Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving
- Lauren
- Apr 4
- 2 min read
“Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me.”
- excerpt from the “Anima Christ” prayer
Easter is just around the corner. The celebration of Christ’s defeat of sin is near. How has Lent been going for you? Are you ready for Holy Week? How can you finish out this Lenten season strong?
The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Through these pillars, one can reflect on the state of one’s spiritual life.
Prayer – This is devotion to the Lord, prayer for others, and submission to His will. Where in my life do I need help? Who else in my life needs prayer?
Fasting – This is denial of oneself. What in my life is robbing me of time with God? What is pulling me away from Him? How can I make small sacrifices in my life for God.
Almsgiving – This is turning one’s attention outward. Who in my life needs help? How can I reach out to those who are spiritually, emotionally, or physically in need this Lenten season? Who can I serve?
I invite you to take some time today to reflect on how the Lenten season has been going for you. Which of the three pillars could you spend more time with? How has the Lord been calling you to Himself this Lenten season?
A favorite prayer of mine is the “Anima Christi”, Latin for “Soul of Christ”. This prayer was popularized by St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), founder of the Jesuits. Its authorship is unknown.1
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within Your wounds hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from You.
From the evil one protect me.
At the hour of my death,
call me and bid me come to You.
That with Your saints I may praise You
forever and ever.
Amen
In Christ,
Lauren
Footnote:
1S.H. Frisbee, “Anima Christi,” Catholic Answers, February 21, 2019, https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/anima-christi.
All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible
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