Pray
Pray with CAFOD this Lent
As we prepare this Lent to remember Jesus' death and to celebrate his Resurrection, we are called with renewed purpose to prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Together, these are the three pillars of Lent - bringing us closer to God and to our neighbours, preparing our hearts for the joy of Easter.
Prayer
Faith leads us beyond ourselves. It leads us directly to God.
The Catechism describes prayer as a "personal relationship with the living and true God" (CCC2558) - a chance to meet and know God who loves us.
In November last year, Pope Leo spoke about the importance of prayer as a moment of encounter with God and also with our neighbours- “it is only by listening to the Lord that we learn to truly listen to one another."
This Lent, as we quieten our hearts to listen to the Lord, we also pray for all those who suffer. That we may - in the words of Pope Francis - "seek the face of God in our brothers and sisters in need."
On the night of Maundy Thursday - which marks the end of Lent - we remember Jesus washing the feet of his disciples and praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Knowing he is about to give his life out of love for all, Jesus asks his disciples to "remain here, and watch with me...watch and pray" (Matthew 26:38,41).
As we prepare to watch and pray with Jesus this Holy Week and Easter, and to follow his example of self-giving love, sign up to our Lent calendar emails for an opportunity to pause every day of Lent and spend some time with God and your neighbours in prayer.
Fasting
Lent comes providentially to awaken us, to rouse us from our lethargy!
When CAFOD asked Dominican Friar Fr Nicholas Crowe what fasting meant to him, he reflected that by breaking our routines, fasting makes makes us re-evaluate the decisions we make every day and ask ourselves where we could be finding more space for God.
This echoes Pope Francis' Ash Wednesday homily in 2014. Lent is a wake-up call, reminding us that we need to make active choices every day to be a better follower of Jesus.
"Fasting makes sense", Pope Francis said, "if it also leads to some benefit for others, if it helps us to cultivate the style of the Good Samaritan, who bends down to his brother in need."
This was the inspiration behind CAFOD's first Family Fast Day in 1960 when a group of Catholic women fasted with their families and donated the money they saved to help build a mother-and-baby clinic in Dominica.
Since then, every Lent, Catholics have been fasting and giving what they save to help our sisters and brothers in need. Fast Day this Lent is on Friday 27th February.
Find out more about Lent Family Fast Day
Almsgiving
Love your neighbour as yourself
When Jesus is asked which is the most important commandment, he replies "Love the Lord your God...and love your neighbour as yourself." (Mark 12:30-31).
Faith and charity - loving God and loving our neighbour - are two sides of the same coin. Loving God moves us towards our neighbour and loving our neighbour brings us closer to God. So when we give to charity, it is a spiritual act.
In Lent specifically, we are called to follow in the example of God's own generosity and to make sure that charity and faith are going hand-in-hand in our own lives.
But what about when Lent is over? Setting up a monthly gift of any amount can turn this Lent into a moment for permanent renewal as you make a long-term commitment to loving your neighbours.
Your sisters and brothers need good neighbours like you - start your monthly gift this Lent
Other ways you can support CAFOD's work this Lent
Buy ethical Easter gifts
Fairtrade Easter eggs, hand-painted crosses and ethical virtual gifts - Easter gifts that help your neighbours for as little as £5.
Join the Big Lent Walk
Take on the Big Lent Walk - walk 200km in 40 days and raise funds to help provide life-saving water for your sisters and brothers.