By Catholic Philly staff • Posted March 23, 2023

Fasting and Abstinence are cornerstones of the Lenten Season. Particularly, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, we are called to fast and abstain. We are also asked to abstain on the Fridays of Lent.

Fasting and Abstinence are rewarding practices that can go beyond what we know as standard Lenten obligations. Consider one of the four ways below as you progress on your Lenten journey. Incase you missed it, here are 3 ways to practice almsgiving and 4 ways to practice prayer during the season of Lent.

1. Abstain from your favorite foods and drinks

Throughout these forty days, we are called to sacrifice. One way to do so is by picking a favorite food or drink and abstaining from it for the Lenten season. Cutting out a favorite indulgence altogether during this period can help you remain faithful in your Lenten journey. We sacrifice some our favorite things during this time as a reminder that Jesus sacrificed himself for us.

2. Take time away from social media

Cutting down on social media usage is a great way to take some time away from devices and spend more time focusing on our relationship with God. Getting into the habit of limiting screen time provides an opportunity to practice fasting and abstinence while also allowing more time for prayer.

3. Use leftover funds from fasting to donate to CRS Rice Bowl

Fasting and abstinence often leads to saving money. Some of those saved funds could be donated to Rice Bowl, an initiative of Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Rice Bowl is a nationwide Lenten program providing people of all ages with a way to put their faith into action through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Funds found through fasting can be translated to almsgiving and help those most in need.

4. Learn a new meatless meal recipe

During the Lenten season, we are called to abstain from eating meat on Fridays. Try making a meatless meal to accomplish this calling. It may be a challenge for individuals to find different options every week that do not contain meat. Consider checking out the dedicated page CRS Rice Bowl has for meatless recipes. From tasty tostadas, to crispy pancakes, to cheesy stuffed tortillas, you can have a valuable collection of recipes to try.