Gotcha! You all thought I was going to say earnestly that Lent is not about giving things up but about doing something positive. I'm glad to say that this mantra is now becoming part of the recognisably tired corpus of the "reform that has to be reformed." Every year on Ash Wednesday I try to work the point in somewhere that nothing stops us from doing both.Celebrating Septuagesimatide gives a neat opportunity to preach for three weeks on prayer, fasting, and alsmgiving - these topics can also be related easily enough to the scriptures read in the usus recentior and provide a good lead-in to Lent.
Today, I had three Masses. 10am is our normal time for weekday Mass and there was a good attendance. We also have a 4.15pm Mass on Holydays (although there are none to be celebrated in the week this year according to the "ordinary" calendar) and I do the same on Ash Wednesday; it is a convenient time for parents and children to attend after school. In the evening, we had our Missa Cantata which was also very well attended, Deo gratias. In addition, I call into the junior school late morning to bless and distribute ashes and give a little sermon.
Giving things up is important. Our Lord spoke many times of the need to deny ourselves and take up the cross to follow him. Prayer is essential and we all need to examine our conscience to see where we are failing in this duty, whether by laziness or by a failure to recognise and understand that when we pray, we are asking for an audience with the Most High. He grants this audience whenever we ask - what we need to do is to make ourselves - even if only a little and dimly - aware of Whom it is that we are addressing.
Almsgiving can be extended to all our works of charity; but we also need to see whether we have in fact dented our bank balance a bit by actually giving the folding stuff to Christ in the poor. It is even easier in many cases - we don't even have to thumb out greasy fivers but can write a cheque or tap a few buttons on the keyboard. The key test is whether it hurts just a little bit - whether we give Our Lord something we ourselves would value.
The main point of my preaching today, however, was to follow through the purpose of things. We give things up etc. not to become fitter or more physically healthy but as a penance, a recognition of our sins and a mark of repentance for them. We do this because sin offends Our Lord who loves us and died for us on the Cross. He died to make us happy - for eternity one day in heaven, but also in this life by giving us that peace and deep-seated joy that the Saints knew even in the midst of appalling tribulations.
I am humbled and inspired by the generosity of young bloggers in their penances each Lent. May God bless you and grant you an abundance of grace in this season of penance.
9 comments:
Pope Benedict has fasting as theme of this year's lenten message. He says the very first commandment was in fact fasting;'Do not eat from the tree of life'. So now fasting is our way of reversing the effects of that first forbidden feast of our first parents.I find that very profound, deserving much wider circulation than is usually given to our Holy Father's message.
regards.
I think it is essential that we give something up for lent. Things that we find hardest are preferable - TV, internet, desserts, a glass of wine, chocolates, moaning, gossiping. The choice is endless but so good for us spiritually.
At the same time, do something extra - pray more, the rosary is a brilliant way to come closer to Jesus and Mary, The Holy Face of Jesus, The Prayer to Jesus, agonising on the Mount of Olives, The Prayer to the Wound in the Shoulder of Jesus. I came across a wonderful prayer book available by post from Ireland (I will post the address if anyone is interested)
'The Secret of Happiness', the fifteen prayers revealed to Saint Bridget in the church of Saint Paul at Rome.
Another thing is to learn a new prayer over Lent - it is a wonderful way of introducing something good and holy to children. They don't complain and it's amazing how quickly they learn.
What ever we do it must be out of love for God.
Yes I think it is interesting that the Pope's theme has been fasting. It's become the new "F" word in the UK church I have noticed.
I was in a diocese last week in which the Pastoral letter from the bishop actively put people OFF fasting. It told me that he hasn't a clue what fasting is. He side-stepped it as most people do and concentrated on the "do something pro-actively for God" angle. I spell-checked for the phrases 'Live Simply' and 'CAFOD' and switched off. Sad.
As my children said to me afterwards .. "But mum, I didn't really get that. I thought Jesus actually fasted in the desert. What opportunity was there for HIM to do something good ?" I tried to defend the good bishop's words.. but you know: it really IS starting to get tedious. In future I think I'm just going to say "Yep kids, you're right. That was baloney. Tomorrow we're fasting."
It's just easier.
They found it much easier on Wednesday than trying to dream up some idelogically copper-bottomed self-righteous activity to do.
As for me. I over-filled my kettle many many times. Well.. you have to drink penty of liquids when you fast properly, Your Graces.
As for family fast day next Friday.
Forget it. The proceeds are going to stop African people from reproducing. Exactly how Christian is that ?: "Your problems are so great that we'd like you to become extinct."
nice.
A splendid post, and, yes, I was fooled by the title "Doing something positive".
It seems to me they started talking like this in 1965 or thereabouts, as if fasting in itself were something negative.
If you gave something up, the theory went, you did so in order to give something away, helping the poor or the hungry in Africa or somewhere. A very good thing, in its way, of course. But it seemed to me rather to misrepresent the purpose of fasting or abstinence which is that you do penance because it is good for the soul.
I read in Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich's visions that our Lady, while living out her remaining years in Ephesus, ate very little food and spent her days in stillness and quiet. It sounds like a monastic approach to her daily living. It's very inspiring to reflect on that for Lent and apply it as much as possible.
But Father, I am not giving up the hour of Prime :-)
Nice post, Father, and brilliant comment, Bernadette - so true, the children see through the baloney!!!
I have found the idea of giving something up for younger children is particularly useful. Whereas with charity and almgiving the girls often require my help, going without dessert or choosing to read a book rather than watch TV is something that they have complete comtrol over and allows them to express their indenpendence. They feel responsible and accountable for their own actions. Of course I offer them gentle encouagement by perhaps reading the paper rather than watching tv myself and we still take part in charity and almgiving together. They seem to get the most out of what they do for themselves.
I do however wonder if I am not being a little mean when I make the 9 year old use 20 pence out of her own pocket money to donate for the prayer candle she lights as part of her penance after confession.
I had to laugh the other day when we were discussing what we were going to give up for lent and the 6 year old told me with the most serious of faces that she was going to give up pancakes for lent. I don't suppose now a days the idea of using up all the flour and eggs is a idea they really understand. Needless to say I suggested she might want to think of something else as we don't have pancakes very often lol.
Father - you don't have to publish this comment...tried emailing you but you are probably swamped. Just reject after you see the link below.
Look at the episcopal action in the US - it's not just about Senator Casey, but about the statement the diocese released about worthy reception of Holy Communion (TO BE DENIED):
http://te-deum.blogspot.com/2009/02/breaking-bishop-martino-sends-second.html
Diane - sorry, I just don't have time to do that one at the moment but will leave your comment up for readers to see. What great leadership from Bishop Martino!
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