Tip - Preparation for Lent - Ignatian Spirituality

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 [...]