It seems to me that the time of Lent can indeed also be a time of fasting from words and images. We need a little silence; we need a space that is free from the permanent bombardment of images. In this sense making the meaning of 40 days of exterior and interior discipline accessible and comprehensible today is very important for helping us to see that one dimension of our Lent, of this bodily and spiritual life, is to create for us spaces of silence that are also without images, to re-open our heart to the true image and the true word.

Benedict XVII - On Finding Silence and Space

I'm always looking forward to Lent. It is by far my favourite time of the year. This year I have decided to give up watching TV shows that in the last few months have almost taken over all of my free time! I will also try not to do any shopping on Sundays and limit my overall shopping habits. I will try not to eat out and use the money for alms instead. Not going to see movies either; I will instead watch DVD's of religious/spiritual themed movies - I have several on my mind which I will share with you later.

Besides giving stuff up I have decided to take up daily rosary again. I stopped saying my rosary on a daily basis a while ago but I always wanted to return to this great practice. No time like now! I will also make sure that I do my Office of Readings daily, I've been neglecting this part of the Liturgy of the Hours (and blaming it on lack of time), and it's a shame since there is so much spiritual depth in there.

Last on the list, unlike other bloggers who give up blogging so much for lent, I will try to post daily. This is rather difficult for me so it will be a good penance to sit down and write something every day.