Spiritual Renewal Through Lenten Practices
Observance of the Great Lent has a profound impact on the personal spiritual development of a Christian. During this time, particular attention is paid not only to external manifestations of abstaining from certain types of food and entertainment but also to ensuring that the life of prayer—both in the church and at home—serves as a complete continuation of the unified spiritual path established by the Church.As noted in one source, "In his private prayer, the one praying should not consider himself exempt from any standards; for example, during Great Lent, singing 'Christ is Risen' or, at Easter, reading 'Lord and Master of my life' is not acceptable. Essentially and fundamentally, home prayer must be in alignment with the church prayer. Church prayer prescribes one specific path that everyone praying should follow for the sake of uniformity and to avoid disturbing one another. While there is a broader range of expression in home prayer, the direction remains the same as in church prayer. Even with this wider scope, there must be defined boundaries beyond which deviation from the proper path leads to licentious arbitrariness and self-devised practices." This emphasizes that even while praying at home, a believer must conform to the communal church norms and traditions, which helps avoid subjective interpretations and the loss of a shared spiritual experience (source: link txt, page: 53-54).Another text indicates that during the Great Lent, everything contributes to the reform of a person: "During Great Lent, everything aids in the correction of a person: abstaining from food and entertainment, diligent prayer at home, and participation in church services. It has long been customary to conclude the Lenten endeavor with confession before a spiritual father and partaking in the Holy Mysteries of Christ. A person should prepare for confession, confess unhurriedly with a deep sense of repentance, and with the intention of changing their way of life. Communion imparts great spiritual strength to the Christian. Therefore, it is advisable to repeat both confession and communion several times during the Great Lent." Here, it is emphasized that intensive prayer at home, as an integral part of the Lenten effort, assists in preparing for profound spiritual renewal through the Church's sacraments (source: link txt, page: 55).Thus, the observance of Great Lent, including the practice of prayer at home, contributes to the purification of the heart, strengthening of faith, and union with the collective spiritual experience of the Church, ultimately reflecting in the personal reformation and spiritual development of the Christian.