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 interview here!

One of those priests who graciously took the time to chat with us was Fr. Przybilla, Pastor at St. Charles Borromeo in Minneapolis, MN.

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

A) When I think of Lent, the word 'renewal' comes to mind. Because it gives us an opportunity to renew our faith. It helps give us an opportunity to renew our love for God, for others, just to kind of renew that relationship.

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

A) The main book obviously is the Bible that I go to. You know I think that the Church in her wisdom provides us with readings that are appropriate. So I tend to just reflect on the readings for the day and the readings for Lent. They just have such a richness in terms of the season of Lent and give such a wealth of things to meditate upon.

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

A) How I've pursued the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving...I think just by looking at them and thinking "what are those areas that I need to grow in?" I first ask Jesus, "OK Lord, what do you want me to do this Lent? And what do you want me to focus on?" So it begins with a prayer asking the Lord who knows me better than I know myself.

I look at those areas and just try to find things that are going to help me to renew my faith, to renew my love for God and others, to try to overcome certain habits or faults that I have. That's how I look at those three pillars.

Q) What is your favorite Lenten tradition?

A) I think Stations of the Cross. It gives me that opportunity to just walk with the Lord and just to enter back in. I think also seeing in the Stations of the Cross my own cross that I'm carrying. It allows me to think about how I carry that with the Lord and more importantly how He carries that with me.

Q) Any final thoughts on how viewers can enter into Lent this year?

A) One thing that came to my mind is actually the reading for today, the Thursday right after Ash Wednesday - the second day of Lent. Jesus saying, 'if you want to be my disciple, deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me.' And I think reflecting upon that and those three aspects of denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, and following our Lord, is just a wealth to meditate upon. I think if we pondered those words, we could really enter not only into Lent, but into Holy Week and even into the Resurrection.

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. Andrie of St. Therese: 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.