My upbringing and laboring in the realm of conservative
evangelical Protestantism deprived me of a lot. One of the deprivations was a meaningful liturgical sense
of sanctifying time.
There was no liturgical calendar. There was no cohesion
and uniformity from following the lectionary for seasonal appropriate Scripture
readings. There were only two seasons … Christmas and Easter … that received
honorable mention and attention. These two seasons were brief. They came
and went quickly. The church year, for all practical purposes, was one long Ordinary
Time punctuated by two exclamation points of punctuation.
Lent, of the liturgical seasons, is honestly my favorite
season. It has a way of making everything else make better sense. It clarifies
and gives so much more meaning to Christmas and the Triduum when embraced and
entered into as an intimate journey of faith. My own humanity, both fallen and
redeemed, rightly discovers itself and its right place in this season of
prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Saint Benedict has this to say about Lent and how his
students are to conduct themselves during this holy season.
“The life of a monk ought always to be a Lenten
observance. However, since such virtue is that of few, we advise that during
these days of Lent he guard his life with all purity and at the same time wash
away during these holy days all the shortcomings of other times. This will then
be worthily done, if we restrain ourselves from all vices. Let us devote
ourselves to tearful prayers, to reading and compunction of heart, and to
abstinence. During these days, therefore, let us add something to the usual
amount of our service, special prayers, abstinence from food and drink, that
each one offer to God "with the joy of the Holy Ghost" (1 Thes. 1:6),
of his own accord, something above his prescribed measure; namely, let him
withdraw from his body somewhat of food, drink, sleep, speech, merriment, and
with the gladness of spiritual desire await holy Easter. Let each one, however,
make known to his Abbot what he offereth and let it be done with his approval
and blessing; because what is done without permission of the spiritual father
will be imputed to presumption and vain glory, and not to merit. Therefore, let
all be done with the approval of the Abbot.”[1]
Note that Lenten Observance was already a standard of
practice in the life of the Church during the 6th Century. Irenaus
of Lyons (c.130-c.200) wrote of such a season in the earliest days of the
church, but back then it lasted only two or three days, not the 40 observed
today. In 325, the Council of Nicea discussed a 40-day Lenten season of fasting.
It's unclear whether its original intent was just for new Christians preparing
for Baptism, but it soon encompassed the whole Church. Lent is generally
described as a commemoration of the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert
fasting and praying before beginning his public ministry [Matthew 4:1-11].
It is more than interesting that Jesus [the 2nd
Person in the Trinity and God entered into flesh] saw the necessity to fast and
pray. How much more so ought we, mere humans that we are, to yield ourselves to
such holy discipline? Especially considering that Satan is always at work to
deceive us and draw us away from God’s will and the safety afforded us by God’s
grace.
In consideration of these tools of good works on this
first Friday in Lent 2020, Father Abbot Benedict tells me [us] …
To fear the day of
judgment.
To be in dread of
hell.
To desire eternal
life with all spiritual longing.
To keep death
before one's eyes daily.
To keep a constant
watch over the actions of our life.
To hold as certain
that God sees us everywhere.
To dash at once
against Christ the evil thoughts which rise in one's heart.
And to disclose
them to our spiritual father.
To guard one's
tongue against bad and wicked speech.
Not to love much
speaking.
Not to speak
useless words and such as provoke laughter.[2]
Lent begins with ashes on the forehead on Ash Wednesday
to begin the season. The ashes are a reminder and a reality-check.
I think we miss the point when we simply observe Lent as
a way to do penance for blowing it out during the Pre-Lent season of Carnival
or Mardi Gras. To begin with, the idea that we are free to do what we want in
the way of drunkenness and debauchery is absolutely ludicrous. Why willingly
enter into sinful behavior that has dire consequences and effects eternally? Why
willingly jeopardize our here and now relationship with Christ? This "I did it this year and I'll do it again next year" interiority nowhere remotely resembles repentance and penance on account of sin.
Lent is a lot more than giving up those things that stand
in the way of our own deeper conversion.
Lent is a season where we proverbially clothe ourselves
with sackcloth and anoint ourselves with ashes.
Why? We do it as an act of penance reminding ourselves of our need for
Christ’s propitiation and atonement. Why? We do it as an act of thanksgiving for the horrible
sufferings of Christ during the last hours of his physical life on earth. Why? We do it as an act of communion and solidarity with the Communion
of Saints. Why? We do it as an act of intercession for souls to be converted
and heresies to be extirpated. Why? We do it as a tangible sign that we repent of our sins and believe the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
NOTE: Please know that we appreciate each of you who take the time to read these Oblate Reflections and Hermitage Notes. Our prayers are with each of you and we hold you in our hearts each night as we pray the Rosary. May we all, during this Lenten season, be drawn closer to Christ and discover ourselves being more deeply converted and changed by his graces bestowed upon us daily. May the peace of Christ be with us all. RB 57:9. David
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