Lent is a season of repentance, observance, preparation, and anticipation in the Catholic Church. For centuries, faithful Catholics have upheld the Lenten tradition of pushing themselves in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during this season. This Lenten interview will cover these topics and more.

This year, we spoke with local Minnesota priests to hear about their perspective and insights on Lent. In a short video interview, we asked about the importance of the season, their preferences for spiritual reading during this time, favorite Lenten traditions, and more. We hope that you take the time to watch the interviews or to read the blog article series.

Watch the full Lenten interview here!

One of those priests who graciously took the time to chat with us was Fr. Andrie, Pastor at St. Therese in Deephaven, MN.

Q) When you think of Lent, what is the first word or phrase that comes to mind?

A) Certainly Lent is a great time for "renewal" and renewing in our spiritual life with Christ. It's a great time to remove some of the things that hinder our growth in our Lord Jesus. So addictions that we might have and distractions throughout the day. So we take away the things that hinder our growth in Christ and focus on things like prayer and to be more generous to our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need. We also fast from things that we don't need to deepen our communion with the Lord Jesus and with His Church. It's really kind of a spiritual workout for 40 days to get in shape and to be a great soldier for Christ.

Q) Why is the Lenten season so important for our Catholic faith?

A) Because we are fallen and there's kind of a brokenness inside of us, there's a temptation to get lazy and to be flabby in the spiritual life and take things for granted. Just like athletes have to train for competitions and to be the best, the same is true for our walk with Christ. There's a time of competition and discipline and growing in virtue for Jesus. In the spiritual life, we need these times of this spiritual weightlifting - to strengthen the muscles that we might deepen our union with Christ and His Church.

Q) During Lent, what scripture readings or spiritual books do you turn to for reflection?

A) There's a couple things. One is first of all to kind of focus on the daily Mass readings a little bit more. The Sunday readings are really quite nice because they take you through salvation history. So the first Sunday of Lent is all about creation and recreation in Christ. And then Abraham and it kind of goes on from there. Anytime you read sacred scripture is a good thing.

In the past, I've gone through the book of Exodus, which is 40 chapters long. You read a chapter a day. It's a great story of liberation from slavery and sin to freedom. Exodus is kind of the premier book of Lent so to speak.

In terms of spiritual reading, you can never go wrong with classics like Imitation of Christ. There's more recent books: Jacques Philippe has a phenomenal set of books, Time for God and Interior Freedom. There are these kind of timeless classics and then there's these newer books that are coming out that are really lovely as well.

Q) How do you pursue the 3 pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving?

A) Everyday as a priest I'll obviously celebrate Mass. Right after Mass I take my time in my holy hour with the Lord. That's something I do all year round. In Lent, I'll try to increase that, take a little more time in the afternoon or evening for prayer. I take that kind of take quiet time with the Lord Jesus to reflect a little bit more, especially with sacred scripture.

In terms of fasting, obviously you want to give up some of the things that we enjoy, that pinch the will so to speak. I think today, to cut it back from media consumption, especially social media. Maybe limit that to only a certain amount of time per day. Or our intake of news stories as well.

In some sense, that's kind of like the spiritual junk food which feels good in the moment, but it tends to leave us lathargic.

Q) What is your favorite Lenten tradition?

A) I always say you can never go wrong with Holy week. When you start with the triumph of Palm Sunday, then you go through His Last Supper, then His agony on Good Friday, then the explosion of life at the Easter Vigil, which is kind of like the Superbowl of liturgies. And then Easter Sunday celebrates His Resurrection. Do everything you can to enter into that week because you will grow closer to Jesus in traveling with Him and entering into His life, death, and Resurrection.

Q) How can viewers enter more fully into this Lenten season?

A) You know every year one of the things we do here at St. Therese is something called "Catholic Bootcamp." So that includes:

  • One daily Mass a week or an hour of adoration each week
  • The rosary every single day
  • A nightly Examination of Conscience (5-10 minutes to reflect on the day, the good things and where you are in need of renewal)
  • Going to a cemetery once during Lent to pray for the dead
  • One act of mercy for our brothers and sisters - something we do for the poor
  • Going to confession at least once during Lent
  • At least three times going to the Stations of the Cross

So there's quite a list there. It's doable. For somebody who is looking for a challenge, it's challenging but not impossible. We started that last year and people seemed to have really received it and loved it very much. So this is the second year we are doing it now.

More Priest Perspectives to Come

Fr. Erickson of Transfiguration: Full Video | Blog Post

Fr. Dufner of the Church of the Epiphany: Full Video | Blog Post

Fr. Przybilla of St. Charles Borromeo: Full Video | Blog Post

Thanks for reading this Lenten interview. As we move through the season of Lent, stay tuned for more Lenten interviews in this series and for new series in the future as well.