Prayer & Fasting This Lent lessons learned during a 60 day pilgrimage

by John Garcia  |  02/15/2026  |  Gospel Meditation

Last year, my wife Maria and I heard the Lord call us to travel to each state's capital -- to pray in reparation for the sins of the nation against the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Church's clergy abuse. We answered the call and our adventure was incredible and continues to bear much fruit. In this 60 day pilgrimage, we learned many lessons including three major components: Fasting, Daily Mass and Prayer, by way of the Rosary, Adoration and spiritual reading/development.

As we approach Lent, we will share answers to many questions about Prayer & Fasting, like "Where do I even begin with fasting? Why Fast? Does fasting really do anything other than make me hungry? How do I fast safely? How do I know my fasting makes a difference?"

First, Why Fast?
In short, fasting - when practiced properly, becomes a very personal encounter with our Lord and by design brings about our conversion; allowing us to know, love and serve God (CCC 1721). The purpose is to atone for sins, prepare for Easter, and detach from the world's comforts (CCC 1434, 1438 and 2034), It is a Lenten penitential practice, uniting us with Christ's 40 days of fasting in the desert; fostering charity (through alms giving), self-discipline and prayer (communicating with God).

Where do I even begin with Fasting? Maria and I found three key elements which made our decision to fast intensely effective:

1. Confession (CCC 1422-1498) - being in a state of grace is foundational. Prior to confession, we perform an examination of conscience. This is crucial as we recognize our weaknesses, allowing us to approach the Lord in this sacrament with a truly humble and contrite heart. We can identify the wounds we have, which often result in our poor decisions, sinful choices and fear-based behaviors. Without confession, preparing for a fast is like washing white sheets in dirty water, expecting them to be bright and shiny afterward, only to be disappointed with the result.

2. Penance (John 20:23; James 5:16; Joel 1:13-14 & Luke 13:3 )- the conscious decision to turn away from sin is the next key step; where we place our sins at the foot of the cross and leave them there! In doing so, we break the chains of sin and allow The Holy Spirit, by His grace, to begin to heal the wounds which hold us back from the true purpose for which we were created. Without penance, we bring all of the garbage of our life into the fast, hindering our ability to encounter our Lord, due to the distractions of our habitual sins.

3. Prayer (Luke 6:12 & Psalm 55:17) - when in a state of grace, which is the case following confession, we ask the Lord to share with us how we are to fast. It will be different for everyone and may or may not immediately be revealed. Through consistent prayer, Christ will reveal how you are to fast; as He tailors the fast for you, Without Prayer (CCC -Christian Prayer 2558-2865), we close the door on the opportunity to encounter our Lord; effectively preventing our ability to know, love and serve. Prayer is where we come to know God. As we come to know Him, he reveals to us our true purpose so we can serve Him. In serving Him, we find true meaning and joy in our lives.; allowing us to love ourselves and love God in a righteous manner.

...to be continued