Dear Parishioners,

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and therefore the beginning of Lent. Last week, the bishop wrote to us and all the Catholics of the diocese to remind us what our duties are during this time period. (That letter is currently posted on the bulletin board if you missed it last week.) This week, I would like to talk about the voluntary practice of taking up a personal Lenten penance.

Usually, when people talk about their Lenten penance, they might say something like, “I am giving up something for Lent.” While accurate, it does not exhaust the full meaning of taking on a penance. When we give something up, we are participating in fasting which is a good and holy act. As Our Lord reminds us, we cannot do everything He asks us to unless we are fasting. (Mark 9:29) It is tied to our ability to deny what we immediately want, or self-control. Unless we are free to deny ourselves, then we are enslaved to the pleasures of this life. But if we can deny ourselves, it makes us more free to love Christ. So, with any fasting, there has to be a spiritual component. We need to remind ourselves why we are doing this: to make room for love in our heart to love God. Otherwise, we are just making ourselves miserable for the sake of us. Things you might want to consider giving up include: a meal (daily or once a week), chocolate, some other food you enjoy or coffee. Or even social media or television. Or giving up some comfort like warm showers or a pillow at night.

Another way to practice this penance is through acts of charity, which is tied to almsgiving. We can give money to a charity that we do not usually support. We can volunteer our time to a charity. (I suggest contacting Madonna house or the Missionaries of Charity if you want to do this.) We can take time out of our schedule to be with those we love who are sick or who need help. St. Paul reminds us in his first letter to the Corinthians that the greatest virtue is charity (1 Cor 13) and St. John reminds us that God is love. (1 John 4:8) Also, He reminds us that we can find Him among the poor.
Lastly, a third way to practice your Lenten penance is prayer. We all should have good habits of prayer. Prayer empowers everything else we do as Christians and God loves to hear from us. Some prayers that can easily be done daily are reading the daily Mass Gospel or praying the rosary, or praying night prayer. The more we pray, the more we are reminded of the presence of God and how He is working in our life.

Whatever it is you choose, make sure it is something that you find challenging and that will lead you to be a holier person. Before Ash Wednesday, take a moment to pray to God and ask Him what you should choose. I hope you all have a holy and fruitful Lent.

God bless!

Fr. Carter