Making a retreat during Lent: preparing for Easter at a monastery

Lent is the forty-day period that prepares for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday, at the threshold of the Easter Triduum. Since the date of Easter changes every year, it starts between early February and early March. Making a retreat during Lent means spending a few days in an abbey or monastery to live this season at the pace of a community: the Divine Office, silence, simple meals and reading the Bible.

Monks and nuns give this season a special place. Sharing their life for a few days gives concrete shape to a Lent that, in everyday life, often remains a good intention.

What is Lent?

Forty days before Easter

From Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday there are forty-six days; the six Sundays, each of which celebrates the Resurrection, are not counted as days of penance. That leaves forty days. The liturgical season of Lent itself ends on the evening of Holy Thursday, with the Mass of the Lord's Supper, which opens the Easter Triduum.

Why forty?

The number runs through the whole Bible. Moses stays forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:18). The prophet Elijah walks forty days to Horeb (1 Kings 19:8). The people of Israel spend forty years in the desert before entering the Promised Land. Finally, Jesus fasts forty days in the desert before beginning his mission (Matthew 4:1-11). Lent takes up this time of passage: a crossing that takes time, and that leads somewhere.

Prayer, fasting and sharing

The Gospel read on Ash Wednesday (Matthew 6:1-18) gives the three practices of Lent: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, to be lived "in secret", without seeking to be seen. Fasting is not a feat here: it makes room, for prayer and for others. This is what the prophet Joel recalls in the first reading of the same day, calling us to return to God "with your whole heart" (Joel 2:12).

How monks and nuns live Lent

A life that should always be a Lent

In the 6th century, Saint Benedict devotes an entire chapter of his Rule to Lent (chapter 49). He writes that the life of a monk ought at all times to have the character of a Lent. Since few manage this, he asks that at least these days be used to take one's life in hand: adding a little to prayer, taking a little away from food, sleep and idle talk, and awaiting Easter "with the joy of spiritual longing".

A book for Lent

In the previous chapter (chapter 48), Saint Benedict provides that at the beginning of Lent each monk receive a book from the library, to be read in its entirety. The tradition continues in many communities. It is a reminder that monastic Lent is also a time of reading, in particular of lectio divina, the slow and prayerful reading of the Bible.

A more stripped-down liturgy

During Lent, the liturgy changes color and tone. Vestments are violet, the Alleluia is no longer sung until Easter night, and the Gloria disappears from weekday and Sunday Masses. The chants are more sober, and flowers are often removed from the altar. The monastic Divine Office keeps its rhythm, but the texts, psalms and readings follow the ascent toward Easter. Gregorian chant has a repertoire of its own for this season, which can be heard in the abbeys that practice it.

Simpler meals

Fasting takes different forms depending on the orders and communities: lighter meals, giving up certain foods, a stricter fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Guests are not required to follow the community's customs. The meals served at the guest house generally remain simple, and everyone can adapt their own fast.

Why make a retreat during Lent?

Giving shape to Lent

Many people begin Lent with resolutions that run out of steam after a few days. A few days at a monastery, at the beginning or in the middle of Lent, provide a framework: set times, silence, and services you can join. People often leave with one or two simple decisions, easier to keep than long lists.

Making room

Lent is a time to lighten one's life: fewer screens, less noise, fewer demands. The silence of the monastery lets you experience this simplicity without any effort of will: it is already there. You then see what you truly miss, and what you do not.

Preparing for Easter

A Lenten retreat can be an opportunity to look back over your life, to talk with a brother or sister, or to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. In many communities, a monk or nun is available for a conversation: just ask at the guest house when you arrive. The benefits of a spiritual retreat are also felt after returning home, in the weeks leading up to Easter.

What kind of retreat to choose during Lent?

The individual retreat

This is the most common form. You stay at the monastery guest house, attend the services you wish, and organize the rest of your time: reading, walking, rest, prayer. It is well suited to a first retreat.

The preached retreat

Some communities offer guided Lenten retreats: talks, times of shared prayer, sometimes a biblical theme followed over several days. They have fixed dates and a limited number of places.

Holy Week at the monastery

Living Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, in an abbey is a unique experience: the services of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil are celebrated there with great care. It is also the busiest period of the year for monastic guest houses. It is wise to book several weeks in advance.

A weekend or a week

A weekend is enough to enter into the rhythm of a community. Three to five days let you go further, especially if it is your first time. Weekday stays are generally quieter than weekends.

Practical tips for a Lenten retreat

• Book early, especially for Holy Week and weekends in March.
• Bring warm clothes: in February and March, churches and some rooms stay cool.
• Bring a Bible or a book, like the monks' Lenten book, and a notebook. See also what to bring on a retreat.
• Put your phone aside, at least during services and meals.
• Let the guest house know if you would like a conversation or spiritual guidance, or if you have special dietary needs.
• Free-will offering: in most monasteries, everyone contributes to expenses according to their means.

Where to make a retreat during Lent?

Benedictine abbeys, Cistercian monasteries, Carmels, priories: many communities welcome retreatants during Lent, in France and elsewhere. On RITRIT, you can search for a place by region, check availability and send your request directly to the community's guest house.

Frequently asked questions about Lenten retreats

When does Lent begin?

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, forty-six days before Easter, and ends on Holy Thursday. The date of Easter varies from year to year (it is the Sunday after the first full moon of spring), so Ash Wednesday falls between February 4 and March 10.

Does Lent really last forty days?

Yes, if you do not count Sundays. From Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday there are forty-six days, including six Sundays, which keep a festive character.

Do you have to fast during a Lenten retreat?

No. Guests are not required to follow the community's fast. Everyone can choose their own form of fasting, from food, screens or words, depending on their health and what they wish to experience.

Can you make a Lenten retreat without being a believer?

Yes. Monasteries welcome anyone who respects the setting of the house: schedules, silence, discretion. Services are open, with no obligation to attend. See also our article: do you need to be religious to go on a spiritual retreat?

Can you spend Holy Week and Easter in a monastery?

Yes, many communities welcome retreatants during Holy Week and for Easter. These are the most requested dates, so it is best to plan ahead.

How much does a Lenten retreat cost?

In most monasteries, it is a free-will offering: everyone gives according to their means. To learn more, see how much a spiritual retreat costs.