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Note From The Pastor
Not a usual Lent….
Lent begins this Wednesday – Ash Wednesday. You may be considering what sacrifice (what you are giving up) or other spiritual practice you will do for this Lent. We will all be encouraged to make some sacrifice, whether the traditional common practices or personal and new sacrifices. Let me share some thoughts about both.
To help us, the Church reminds us of the traditional practices or sacrifices (we also call these forms of penance) that will help us walk with Jesus during Lent– prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These three are some of the fundamentals of the spiritual life.
Prayer – Certainly one of the fundamentals is prayer. In briefly defining prayer, the Catechism quotes St. John Damascene, “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or requesting of good things from God.” (CCC #2559) Lent is a time to redouble our efforts in communicating with God. Make sure to include extra prayer time as part of your Lenten practice.
Fasting – Self-sacrifice is the key to fasting. The goal of fasting is both self-sacrifice and creating in our minds and hearts room for God. The Church gives as the minimum, common Lenten requirements for those whose health allows: fasting from food on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and fasting from meat (called abstinence) on all Fridays. Fasting need not be from food. I always suggest some fasting from electronics (TV, video, computer, etc.). Think about something that will be a real sacrifice. Fasting is one of the basic forms of penance, and it was how Jesus prepared for His public ministry.
Almsgiving – To share with those in need is to give “alms.” This means giving to those who are poor. Regardless of how or where you choose to help the poor, almsgiving is an important part of our Lenten fundamentals. The amount does not matter as much as the sacrifice.
One of the new sacrifices we will experience, will happen on Ash Wednesday. We will have distribution of ashes, but they will not be given as a sign of the cross on each person’s forehead. Instead, ashes will be sprinkled on the crown of the head in silence. No, this is not something Fr. Dale concocted or the government mandated. The directive from the Vatican specifies the priest to bless the ashes, proclaiming the call to repentance “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel”; and then the sprinkling of ashes on the head without saying any words. This is the traditional way of distribution of ashes in Italy. This recalls the biblical sign of penance, putting on sackcloth and ashes. “On the twenty-fourth day of this month, the Israelites gathered together while fasting and wearing sackcloth, their heads covered with dust.” ~ Nehemiah 9:1. This is a change and sacrifice for many of us. Still sacrifice is what Lent is all about.
Another twist to Lenten practice this year will be our Virtual Lenten Mission. The mission is presented by Dr. Scott Hahn and is titled, Parousia: The Bible and the Mass. I am encouraging everyone in both Holy Spirit and St. John Vianney parishes to participate. We will have three question and answer sessions led by one of our priests to help understand and benefit from the material. To participate, register your email address through the link provided through the Flocknote email or on either parish website.
In the midst of the continuing pandemic, we begin another Lent. Last year Lent was like none other, with everything shutting down midway through the season. This year, we will have liturgies and programs, and many will be in Church. It will be different and a sacrifice. Yet, with God’s grace and our willingness to enter into the practices of Lent, it will be no less spiritually fruitful.
“Prayer joined to sacrifice constitutes the most powerful force in human history.”
~ St. Pope John Paul II
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Dale