Five Ways to Transform Your Soul this Lent

Charisse Tierney shares five simple strategies for growing in holiness while keeping our usual Lenten observances from becoming too formulaic.

The interior life is mysterious. Feelings are fleeting, human whims threaten spiritual resolutions, and obedient acts of kindness do not always mirror the tumultuous emotions that accompany them.  

Fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are beautiful ways to grow in the spiritual life … until they start to feel like a three-pronged formula being mechanically followed rather than zealously pursued. 

Jesus Waits in Hope  

Much can be gained by being obedient to the faith through times of spiritual darkness, doubt, or weariness. But our Lord wants to be tirelessly sought after. He loves our good works, our kind words, and our sacrifices. He showers us with grace and mercy when our spiritual fervor is reduced to a faint glimmer. But still, He waits in hope. He waits in hope that our outer works will transform our inner beings. He waits in hope that we will clean out every dark corner of our hearts to make room for Him. He waits in hope that we will joyfully surrender all so that He can become our everything. 

I recently got to watch someone surrender all to Jesus. The following are a few of the ways I saw her use tangible practices to mold the intangible into visible holiness.  

Five Ways to Grow in Holiness During Lent  

Increase and intensify your daily prayer.  

Start with one Hail Mary or a Morning Offering upon waking. Add a daily Rosary or a Divine Mercy Chaplet. Practice retreating to the depths of your soul and giving everything to Jesus in prayer. Talk to Him about everything. Be honest. Practice regular and real conversation with God. 

Renew your sacrament schedule.  

Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly. Write it down on your calendar. Consider adding a daily Mass or Perpetual Adoration hour to your week. Write down each of your family members’ baptism dates so you can celebrate on those special days. Remind yourself of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that you received at Confirmation and meditate on how they are revealed through you. Schedule regular date nights with your spouse to remind you of the sacramental graces present in your marriage. Keep the sacraments close so they can protect your soul and strengthen your will. 

Joyfully accept discomforts or inconveniences.  

Choose one discomfort or inconvenience to accept. Stop complaining about the cold winter weeks that seem to be dragging on. Always smile at that one child who ceaselessly interrupts you. Refrain from sighing when your child spills their milk, tracks mud into the house, or needs your love and attention when you feel you have none left to give. Accept discomforts as purifications from God that will seem fleeting and trivial once we see Him face to face. 

Act on a devotion.  

Fulfill the requirements or suggestions of one of the many Catholic devotions that are offered. Follow a regimen of prayer and fasting or display a particular image in a prominent place in your home. Try a new-to-you devotion and refresh your spiritual life with an old, proven way to draw closer to God and His Church.  

Reduce or eliminate secular distractions.  

What tends to draw your mind away from God, eat into your prayer time, or distract you from your vocation and purpose? Move the television to a different room in your home, turn off all devices during certain times of the day, or create a different type of playlist to listen to. Maybe what you watch, read, or listen to isn’t morally offensive, but sacrificing it for a few weeks (or longer) would allow more time for growing your relationship with God and your family. Consider making a permanent change in one small area of your life and flex your ability to continue to surrender all to God. 

Start small, but persevere. Discern, act, and remain obedient to what you know God is calling you to do. Fight the formulaic feeling and keep asking Jesus to light the flame of fervor in your heart. He only wants greatness for you. He expects greatness from you. Because He knows you can be great when all is done in union with Him. 

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Copyright 2025 Charisse Tierney
Images: Canva