In a little more than a week, Lent 2012 will be upon us. As always, this season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving will present so many opportunities for each of us to clean out the spiritual clutter that is keeping us from growing closer to Christ.

Please allow me to offer a couple of ways, taken from this issue of the Register.

On our Books and Education page (“Lenten Reads for 40 Days”), we recommend new selections from Cardinal Raymond Burke, Father Larry Richards, Michael Aquilina and Michael O’Brien. Also, remember that the EWTN Religious Catalogue offers much more reading material to challenge or inspire you this season.

Our Travel and Saints page (“Pray the Way of the Cross Amid God’s Creation”) takes you to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass., and the Stations of the Cross Shrine in San Luis, Colo., where devotees can pray the Way of the Cross in the great outdoors. Wherever you are, praying the stations — and reflecting on Jesus’ suffering in his final hours — can help to draw you closer to the Lord and his great sacrifice.

Also on the travel page, you will note some practical ways to “Make Lent Count.”

May your journey through these 40 days be a fruitful one. God bless you!