The Secret to a Meaningful Lent (and a Meaningful Life) | Fr. Columba Jordan & Dr. Arthur Brooks

Are you ready to start Lent strong this Ash Wednesday? In this conversation, Fr. Columba Jordan is joined by Dr. Arthur Brooks as they discuss the science of Lent, exploring how suffering can be sacred, how doing hard things gives our life meaning, and the intersection between metacognition and prayer. Dr. Arthur Brooks explains what is happening on a physical level when we fast, the psychological benefits of the Examen prayer, and how Lent might be exactly what we need as we pursue happy and holy lives. Join Fr. Columba Jordan in Ascension’s Lent Study: Crux, as he shares daily video reflections on the Gospel of Mark and surrender to God in the Ascension app. Go to https://ascensionpress.com/pages/crux to find out more. To learn more about Arthur Brooks' new book The Meaning of Your Life go to themeaningofyourlife.com. Want to see more from Fr. Columba? Subscribe to his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCuTsNUh9sBx3hs1sN3wtgrg 00:00 Intro 2:20 Why Difficult Things are Needed For Happiness 8:33 How Suffering is Connected to Meaning 14:07 Getting Into the Neuroscience 16:33 The Science of Fasting 20:00 Examen Prayer as Metacognition 24:14 The Importance of Writing Down the Examen Prayer 27:19 The Meaning of Life is Love — MORE FROM ASCENSION — 🔸Ascension App: https://link.ascension-app.com/lMuydd... 🔸The Great Adventure Bible: https://tinyurl.com/y6lfxzyt 🔸 Catechism of the Catholic Church, Ascension Edition: https://tinyurl.com/25nskztb — SOCIAL MEDIA — 🔸Facebook: / ascensionpress 🔸Twitter: / ascensionpress 🔸LinkedIn: / ascension-press 🔸Instagram: / ascensionpress 🔸Subscribe: @AscensionPresents