“What was the life of Christ but a perpetual humiliation?”

Ouch. If someone were to tell you your entire life was humiliating from start to finish, how would you take it? Would you laugh it off? Take offense? What if that someone was a saint, and his nickname was “the Apostle of Charity”?

Believe it or not, St. Vincent de Paul was paying God a compliment when he made this statement. The word “humiliation” is rooted in the word “humility,” which comes from the Latin words meaning “earth” (or ground) and “low.” So if the life of Jesus Christ was a perpetual humiliation, it means he was constantly lowering himself to the earth.

God is so good and loving that he is willing to meet us at our “ground” level. It’s a compliment of sorts, but it’s also pretty absurd when you think about it. The one who has held the universe together since the beginning of time, who breathed his own life into our lungs, has created us from the earth and lowered himself to that same ground. He not only wants to be with us, but to help us rise to loftier ground with him. (Philippians 2:6-8)

This is what the life of Christ was all about. And it’s what the season of Lent is all about: humbling, or lowering, ourselves like Christ so that we can rise back up with him come Easter.

It’s the time of year when someone who knows you are Catholic may ask, “What are you doing for Lent?” If you don’t have an answer yet, then translate this question in your mind to, “What can I do to humble myself this Lent?” and you might find a good answer! The key word in the first question is “doing.” What can you choose to give or give up as an act of sacrifice that mimics Christ’s humility, bringing you face-to-face with him at ground level?

“It is on humble souls that God pours down his fullest light and grace.”

Saint Vincent de Paul was called the Apostle of Charity because he understood that humble acts of self-sacrifice unite us with Christ and our brothers and sisters. “For we are his workmanship,” Ephesians 2:10 says, “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Lent is prime time for good works, for humble acts of charity. They teach us how to give and receive the love of God.

If you’re still considering something to give or give up this Lent, begin praying with the ideas below. Some you can do with a friend or a group of friends, while others are best done individually. Some may take some building up to or getting used to, so start small and don’t give up. Some may have to be adjusted to your age, schedule, or circumstances. Remember to pray about what’s realistic for your relationship with Jesus but also challenging enough to strengthen it over the next 40 days.

Give:

1. Invite people you don’t normally interact with to join you for lunch, Mass, youth group, and hangouts. Welcome someone new into your friend group.
2. Once every day, place an anonymous sticky note affirmation where a stranger or loved one can discover it. (For example, write “Psalms 62:2” or “Someone is praying for you” and stick it to a grocery cart or bookshelf.)
3. Read a book written by a saint or read a short bio of one new saint a day. (We have a list of 100 of them for you!)
4. Schedule and practice a form of prayer that is not currently part of your routine (silent Adoration time, singing along at Mass, Lectio Divina, a daily examen, reciting a litany, asking saints to intercede for others, etc.).
5. Ask your pastor, youth minister, or parish office staff if there are any service opportunities at the parish for you and your friends.
6. Take care of a plant or animal. For example, walk a dog every day, whether yours or a neighbor’s.
7. Anticipate the needs of others. Hold the door open for them in public, offer to help them carry things, and allow others to go first in line (even if you were technically there first).
8. Whenever you complain or gossip about someone (or feel tempted to), stop and say one good thing about their character instead.
9. Whenever you judge or disagree with someone (or feel tempted to), stop and thank God for the mercy he has shown you throughout your life. Ask for his help to extend forgiveness and understanding to others.
10. Practice more active listening and respectful eye contact when someone is speaking to you. Leave your phone in your pocket, bag, or car when you are out to eat and ask your friends and family to do the same.
11. Schedule a few minutes of silence and sitting still each day. Keep a pocket journal handy to jot down any thoughts, questions, or wisdom that occurred to you throughout the day.
12. Call someone new each week to ask how you can pray for them.
13. Write a thank-you letter to someone new each week (your parents, your parish priest, your childhood friend, etc.).
14. Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Stations of the Cross, or the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary every Tuesday and Friday night.
15. Receive Holy Communion with greater gratitude, wonder, and reverence. Adoring the Blessed Sacrament for ten minutes before Mass begins, sitting up front at Mass, tuning in to the prayers of the priest, and learning about Eucharistic miracles can increase your devotion.
16. Plan to cook dinner for your family and clean up the dishes once a week.
17. For every post on social media that is about you, create another one that glorifies God.
18. Look up the Sunday Mass readings ahead of time. Reflect on them before Mass, considering what God is saying to you through the Scriptures, and then focus on listening attentively to them during Mass.
19. Make a list of faith-based charities, organizations, and groups in need in your area. Think of your parish, pro-life clinics, community kitchens, clothing centers, special needs foundations, busy families, assisted living homes, etc. Donate your time, goods, services, or part of your allowance/paycheck to a new group each week.
20. Write 40 names of people or groups of people you can pray for on slips of paper. Think of friends, family, neighbors, teachers, coaches, your core team, your parish staff, civic leaders, the vulnerable, people in your past and future, people you don’t get along with, and so on. Place their names in a jar and each day during Lent (Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, Sundays excluded) draw a new name and pray for that person or group of people.

Give Up:

1. Your pride (talking back, explaining yourself, boasting, justifying your mistakes, downplaying your sins, comparing yourself to others, inserting your opinion, wanting to be right, having the last word, etc.).
2. Feeling sorry for yourself.
3. Making fun of others, looking down on them, and gossiping.
4. Turning a blind eye to your neighbor.
5. Doing things for approval or recognition.
6. Shopping for things you don’t need.
7. Sleeping in.
8. The most comfortable seating option in any room you enter.
9. Makeup, jewelry, accessories, or clothing that draws attention to you.
10. Double (or triple!) checking how you look in the mirror.
11. Sugared and caffeinated beverages.
12. Snacks and desserts after dinner.
13. Movies, television, or your favorite streaming service (Spotify, Netflix, etc.).
14. Unrestricted time spent on social media or playing video games. Set a timer and give yourself half your usual amount each day, at most.
15. Having your phone out whenever you’re with others.
16. Swearing out loud, under your breath, and in your thoughts.
17. Unkind, selfish, and impure thoughts.
18. Simply going through the motions of worship, responsibilities, conversations, etc.
19. Turning to unhealthy distractions or bad habits for consolation instead of Jesus.
20. Relying on your own strength and knowledge, thinking everything depends on you, instead of inviting the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 can help you with that last one!

The goal of sacrificing anything, even if it’s a good thing, is to reprioritize love of God above everything. If you decide to “give up” something during Lent, try to replace it with something that will help you focus more on what God wants for you. John 10:10 and 1 Peter 1:9 remind us what that is. And whatever you decide to “give” or “give up” this Lent, stay humble (grounded) with Christ. You got this!

“The more we conquer ourselves, the more he gives us of his grace.”

– St. Vincent de Paul