This year discover a whole new way to look at the season of Lent. Put away your preconceived notions and get ready for refreshment and rejuvenation! We invite you to treat yourself to a spa experience - for your soul.

You might be surprised to learn that Lent and spas actually have a lot in common. Each experience encourages us to get rid of things that are preventing us from being the best that we can be. Some of these goals may sound familiar:

Reasons to go to a spa:
To start a healthy change in lifestyle,
To detoxify,
To refocus on what is important in life,
To deepen your spirituality,
To find quiet time away from stress

Ways to celebrate Lent:
To give up junk food, candy or other goodies,
To go to Confession,
To participate in works of charity or almsgiving,
To make time daily to pray,
To spend time in Adoration or to attend a retreat or day of reflection

Why do we feel like we are pampering ourselves when we go the spa, but feel like we are suffering during Lent?

It's not too late to treat yourself to a Lenten spa experience for your soul! We encourage you to follow our tips below for giving your soul a "heavenly massage" this Lent.

See all of our Lenten resources.

CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE - Abstain or fast for a reason.

One of the favorite questions people ask during Lent is, "What are you giving up for Lent?" The answers typically range from chocolate to soda to television. All this "giving up" is meant to help us develop better discipline, detach ourselves from worldly desires, and cleanse ourselves of bad habits. There are many examples of fasting from the Scriptures: Moses, Elijah, Ezra, the people of Nineveh, and Jesus himself. Each time they fasted it was for a reason. Make sure to offer your sacrifices to God for a cause (such as an end to abortion, peace on earth, or in reparation for your sins).

The Spirituality of Fasting
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$12.95

DETOXIFY - Go to Confession or attend your parish's Penance/Reconciliation Service.

Many spas specialize in cleansing treatments which flush toxins from your body. Confession offers the same type of cleansing for your soul! Sin not only separates us from God, but can cause feelings of shame and frustration. Making a good Confession washes away all the toxic side effects of sin and restores God's Graces in our life. As Catholics, we are asked to confess our sins at least once a year. It doesn't have to be during Lent, but if it has been a while since you received Reconciliation consider going now. Think of it like a Spring Cleaning for your soul!

How to Make a Good Confession
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$10.95

REFOCUS ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT - Participate in works of charity or almsgiving.

Individualized programs at some spas are designed to help you refocus, prioritize, and push yourself to become a better person. You can achieve these same goals by giving your time, talent, or treasure to those in need. Serving others teaches us how to be more humble. Seeing first hand the needs of others can make us more grateful for the blessings in our own lives. As Pope Benedict said in his Lenten message this year, "Giving to the poor...is none other than restoring what is owed to God." Works of charity make us better people and the world a better place to live

Support the Missionaries of the Poor
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DEEPEN YOUR SPIRITUALITY - Make room for daily prayer.

1. Pray the Rosary daily.
If you aren't used to praying the full rosary, or if you want to pray with your children, start by praying just one decade at a time. You can also pair the rosary with reading the Bible by praying Scriptural Rosaries.

2. Pray the Liturgy of the Hours.
Join the rich prayer life of the Catholic Church and learn how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Don't worry, you don't have to complete all the prayers and you don't have to pray it perfectly for it to make a real difference in your spiritual life. If you need a little extra help to get started, try one of our guide books.

The Liturgy of the Hours
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Multiple versions available - including the new Large Print

SEEK TIME FOR REFLECTION - Spend time in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament or attend a retreat.

True quiet time is such a luxury in today's hectic and noisy world. Treat yourself to a mini-spiritual vacation to heaven and spend some time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Some Catholics pray the rosary during their visit. Others use prayer books like the one shown here. But it is ok to just go spend time in silence and listen to what He has to say.

Many parishes or dioceses offer special retreats and reflections during Lent. These are a satisfying (and inexpensive) way to get away from all the distractions in our life. Some of the best retreats are often paired with Adoration - something we bet you won't find at a spa!

Bread of Life - Prayers for Eucharistic Adoration
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$16.95