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.