CRUX: Lenten Program for Everyone
LESSONS IN SURRENDER:
LEARN TO LET GOD LEAD YOU THIS LENT
Lent brings us to the Cross of Jesus Christ - the heart of our Faith. Starting Ash Wednesday, you'll learn to surrender to God through the adoption of four daily challenges:
Daily physical exercise
A dietary fast
Daily reading of Scripture
A nightly Examen of Conscience
Why:
God made us body and soul, and these practices are holistic, bringing these parts of us together. Encountering the weaknesses we all have and encountering God there. This is a program to facilitate a NEW encounter with God. Let’s make this Lent not just about giving up, but about being filled up in a new way!
When:
Starts Wednesday, February 18 - Ash Wednesday
Ends on Sunday, April 5 - Easter Sunday
How:
Devotional book with daily reflections offered FREE to you at Saint John’s (while supplies last). At the end of each week, there is a special reflection for entire families.
Daily videos through the Ascension App
Weekly small group meetings
After 8:00 am Mass - Leader: Sue Pieper - Meet in School Conference Room
After 10:00 am Mass - Leader: Loree Heinkel - Meet in the School Library (basement)
Optional: purchase a journal to log your prayer and progress through the program.
The Official Action Plan for Crux: A Lenten Journey of Surrender with Fr. Columba Jordan
Welcome to the Crux action plan that follows along with Fr. Columba Jordan’s Lent Program, Crux: A Lenten Journey of Surrender!
In this plan, you’ll find:
Scripture readings and a discipline tracker for every day of Lent
A guide for the Daily Examen
Ideas for Lenten Disciplines
Surrender to God allows his providence to work in our lives, leading us to holiness and love that we cannot achieve on our own. St. Paul does not describe his weaknesses as failures in 2nd Corinthians, but instead as an opportunity for God’s grace to work through and within him.
Inspired by a holistic view of the body and soul, Crux will lead you in a journey through Lent, balancing physical and spiritual disciplines that will require you to encounter weakness and surrender to God.
For our spiritual growth, each day we’ll read passages from the Gospel of Mark (or the Sunday Gospel on Sundays) and commit to a Daily Examen. Fr. Columba Jordan, CFR, will offer daily reflections on these readings and guidance on how to surrender to God, available with a Premium Subscription in the Ascension App.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.””
We’ll also practice two physical disciplines: daily exercise and a dietary fast. It is up to you to decide what form of these God is calling you to this Lenten season.
Crux is designed to challenge you, because in our weakness we reach out for God’s help and surrender to his incredible love. When you begin to encounter difficulty, that is the time to run to God and experience the power of surrender.
In surrender, you will receive an outpouring of his grace and strength, bringing you closer to the saint you are meant to be.
How to Pray the Daily Examen
Begin by drawing your attention to God’s presence and love for you. Pray the sign of the cross and any other prayers you normally start or end your day with.
Step 1: Gratitude: First, thank God for his gifts of the day, large and small.
Step 2: Petition: Petition God for any graces that you may need as you pray the Examen.
Step 3: Review: Review your actions and feelings throughout the day. This entails more than a mere overview of each hour, but should focus on interior movements such as your desires, struggles, anxieties, and joys.
Where did you hear God’s promptings and draw close to him?
Where might you have turned away from God’s promptings?
Step 4: Forgiveness: Ask God for his mercy and forgiveness for any wrongdoing. It is essential that we root this step in a deep trust in God’s love. God rejoices in our desire to return to him, and not only awaits us, but runs to meet us: “while [the prodigal son] was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him” (Luke 15:20).
Step 5: Resolve: Finally, turn your attention to the next day, planning concretely how you’d like to grow closer to God.
Ideas for Exercise
God’s grace builds on nature: he gave us bodies and souls, and we can use both to bring us closer to him in cooperation with his grace. The physical disciplines may seem intimidating, so we encourage you to honestly evaluate your own state in life, your unique gifts and talents, and prayerfully consider how God might be asking you to grow this Lenten season.
As you reflect on what God may be inviting you to take up this Lent, remember that there is no single ‘right’ way to integrate physical discipline into your life. What matters is choosing an exercise that fits your circumstances and helps you offer your strength, however great or small, back to God. This is not medical advice, and anyone with medical conditions, pregnancy, or other concerns should consult professional guidance before beginning a new exercise routine.
To help, we’ve put together several approachable workout formats you can tailor to your unique God-given circumstances.
If you need…
Short, simple options for busy seasons of life…
Pick a time each day for a short walk, or stroller walk if you’re a parent
Micro-workouts: pick a single exercise, like wall sits, stretches, or planks, and fit in one to three minutes of movement
Playtime with kids or grandkids is an often overlooked source of movement!
Habit stacking: connect a short 5 or 10 minute bodyweight moveset with another habit you do daily
Gentle or adaptive movements for maintaining strength and stability…
Commit to daily balance training or a simple stretching routine
Explore chair-based exercises, which allow for gentle strength training
Try mobility exercises to stay active without stressful intensity
Shared or community-friendly exercise…
Partner exercises with a spouse, friend, or a brother or sister in the community you live in.
Group walks can help to maintain daily accountability.
Explore classes in your area. Gyms or running aren’t for everyone, and that’s ok! Exploring options like dance cardio, water aerobics, free run clubs, or other groups can help you discover a new form of movement you love.
Options for easily integrating movement…
Commit to a morning stretching routine, or an evening one before bed.
Find one extra movement you can add each day: taking the stairs at your workplace, add some extra steps to walking the dog, or setting a daily alarm for a quick movement break.
New ideas because you already exercise each day…
Bring God into your current routine! Keep doing what you’re doing, but add a short prayer before or bring him to the focus.
Try something new that stretches your comfort zone. This could be a group or individual sport, or an active hobby like biking.
Invite a friend or family member to join you: sometimes we can get comfortable with our own habits and routines. This could be an opportunity to allow a strength of yours to uplift someone else!
Ideas for Dietary Fasting
Everyone’s dietary fast will look different depending on your age, health, and personal circumstances. According to Canon Law, those age 14 and up are required to abstain from meat on Fridays in Lent and Ash Wednesday. Healthy adults from the ages of 18-59 must also fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, allowing one full meal and up to two smaller meals that are together less than a full meal.
Our dietary fast in Crux is similar to the common Lenten practice of “giving something up,” whether it be desserts, snacks between meals, alcoholic beverages, or some other fast. While you should still adhere to the traditional one full meal and two smaller meals on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as required by the Church, Crux encourages you to pick a general food item to fast from, just as you’d normally “give something up” for Lent!
Several groups, such as pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as the elderly, are exempt from fasting by Canon Law due to health considerations. They are nonetheless encouraged to capture the essence of fasting in accordance with their condition. We encourage you to prayerfully consider your own circumstances when considering your dietary fast. This is not medical advice, and anyone with medical conditions, pregnancy, or other concerns should consult professional guidance.
To assist with your discernment, we’ve put together a selection of ideas to help you find the right fast for you.
If you need…
Something simple, yet challenging…
Fast from desserts, or a specific dessert
A snack fast – eliminate snacking between meals
Alcoholic beverages
Don’t drink alcohol? Try giving up soda or similar “special” drinks
“Junk food,” which could mean fast food, or maybe your favorite chips or snacks like pretzels ○ Simply pick a favorite food or snack, and commit to giving that one thing up this Lent!
An out-of-the-box fast…
Try fasting from extra condiments: sauces, dressings, or other additional flavorings
Skip cream & sugar in your coffee or tea
Late-night eating fast: if you love your midnight snack, commit to finishing the day with dinner
Consider foregoing takeout foods or eating in the car
Questions to help you pick a fast…
What foods might have the strongest emotional pull?
What would allow me to grow in discipline without destabilizing my health?
What could I realistically sustain throughout Lent?
Remember to invite God into your discernment and ask him what would be most beneficial for you!
As you discern your physical disciplines for Lent, remember: holiness is not measured by intensity. Choose something that is feasible, yet a stretch, that allows you to embrace God’s help and surrender to him.