What will you do to grow closer to God this Lent? We recommend checking out the Rule of St. Albert, the code of conduct that shapes the Carmelites’ daily schedule, tasks and interactions.
This Rule has proven its effectiveness, having formed dozens of saints from St. Simon Stock to St. Therese of Lisieux.
It was created for cloistered religious, so you can’t follow it completely. But here are a few ways to let it inspire your Lenten practices.
Pray more.
“Each of you is to stay in his own cell or nearby, pondering the Lord’s law day and night and keeping watch at his prayers unless attending to some other duty.”
Granted, most of us can’t pray all day. But we can pray a little more than usual. If you already pray for five minutes in the morning and before bedtime, add a five-minute afternoon prayer. Also, practice offering your heart to God frequently throughout the day. That only takes a few seconds!
Set aside moments of silence.
“Keep silence from after Compline until after Prime the next day.”
Again, we have to adjust this Rule to suit our lives. You may not be able to maintain long quiet periods like the Carmelites do, especially if you have young children.
Try to carve out intentional moments of silence. Instead of listening to a podcast on your way to work, keep quiet and pray as you drive. Or go for a solitary walk during your lunch break.
Listen to a spiritual reading or talk while eating.
“You are to eat whatever may have been given you in a common refectory, listening together meanwhile to a reading from Holy Scripture where that can be done without difficulty.”
In this age of audiobooks, you can easily find a recording of Scripture or a spiritual classic to listen to while you eat. Or, ask family members to take turns reading a short spiritual passage during mealtime. If you have children, make sure the passages are brief and suitable for their ages.
Fast or abstain more, if able.
“You are to fast every day, except Sunday, from the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross until Easter Day.”
We don’t recommend fasting this much. But if your health and lifestyle permit, fast or abstain just a little bit more than required during Lent. For example, you could abstain from meat on Tuesdays in addition to Fridays. Or you could forgo your afternoon snacks.
Just don’t go overboard. Even the Rule makes exceptions to fasting: “Unless bodily sickness or feebleness, or some other good reason, demand a dispensation from the fast; for necessity overrides every law.”
Prayerfully consider following one or more of these practices during Lent. We recommend talking to a priest first to make sure they would truly benefit you.
And start planning your penances now. Ash Wednesday will be here before you know it.
