Be Imitators of Christ
Hallow’s Lent #Pray40 Challenge
One of the things that I have recently found extremely helpful to my spiritual health is routine. A couple of years ago, this routine spiritual exercise came from participating in Ascension’s “Bible in a Year” podcast. You would be shocked how joyful your soul feels just from reading a few chapters from scripture every day. This year, I begin each day listening to Father Mike Schmitz’s “Catechism in a Year” podcast. Every day, Fr. Mike reads a few paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and goes in depth discussing the foundations of our faith. These routines help us to avoid falling prey to acedia (“the noonday devil”) and the sinfulness that can arise from boredom and inactivity and it keeps our hearts and minds focused on God.
During this season of Lent, I am starting another daily routine that I would encourage you to join me in. I am participating in #Pray40 Challenge on the Hallow prayer app. If you’re not already familiar with Hallow, it is the #1 prayer app in the world and it has an extensive audio library of prayers, hymns, homilies, meditations, and much more. As of Ash Wednesday, Hallow is hosting the #Pray40 Challenge, where influential Catholic figures such as Jonathan Roumie and Mark Wahlberg lead you through prayerful meditations on Thomas à Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ every day this Lent. The daily schedule breaks down like this:
Mondays: Lessons and prayers with Jonathan Roumie (Jesus from The Chosen)
Tuesdays: Prayers with Immaculèe Illibagiza (Rwandan genocide survivor, Catholic author and motivational speaker)
Wednesdays: Lessons and Stations of the Cross with your choice of Jonathan Roumie or Jim Caviezel
Thursdays: Prayerful meditations with Jim Caviezel (Jesus from The Passion of the Christ)
Fridays: Physical and spiritual fasting lessons with Mark Wahlberg
Saturdays: Works of Mercy with Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart (founder and mother servant of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth)
Sundays: Sunday Gospel reflections with Father Mike Schmitz
If you are not already subscribed to the Hallow app, you can scan the QR code below for 3 months free to see if it’s useful for you. This code will also not automatically subscribe you at the end of your trial. If you sign up for an annual subscription, it is just $4.99/month. Father Mike’s “Catechism in a Year” and “Bible in a Year” podcasts are also available on the Hallow app.
Even if you don’t participate in Hallow’s #Pray40 Challenge, I would still highly encourage you to start some sort of daily prayer routine or daily scripture reading this Lent. I think you will find it very nourishing for your spiritual health. Remember the goal of these next 45 days: to imitate the life of Jesus and become more like Him.
God Bless You All,
Michael