Preparing for Lent

Well, we are here. I will first say, somehow, this Lent feels different from last year, despite it still occurring during the unusual events of the now year-long pandemic and all its accompanying restrictions. It is different both because at least churches - or my church, anyway - are open, so I can attend Mass and adoration, and pray the Stations of the Cross, and overall generally properly observe this liturgical season, which was not possible in 2020.

It is also different, though, because I am used to all the “this.” And I have noticed in the past few weeks that, surprisingly, I have experienced an interior change as a result. It is mostly about patience and trust in God. And I will leave it at that.

So this Wednesday, February 17, which is Ash Wednesday, I will be on Morning Air at 8:30 am eastern to talk about Lent. For reference, you can check out an article I wrote a couple year ago, called Rethinking Lent. The contents of that article are basically what I’ll be talking about with John and Glen: that Lent is not just about giving up, but about adding, and it is never intended to be a test of your will and self-control - so don’t treat it that way.

To that end, a few thoughts: I am thinking of the days leading up to this major liturgical season as if I were preparing to enter a room. And it is as if in order to enter that room - the room in which you meet Jesus, in which you become closer to God - you must be properly dressed and carrying the proper things.

So, to prepare: there are ways to physically prepare for Lent. Remove or hide (or consume!) all the sweets and alcohol. Set your Faith Direct account up for additional almsgiving. Buy a new rosary. Remove the books, movies, or entertainment subscription services which will distract you (same goes for social media). Enter the time now in your calendar that you will spend in prayer each day, or the weekday Mass you will attend each week. And so on.

But one must also prepare interiorly: sweet out the cobwebs, look directly at your relationship with Jesus and see it for what it is, and make time to ask God for the grace that you seek during this time. Ask it now. Identify your ideals and carry them into the room you are entering.

For me, I will be doing the usual abstaining from sweets and alcohol, and I am “adding” a prayer retreat of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. I may choose to fast from other things, like music, or TV during the week, but it won’t be as important.

This removing of comforts and attachments serves to clear the landing for God to enter. So if you give these things up, have them again on Sundays, because it keeps you from the vanity of weight loss and impressing yourself with the strength of your own strong will, or believing you give things up as a result of your own strength, as opposed to God’s.

If you’d like to listen Wednesday, you can do that here.

One last thought, on intentions and ideals: for some reason this morning in my usual daily prayer, as I was thinking about Lent, I had the urge to pray for honesty, specifically within the Church. Recall that during Lent, ALL of the Church is praying, and you are united in that way. So I pray for the grace of honesty, including in myself, but particularly in our Church and the leaders of this country. Not in a, and let them be punished, kind of way. But that our leaders would sincerely feel in their hearts the desire for honesty. Seems a good request to take into the room of Lent.

The 7 Joys of St. Joseph

I learned today that there is something, worth meditating on, called The 7 Joys of St. Joseph.

The 7 joys, it seems, are seven events in St. Joseph’s life that made him rejoice. They are:

“First, the embassy of the angel sent from heaven to console him in these words: ‘Joseph, Son of David, fear not to take Mary thy wife, for what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’ (St. Matt. i. 20.)”

“Second, the tidings of great joy brought by an angel to the shepherds, that a Savior was born in the city of David, while a multitude of the heavenly army was praising God, and saying, ‘Glory be to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.’ (St. Luke ii. 10, 13, 14.)”

“Third, giving the child the name of Jesus, ‘which was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.’ (St. Luke ii. 21.)”

“Fourth, when he saw the wise men from the east come to pay their homage to the new-born King, ‘and falling down they adored Him, and opening their treasures they offered Him gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.’ (St. Matt. ii. 1, 2, 11.)”

“Fifth, when he heard in the temple from the lips of holy Simeon, that the child was to be ‘the resurrection of many in Israel.’ (St. Luke ii. 34.)”

“Sixth, in the land of Egypt, when he saw the idols fallen and broken before the infant God, and heard from the angel that ‘they were dead that sought the life of the child, and that he might return with safety into the land of Israel.’ (St. Matt. ii. 20.)”

“Seventh, the finding of Christ in the temple, disputing in the midst of the doctors, after sorrowing for Him three days. (St. Luke ii. 46.)

Isn’t this very nice in the Year of St. Joseph, and such a nice way to get to know him? #3 especially strikes me - the giving of the name of Jesus to Jesus, because it was told to him by the angel, gave St. Joseph great joy. Awww. You see all of his joys being about Jesus, and having nothing to do with himself - as it should be, and as St. Joseph is, known for his humility.

St. Joseph, pray for us!

Lent approaches; talking about giving

We are officially ten days out from Lent. Can you believe it? In these corona-times, I really do feel like time is just kind of a flowing river, one day directly into the next.

On Tuesday this week I got to speak with John and Glen of Morning Air about giving. They are in the middle of their pledge drive (donate here), so we talked about the idea of stewardship, and more importantly, why we are called to give: because Jesus gave the ultimate gift, of his life. And, everything we have - everything! - is a gift from God. So turn it over, baby. You can listen to the interview here.

On the Lent front, I appreciated this article from a fellow Catholic Stand author, “A Gentle Approach for Troubled Times.” Troubled times, indeed. I am reminded that during Lent, we don’t actually have to “give something up.” I grew up thinking that was the only way with Lent, but in reality, it is just as healthy to add something. For example, a prayer practice or act of service.

Regardless, Lent is not a marathon nor a sprint; it is not a test of physical stamina whatsoever. It is not a sporting event. It is an opportunity to simplify and remove the noise that distracts us from fully having a relationship with God, as well as a time to meditate on the suffering Christ endured for us. Resist the temptation to turn it into a personal test of your will or even feel like you have “failed” at Lent. Ain’t nobody got time for that!