--- title: "Spiritual Growth Ideas for Lent and Beyond : A Review of 40 Days, 40 Ways" description: "Spiritual Growth Ideas for Lent and Beyond : A Review of 40 Days, 40 Ways" --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/03/06/spiritual-growth-ideas-for-lent-and-beyond-a-review-of-40-days-40-ways#) # Spiritual Growth Ideas for Lent and Beyond : A Review of 40 Days, 40 Ways Mar 6, 2015 12:00:31 PM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) [![40 Days, 40 Ways: A New Look at Lent by Marcellino D'Ambrosio](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/cover-40-days-40-ways-254x400-6.jpg?width=254&height=400&name=cover-40-days-40-ways-254x400-6.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/cover-40-days-40-ways-2.jpg) 40 Days, 40 Ways: A New Look at Lent by Marcellino D'Ambrosio Does your prayer life get dry? Do you get stuck in a rut? Or feel like maybe there is more that you could do to be closer to God's will but haven't a clue what it could be? Enter Marcellino D’Ambrosio's new book [***40 Days, 40 Ways***](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1616368942/catholicmom). There is something about 40 in the Bible. It rained for 40 days & 40 nights. The Israelities wandered in the desert for 40 years. Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days. And Marcellino brings us 40 days of ideas for Lent. Before you get all worked up, let me explain. No, there is too much -- let me sum up. (Bonus points if you got that obscure movie reference) You cannot do all of these the ideas day you read about them. You just can't. One of the days is a retreat. A retreat needs planning. So does planning to help someone. Or to volunteer somewhere. Others you can do, but aren't suitable to your station in life right now (if you have small babies, for instance). What [***40 Days, 40 Ways***](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1616368942/catholicmom) is fabulous for is as a tool to expose you to fresh ideas. As you work through Lent and try to live God's will, keep an open mind to God's voice while reading these. Each day of Lent has a short suggestion of how you can do God's work followed by an essay about why this work is God's work or how it has affected a life. Sundays have no task--just an essay. This is a fabulous book and so much more than a book of Lent activities. During this time of drawing closer to God, it's a menu to reflect on, to see where He calls me. I will be keeping [***40 Days, 40 Ways***](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1616368942/catholicmom) to refer back to as a guide when the seasons of life change. **How are your Lenten sacrifices going?   Has God changed your plan?   Or are you still waiting for him to reveal it?** **Support the work we do at CatholicMom.com by purchasing [*40 Days, 40 Ways*](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1616368942/catholicmom) through our affiliate link! You pay nothing extra!** ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F03%2F06%2Fspiritual-growth-ideas-for-lent-and-beyond-a-review-of-40-days-40-ways%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F03%2F06%2Fspiritual-growth-ideas-for-lent-and-beyond-a-review-of-40-days-40-ways%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F03%2F06%2Fspiritual-growth-ideas-for-lent-and-beyond-a-review-of-40-days-40-ways%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Spiritual%20Growth%20Ideas%20for%20Lent%20and%20Beyond%20%3A%20A%20Review%20of%2040%20Days%2C%2040%20Ways) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F03%2F06%2Fspiritual-growth-ideas-for-lent-and-beyond-a-review-of-40-days-40-ways%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F03%2F06%2Fspiritual-growth-ideas-for-lent-and-beyond-a-review-of-40-days-40-ways%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. Please support our guest writers by visiting their sites, purchasing their work, and leaving comments to thank them for sharing their gifts here on CatholicMom.com. To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ 40 Bags for 40 Days…For Whom? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/03/28/40-bags-for-40-daysfor-whom) [ 40 Years of Cell Phones Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/04/10/40-years-of-cell-phones) [ Immaculate Heart Radio's 40-day Challenge Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/08/19/immaculate-heart-radios-40-day-challenge) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.