During the Lenten season, the Church invites us to turn our hearts more intentionally toward prayer. For many Catholics, that means making more time to pray throughout these 40 days.
But finding the time to pray can be challenging, regardless of age and stage in life. Even in retirement, days quickly fill up with errands, appointments, and time spent caring for loved ones. Grandparents helping with childcare often see the hours fly by, leaving little time to pray for the grandchildren they love so much.
The good news is that Lenten prayer doesn’t require hours of uninterrupted silence. A few minutes spent in morning prayer, a quick intention offered while waiting in line, or a distracted Our Father with your grandchildren can be fruitful ways to draw closer to God throughout Lent.
If you’re looking for prayers for Lent—plus tips to fit them seamlessly into your busy schedule—keep reading!
Set your alarm five to fifteen minutes earlier and spend that time in prayer. Any time spent in prayer is better than no time at all! Start small and gradually increase the time you spend in prayer to build a lasting habit.
Offer your entire day to Jesus through Mary! This powerful prayer takes less than a minute.
Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians,
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month.
Amen.
(Written in 1844 by Fr. François-Xavier Gautrelet)
Set a reminder for noon or take a few minutes before lunch to pray the Angelus prayer. This is a powerful devotion to Mary that recalls the Annunciation and Incarnation of Jesus in the womb of the Virgin.
Pray with your children or grandchildren! Choose a short prayer, such as an Our Father or the Guardian Angel prayer, that you can teach them to pray with you.
Guardian Angel prayer
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.
Play prayerful programming in the background so you can pray along as you do housework or watch the kids or grandkids. Even if you can’t focus on the prayer the whole time, having it in the background promotes a positive, faith-filled atmosphere in your home.
Pray an entire novena in under ten minutes with St. Teresa of Calcutta’s famous “flying novena.” Simply pray the Memorare nine times in a row.
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
3pm is the Hour of Mercy and the Hour of Our Lord’s Passion, when the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is traditionally prayed. If you don’t have time to pray the whole chaplet, pray a decade, or simply take a moment to meditate on Divine Mercy.
Say a quick prayer while waiting at a red light, standing in line, or sitting in a waiting room or carpool line. Some brief prayers include the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Prayer to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And you will renew the face of the earth.
Lord,
by the light of the Holy Spirit
you have taught the hearts of your faithful.
In the same Spirit
help us to relish what is right
and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Say the “Jesus prayer” whenever you have a moment, especially when you’re worried or stressed: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Or just whisper his name, “Jesus,” or repeat, “Jesus, I trust in You.”
Stop in an adoration chapel for five minutes to be with Jesus in the Eucharist in between errands or appointments. St. Carlo Acutis had a habit of stopping in churches just to say “hi” to Jesus!
Say a quick prayer for others as you encounter them throughout your day: your children, grandchildren, a coworker, a cashier, a homeless person, a nurse, etc.
Lent calls us to a renewed commitment to prayer, not removed from daily life but rooted within it. Even brief prayers offered regularly can help order our days and keep our hearts fixed on Christ throughout the season.
As you journey through Lent, remember that you don’t have to pray alone. Join us on CatholicTV and on YouTube for daily Mass, prayerful programming, and devotions you can tune into anytime, wherever you are. Whether you have five minutes or an hour, let this season be a time to grow in prayer, one moment at a time.
Your gift helps CatholicTV deliver the Good News into millions of homes across the nation. We need your support to continue connecting people with Christ and the Church.
