As Pope Benedict  writes in his first Lenten message: ''Lent is a privileged time of interior pilgrimage towards Him who is the fount of mercy. It is a pilgrimage in  which He Himself accompanies us through the desert of our poverty, sustaining us  on our way towards the intense joy of Easter.
In his Holy Rule, St Benedict says that during Lent monks should look forward to Easter with joy and  spiritual longing''.  Unfortunately, Lent is not often seen as a joyful  season despite the Lord's words: '' O do not look dismal but anoint your head  and wash your face.''

This holy season is  not a spiritual endurance test but a gift of grace and a time of  healing.

The Rule of St  Benedict has been described as a model of discretion. St Benedict called it 'A  Little  Rule for Beginners' and arranged all things so that: 'the strong may still have something to long after and the weak may not draw back in alarm.'  There is no mention of harsh or burdensome penance.

Remember his  recommendation for discretion: read and meditate upon a few verses from  Scripture each day.  Many take a book for Lent only to find after some  weeks that they have not got beyond the first few  chapters.

Lent is a time for  quality activity and not for trying  ' to do things for Lent'   

St Benedict does  suggest ' During these days, let us add something to the usual measures of our  service, so that each of us will have something to offer to God in the joy of  the Holy Spirit.'

Do not be anxious  about what you are to do for Lent.  Allow the season of Lent to work  in and for you.

Extract of article by the Abbot of Worth, Dom Cuthbert Johnson OSB in the Catholic  Herald.