The life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent.The life of the monk, and I would argue the life of every Christian, should be a continuous life of prayer and fasting, a continuous life of confession and repentance. These aren't to be seasonal activities. Thus, during the season of Lent observances are intensified rather than taken up from scratch: "During these days, therefore, we will add to the usual measure of our service something by way of private prayer and abstinence from food and drink."
I like that phrase, "the usual measure of our service." You shouldn't be going from zero to sixty during Lent. You should already be moving down the road.
