The Virtue of Self-Control in Lent

The Season of Lent: A Time for Penance and Renewal 

The season of Lent is upon us, and Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this sacred time. Traditionally, we are asked to focus on the three forms of penance: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Here is a quick overview that may assist you in understanding the three forms of penance:

Download the 3 Forms of Penance

An Apprenticeship in Freedom 

The virtue of self-control, or self-mastery, is related to the cardinal virtue of temperance. The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of this virtue within its section on the vocation to chastity (CCC 2337-2359). What is important for us to recognize is that self-mastery (self-control) is “long and exacting work” (CCC 2342) or an apprenticeship, “a training in human freedom” (CCC 2339). With that in mind, we must always take the long view when we set out to cultivate our interior life by embracing forms of penance. We must see this as training in human freedom so that our desires, weaknesses, selfishness, etc. do not enslave us.  

A Time to Renew Our Baptismal Promises 

The Lenten season is a graced time to renew our fidelity to our baptismal promises and seek to resist temptation by: growing in self-knowledge, practicing sacrifices, living by God’s commandments, cultivating virtue, and praying (CCC 2340).  

Daily Virtue Cards: A Tool for Cultivating Virtue 

To aid in your cultivation of virtue, we have created Daily Virtue Cards that have the meaning of the virtue, suggested practices, and a saint as an intercessor. The set contains forty-three cards and can be used during Lent or any time of the year. May you have a blessed Lenten season and remember to keep the “long view” as you seek to renew your desire to live fully your baptismal promises.