Can your Lenten sacrifices benefit the country?

Yesterday morning I was on Morning Air to discuss something that’s been on my mind, what with Lent starting next week (yes, already!) and the continued division in the United States. Recently I realized it’s actually hard to think back to a time when this country wasn’t this way.

Anyway, what do Lent and the state of affairs in America have to do with each other? Well, it made me wonder, could we direct some of the intentions of our Lenten sacrifices to the betterment of the peace, happiness, and culture of this country and its inhabitants? That’s what we talked about, which you can listen to here.

I also added in the need to prayer for the future of the church and its leaders in this country, because I believe - as maybe you do, too - that the Church has the answers. For “human flourishing,” as they say. For what drives the human spirit, and can lead us back to sanity, if we want it.

Regarding Lent, my own goals are to give up all sweets, per usual, except on Sundays. I also recently learned that Bishop Barron has a really lovely night prayer, which I wlll add to the end of my day. Remember for whatever you are giving up, whenever you “feel” it - the hunger pain, the self-control not to gossip, the lack of new clothes bought, and so on - offer that up to God. Perhaps for peace, stability, and a return to some semblance of moral organization in this country (or your own, if you’re abroad).

Skip the doomscrolling!

You can listen to my interview from this morning here. The topic? Prayerful alternatives to before-bedtime doomscrolling. A few takeaways:

• Put down the phone, pick up the beads. Rosary beads, of course.

• Give yourself space for an evening examination of conscience (“the examen”).

• Swap out mindless news feed reading for listening to a homily or reading an edifying book or passage from the Bible.

• Or - just go to sleep! You can do that. I give you permission.

This is a great topic to take into Lent, too. Giving up doomscrolling is a wonderful Lenten plan. Do you know what you’re “doing” for Lent yet?

Enjoy the conversation!

Tomorrow's radio: the prayerful alternatives to doomscrolling

Everyone, I will be on Relevant Radio’s Morning Air program once again to discuss prayerful alternatives to before-bed doomscrolling. That includes putting the phone down and instead doing things like praying the rosary, listening to a homily, doing an evening examen, or even just packing your lunch and picking out your outfit for the next day. I really believe that if you want to end a bad habit, you have to replace it with something positive. The best part is, you will thank yourself for subbing in healthy behaviors for the negative doomscrolling one, and will have greater peace of mind and interior freedom.

The conversation will be around 8:20 eastern tomorrow morning, and see how you can listen here.