.
Hi Becky, the preparation for Lent article is just perfect for the Lent Exercises that I will lead every Wednesday starting the week after Ash Wednesday. I have been giving the 8-Week Spiritual Exercises, that I composed two years ago and deliver during Lent and Advent at Loyola Jesuit Center in Morristown NJ. Your work is phenomenal and I often include quotes from your book and posts. May God continue to guide you and bless you. Marie
Thank you, Becky. I took your quote regarding the grace God wishes to deepen within us and wrote it with your credits onto the little Lenten daily reflections booklet Sacred Journey (Bernadette Gasslein, Novalis, 2014) I picked up from church.
Becky, we are SO proud of you and of your ministry. God’s blessings be with you and your family.
Thank you for this great post that will help me get ready for the Ignatian Adventure 🙂
This is excellent.
(I thought I posted that yesterday, but I guess not.)
Great post, Becky, for all of us at any stage of relationship with the good Lord.
Becky, as always you have the right words to set a challenge before me. Thank you for this challenge to prepare for Lent rather than just jumping in.