For most, Lent is a time to look inward, to strengthen one’s own faith, to identify one’s own weaknesses and overcome them. However, author Paul Gray casts the season in a different light, turning the focus outward and finding where attention can be paid to others. He shows readers how to participate in the three most common Lenten practices—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—while keeping those less fortunate in mind. The empathy and compassion required for these acts can help us refocus on the season in a more meaningful way.

By Paul Gray