For some of us, it probably feels like we just celebrated Christmas and New Year’s Day, but now we’ve started the Lenten season. Every year, we’re reminded of the need for increased prayer, fasting, and abstinence. And every year, we might grumble and complain about having to “give something up”.
Interestingly, more and more secular research and practices have shown the benefits of many traditional Lenten practices, in both our physical and mental health. Practices once seen as distinctly Catholic, and ridiculed for that reason, are now encouraged by secular practitioners.
During the Lenten season, we often try to take up a new habit or get rid of a bad habit. Whether it’s stopping smoking, more exercise, more reading and less TV, Lent is often a time to make some small change to ourselves. Many of us do return to our old ways after Easter, but that doesn’t always happen.
Interestingly, scientific studies have shown that a sustained period where we can focus on this change of habit can significantly help in making that change stick. Current studies have put the average time for making a habit stick at 66 days, which is a bit longer than the 45+ days of the Lenten season, so we need to be willing to continue that practice after we’ve entered into the Easter celebrations. This doesn’t negate the benefit of changing habits during Lent, however.
For two days during Lent, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, we are asked to enter into a fast from food. Instead of our accustomed 3 full meals a day, we’re asked to only have 1 regular meal and 2 smaller snacks. Not a difficult fast by any means, as traditional fasting was much more severe.
Now this idea of fasting has carried over into secular realms. There has been significant research into intermittent fasting, eating one meal a day generally somewhere between the hours of 3-5 PM, as a sustainable weight loss plan. There is also significant evidence that occasional fasts can help with overall physical health.
Of course, during Lent we’re encouraged to spend more time in prayer. Both private and public opportunities for prayer are presented to us, and we know they will help our spiritual life. Our Lenten prayer should draw us closer to Our Lord.
In addition to the spiritual benefits, it’s long been known that prayer also benefits our physical and mental lives. Basic meditation is encouraged to reduce stress and aid in psychological healing from trauma. Meditation also helps with decision making, learning, and more.
This is just a small sample of the awareness that is developing within the secular world surrounding traditional Lenten practices. The spiritual benefits should be enough to encourage us to embrace these practices, but the physical and mental benefits are nice additions!
