A ‘Jesus Bootcamp’ for Lent? Father Mike Schmitz’s Spiritual Training for Your Best Lent Ever

WhatareyourtraininggoalsfortheLentenseason? FatherMikeSchmitzappearedonFox&FriendsWeekendtospeakwithCatholichostRachelCampos-Duffy.Hediscussedseveraltopics,includingspiritualityinAmerica,statisticsregardingChristianityinyoungadults,and,ofcourse,theupcomingLentenseason,whichbeginsonMarch5,2025. FatherMikeisahostonAscensionPresentsandtheDirectorofYouthandYoungAdultMinistriesfortheDioceseofDuluth,Minn. RachelCampos-DuffyaskedFatherMikeSchmitzhowCatholicscanpreparethemselvesbeforeAshWednesdaytomakethemostoftheLentenseason.ThepopularsocialmediapriestandspeakerexplainedthatCatholicscanbecomeholierduringLentthroughthelensof“training”ora“Jesusbootcamp.” Hefirstexplainstheconceptofasceticism,orasceticpractices. “Iwasdiggingindeeplytothewordasceticism.AsceticismcomesfromaGreekword,askēsis,whichmeanstraining,”hebegins.“WhatifmymentalitywasthislensthatI’mgoingtotrain?”