Have you given it any thought yet? Have you made the decision to really throw yourself into the Lenten season? Could you make this the strongest and most meaningful Lent you have ever experienced, especially given that we are in the middle of the Year of Faith?
Here’s some of what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say about Lent:
540 Jesus’ temptation reveals the way in which the Son of God is Messiah, contrary to the way Satan proposes to him and the way men wish to attribute to him. This is why Christ vanquished the Tempter for us: “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sinning.” By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.
1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church’s penitential practice. These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).
Did you get that? Jesus wandered in the desert for 40 days, surrounded by temptation, living in prayer, and sacrificing those earthly and bodily comforts. In our 40 day journey through Lent, we too can join in Jesus’ journey, because after all, we are called to be like Christ. How?
- Spiritual exercises: more prayer, more often; adoration; reading Scripture; did I mention more prayer? Do you pray a daily Rosary? Have you ever done a Novena? Do you know of the Liturgy of the Hours or the Angelus? Even more basic, do you know how to meditate, to simply listen to God?
- Penitential liturgies: It is good for the soul to seek God’s word to move our hearts, to acknowledge our sins, and seek a genuine conversion in our lives. What should follow is to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I was away from the confessional for almost 9 years, which I wrote about here.
- Pilgrimages as signs of penance: if you have the means to travel (Middle East, the Vatican, Turin, Mexico City, el Camino de Santiago, etc) by all means, go! Closer to home, there may be a particular shrine, or basilica with particular saint or religious remains, that could serve as a small pilgrimage.
- Voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving: Most typical and highly encouraged is to give up meat on Fridays. Why? In denying ourselves the flesh of another animal, we remember Jesus who sacrificed His flesh for us on That Friday. A lot of people also fast from things they love: sweets, soda, coffee, alcohol, fast food, along with non-food things like TV, computer time, or eating out. The idea is to deny yourself not only the earthly things that you enjoy, but also things that end up as a higher priority than God. How much more time do we spend watching TV instead of reading Scripture or praying? How often do we indulge our bodies with candy or huge meals, without teaching ourselves obedience by restriction, or standing in solidarity with the poor? Fasting from things like your favorite foods could easily turn to almsgiving, where you use the money that you would have spent and instead donate it. Overall, these are excellent ways to humble yourself.
- Fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works): Are there homeless shelters, soup kitchens, or places in town for people in need? Does your church need help with clothing or food drives? Just find extra ways to love your neighbor.
So what will you do?
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