A Simple Quiquagesima Sunday Thought

Here's a simple Quinquagesima Sunday thought: Lent arrives this week. This simple thought elicits a couple of offshoots.

It would be a boon had we been ready for Lent already. With Ash Wednesday arriving in three days, we can enjoy our Sunday respite from our daily labor, uplifted by our having done the praying and thinking necessary to craft our Lenten discipline. Here are some personal examples of that discipline.

Trying to keep some form of fasting throughout the days of Lent - Sundays excepted, of course. 

Such fasting must be appropriate to age and health. With that, the traditional "no two meals equaling the main meal" should work. There's a long history of this in our Latin Rite tradition. If you're not sure what it entails, you can easily find resources online that will get into the history and more detail. But frankly, it's pretty straightforward as stated.

Delaying the eating of any meal by at least three minutes after saying grace.

Partial abstinence: eating meat at only one meal (none on Fridays of course). 

Taking an additional 10 minutes of meditation each day - this in addition to the usual 10 minutes in the morning.

Focusing Daily Examination of Conscience of the virtue of charity.  

Was every thought, word, and deed driven by love of God and neighbor? If and when there has been a shortfall or failure, immediately ask for forgiveness by praying and Act of Contrition. Even better, examine more than once each day - e.g., at some point in the middle of each day.

There's more (although not much more). These are just some simple examples.

So much for that boon of having already prepared. 

But what if we haven't completed our plan for a special Lenten discipline, or if we've not given it a moment's consideration yet?

Well, as they say, "No worries." There's still time.

For those of us who have put together a plan for Lent in the past, this ought not be difficult. We may have simple had lots to distract us or waylay in these days leading up to Lent. Or maybe we're the type that likes to wait for the last minute. Whatever. Just take advantage or our Sunday respite and the extra time it gives us for spiritual matters. Best not to wait for the day before Lent begins, worse, Ash Wednesday!

For those of us who have not ever prepared a Lenten plan, well, there's no room to provide a How-To"  mini-course. But, really, there's no reason to do so. It's not that complicated.

Start with the traditional Three Pillars of Lent: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving. You can poke around the Internet and find plenty to get you up to speed on this. If inclined, you could go the AI route. Either way, use your knowledge of our Catholic Religion and common sense to sort though your options.

Then attend to each (Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving) in turn. There's no need to pile on here. Pick one item for each as a foundation. Perhaps one each will be sufficient for a complete Lenten Plan. It's really an individual matter. Do what makes sense in your current state and circumstances. Do your best not to create a mountain you can't climb.

But whether experienced, a late-starter, or complete beginner, keep in mind one overriding factor that should be common to us all: Love of God and the desire to grow closer to Him. There's no point to any spiritual exercise of any kind, whether Lenten or just those we do on a daily basis if love of God isn't our ultimate guide and motivator.

Hope this helps. 

Have a Blessed Quinquagesima Sunday!