Whenever Lent comes around, many Catholics lean on their childhood religious education to determine what they will "give up."
Based on this understanding many Catholics will choose to give up chocolate."
Or some may even broaden it to include all sweets and desserts.
These popular sacrifices are certainly still valid and can be a source of suffering, but they are not the only type of sacrifice that a Catholic can offer up during Lent.
The Church provides for us three categories, as Pope Benedict XVI highlighted in his Message for Lent in 2008:
In the Lenten period, the Church makes it her duty to propose some specific tasks that accompany the faithful concretely in this process of interior renewal: these are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Prayer
One of the more neglected sacrifices during Lent is the sacrifice of prayer. What this means is sacrificing time to pray to God.
In some ways this is the most difficult sacrifice during Lent, as we treasure our time, holding it very close to us.
This sacrifice can be done in a variety of ways, such as waking up early to pray, or even pausing your daily work to lift your heart to God.
It does not mean that you need to pray more Rosaries during Lent. You certainly could, but it could also mean talking to God on a daily basis.
Fasting
Fasting is most closely associated with Lent, as the Church proscribes specific days for fasting and abstinence.
In addition to these days, Catholics are encouraged to consider how they can offer their eating habits to God.
One of the simplest ways to do this is by only eating at meals and not having any snacks.
However, whatever fasting you do, be sure to consult your physician to ensure that you are not damaging your health.
Almsgiving
Almsgiving is a very popular sacrifice during Lent, as many churches have mite boxes that parishioners use to save money to give to the poor.
In addition to giving money to charity, this could also include service to others, giving your time to be at a local soup kitchen.
Above all, try to challenge yourself to give when it hurts. Putting pennies in a box during Lent is a good start, but if you have a stable salary and a good home, you should be able to give more.
Whatever you do, consider giving up more during Lent than chocolate.
