"How Can I Grow Closer to Jesus This Lent?" (The Inner Life with Patrick Conley)

If you’re like Patrick Conley (or most of us), Lent can feel like a 40-day endurance test of willpower and self-denial. But some Catholics actually love Lent... what’s up with that? To get some motivation and insight, Patrick brings on Fr. Patrick Hyde, a Dominican priest, to talk about why Lent even exists and how we can actually embrace it.   Be sure to check out the full hour!   Lent = Spiritual Spring Training ⚾   Fr. Hyde (huge baseball fan, by the way) compares Lent to spring training: a time to get back to fundamentals. Some of us show up out of shape (spiritually speaking), while others are in decent form but still need a refresher. Either way, Lent is a time to reset and recommit.   The Big Three: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving 🙏🥪💰   These aren’t just random things the Church makes us do to suffer. They’re actually designed to:   Prayer → Strengthen our connection with God. Think vocal prayers, mental prayers, and deep contemplation. And of course, prioritize the sacraments: Mass, Confession, and Adoration.   Fasting → Purify our desires, join in Christ’s sacrifice, and stand in solidarity with the poor. It’s less about losing weight and more about losing distractions.   Almsgiving → Fr. Hyde says that it's the fruit of prayer and fasting. If those two are going well, generosity naturally follows.   Detachment: Even from Good Things? 😳   Yep. It’s not just about ditching sin but also recognizing how even good things (food, comfort, social media, giant trendy water bottles?) can sneak in and steal our focus from God. Sometimes we subconsciously attach our identity to stuff instead of Christ. Lent is a chance to recalibrate.   Fasting Logistics: What If You Have a Demanding Job? 🚔☕   One caller, James (a law enforcement officer), asked about balancing fasting with a physically demanding job. Fr. Hyde reminds us:   -The Church doesn’t demand impossible sacrifices. There are exceptions for health and work-related needs.   -If full-on fasting isn’t feasible, modify it: maybe eat simpler meals or give up condiments.   -The goal isn’t suffering for suffering’s sake; it’s growing closer to Jesus.   Don’t Turn Lent into a Pride Project 💡   Ever felt super proud of your Lenten sacrifices? (” I haven’t touched sugar in 39 days... behold my holiness!”) Fr. Hyde warns against letting vanity creep in. If your Lenten plan isn’t actually helping you grow in virtue, adjust it!    Be Intentional    It’s not about checking off a suffering to-do list. It’s about growing closer to Jesus every single day. So, if you’re struggling, don’t just grit your teeth and push through; reassess, refocus, and remember the “why” behind it all.   Easter will come. But let’s not just wish Lent away... let’s make it count. 💜     The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.