A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right
For centuries, Holy Mother Church provided her children (that's us) with a special "prep" for the season of Lent. Frankly, Lent was a bigger deal in "the old days"; people took it more seriously, and so a period of preparation was essential. (In the Eastern Rites and the Orthodox Church, where they still take Lent seriously, Lent is officially called "Great Lent" and also has some "lead in" Sundays.) In the older calendar (still observed) of the Latin Rite, our preparation is known as "Septuagesima" consisting of the three Sundays before Ash Wednesday: Septuagesima (70), Sexagesima (60), and Qinqugesima (50). The numbers approximate the days before Easter (not exact, of course) so they also become our initial reminder that the greatest feast in the Church calendar - Easter - lies in the not too distant future.
While the penitential season of Advent prepares us for Christmas, Lent brings us (or should bring us) a more serious and intense time of preparation, and therefore of penance. While much has changed in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church since Vatican II, the purpose of Lent has not. Admittedly, the observation of this holy season had already become more mild compared to centuries ago. Indeed, since Vatican II, such observation has unfortunately, in many cases, virtually disappeared. I don't think it was the intention of that Council to suppress the observation of Lenten penitential practices, but that has been the result.
Which leaves us Catholics with a choice: Do we go with the flow, or do we take the time and make the effort to understand what God might expect or be pleased to accept from us during Lent this year? Today we suggest the latter. And rather than engage in debate with those who would temper our observances and minimize their importance, we would do well to recall that those penances we embrace are not intended to make us miserable; rather they serve to strengthen us. The restraint we show in abstaining from certain pleasures frees us from the impulses of the moment that buffet us throughout our lives. Such impulses, even if not actually leading us to sin, take our attention from God, from His promise of eternal life, and tie us to the the present world, it's allures and distractions. Living without the perspective of eternity can, and often does, secure us firmly in grip of the world, the flesh, and the Devil.
If you think such thinking might be "old-fashioned" or, worse, "pre-Vatican II" (Heaven forbid!), think again. We urge you to learn about your Holy Catholic Faith and its rich traditions. We implore you to treasure the great pearls of wisdom handed down to us by our forefathers and not caste them before swine.
That's why we remind you that we're in "pre-Lent" on this Sexagesima Sunday (according to the traditional Church calendar, as still observed in the Extraordinary Form, or Tridentine Rite, of our Holy Church.) It's time to consider how you will observe the great and holy season of Lent. Those of you who attend the tradition rite Mass already see the priest wearing purple, so you've been put on notice. Those of you attending Novus Ordo Mass may hear nothing of Lent until Ash Wednesday, so maybe this post might serve as notice.
And for all of us, if we're not already in the habit of regular confession, perhaps Lent will be our time to once and for all establish this important and salutary habit in our lives. These words of Pope Pius XII may help inspire us all to place Confession at the top of our "To Do" lists not only during Lent, but throughout the year:
A happy Sunday to all. And don't forget: Lent is coming!
While the penitential season of Advent prepares us for Christmas, Lent brings us (or should bring us) a more serious and intense time of preparation, and therefore of penance. While much has changed in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church since Vatican II, the purpose of Lent has not. Admittedly, the observation of this holy season had already become more mild compared to centuries ago. Indeed, since Vatican II, such observation has unfortunately, in many cases, virtually disappeared. I don't think it was the intention of that Council to suppress the observation of Lenten penitential practices, but that has been the result.
Which leaves us Catholics with a choice: Do we go with the flow, or do we take the time and make the effort to understand what God might expect or be pleased to accept from us during Lent this year? Today we suggest the latter. And rather than engage in debate with those who would temper our observances and minimize their importance, we would do well to recall that those penances we embrace are not intended to make us miserable; rather they serve to strengthen us. The restraint we show in abstaining from certain pleasures frees us from the impulses of the moment that buffet us throughout our lives. Such impulses, even if not actually leading us to sin, take our attention from God, from His promise of eternal life, and tie us to the the present world, it's allures and distractions. Living without the perspective of eternity can, and often does, secure us firmly in grip of the world, the flesh, and the Devil.
If you think such thinking might be "old-fashioned" or, worse, "pre-Vatican II" (Heaven forbid!), think again. We urge you to learn about your Holy Catholic Faith and its rich traditions. We implore you to treasure the great pearls of wisdom handed down to us by our forefathers and not caste them before swine.
That's why we remind you that we're in "pre-Lent" on this Sexagesima Sunday (according to the traditional Church calendar, as still observed in the Extraordinary Form, or Tridentine Rite, of our Holy Church.) It's time to consider how you will observe the great and holy season of Lent. Those of you who attend the tradition rite Mass already see the priest wearing purple, so you've been put on notice. Those of you attending Novus Ordo Mass may hear nothing of Lent until Ash Wednesday, so maybe this post might serve as notice.
And for all of us, if we're not already in the habit of regular confession, perhaps Lent will be our time to once and for all establish this important and salutary habit in our lives. These words of Pope Pius XII may help inspire us all to place Confession at the top of our "To Do" lists not only during Lent, but throughout the year:
“As you well know, Venerable Brethren, it is true that venial sins may be expiated in many ways which are to be highly commended. But to ensure more rapid progress day by day in the path of virtue, we will that the pious practice of frequent confession, which was introduced into the Church by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, should be earnestly advocated. By it, genuine self-knowledge is increased, Christian humility grows, bad habits are corrected, spiritual neglect and tepidity are resisted, the conscience is purified, the will strengthened, a salutary self-control is attained, and grace is increased by virtue of the Sacrament itself.”We rarely if ever hear such words as these anymore. (And priests wonder why no one goes to Confession in so many parishes!) But there it is. Confession should be an integral part of our lives. Simple, short and, for those of us who have made it so, sweet.
A happy Sunday to all. And don't forget: Lent is coming!
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