Brother Knights,
We’re just past the halfway point in the Lenten season. How’s it going? Did you give anything up? Have you stuck with it? No need to answer, that’s a rhetorical question.
Most Catholics know that during Lent it is traditional to practice prayer, fasting, and acts of spiritual self-discipline. But I realized in preparing for this reflection there are things that I either didn’t know, or that I needed to be refreshed on. For those of you who already know these facts, please indulge those of us who need to brush up on our faith tradition.
For instance, what about 40 days? We commemorate the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert after his baptism where he fasted, prayed, and was tempted by the devil. But in doing some quick math, I realized that 61⁄2 weeks is longer than 40 days. The span from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday, the official window of Lent, is 44 days. However, when you take away the six Sundays and add in Good Friday and Holy Saturday, you come up with 40 days.
So why take away Sundays? Don’t those count toward the 40 days? According to Father Michael Russo, pastor of St. Anne Church in Youngsville, LA, the count of days in Lent is more about the ‘imitation’ of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert than a literal recreation. And he agrees, Sundays are for rest.
“Sunday has always been considered by Christians to be a ‘little Easter,’ the day on which we celebrate the Lord’s resurrection and his victory over sin and death. This is why Sunday is never considered a day of penance but always a day of rejoicing.”
How about fasting and abstinence? According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.
For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.
Now that we’ve reviewed some of the mechanics of Lent, let’s go back to spiritual self-discipline. Is it important to deny oneself of things that bring us pleasure? Can’t we just say an extra rosary or do some other “positive” good in lieu of giving something up?
According to Fr. Carlos Martins, a contributor at Catholic.com:
In recent years, many Catholics have taken on Lenten “self-giving” penances rather than engaging in those that are more explicitly acts of self-denial. Thus, rather than give up things such as sweets, coffee, eating animal flesh (even on Fridays), or some other good thing, there is an exhortation to do such things as pray an extra chaplet, visit a shut-in, devote more time to spiritual reading, or some other such activity—or even to “fast” from vices such as unkindness.
Prayer and works of mercy are both wonderful and necessary Lenten practices. However, if we do not practice self-denial of things that are good, then we miss the point of Lent.
Fr. Martins suggests that even if you have medical issues or dietary mandates that preclude traditional fasting, there are other things you can do to practice self-denial without jeopardizing your health. For instance, what if you ate your sandwich or burger without condiments or added salt? These things add flavor to our meals but with no nutritional value. Or if you would get splitting migraines without your morning coffee, what if you skipped the cream and sweetener?
Look, I realize we’re already a few weeks into Lent. But does that mean it’s too late to start? Is it like the point in mid-January when the gym begins to empty out because every person who made a New Years resolution to work out regularly has already given up?
Back to Fr. Martins:
The Church does not prescribe penance because it is sadistic; it prescribes it for two essential realities it brings about. The first is that it reminds us of our own mortality. The displeasure that comes with fasting makes us feel our lack of self-sufficiency and our dependence on God. It makes our prayer that much more real and genuine because it is prayer made with both the body and the mind. That prayer, in turn, may fuel acts of charity.
The second is that a meaningful, sincere, and authentic Lenten observance makes Easter that much more of a celebration. When Lent is over, it is time for glory, and we consume the good things we have gone without. And it is good to do so. They are a reminder of the glory that Christ has purchased for us and that awaits us in the next life.
I have to admit, I enjoyed reading that last part. There have been years where I have given up sweets for Lent. I looked forward to that moment on Easter Sunday, after Mass, when we would break out the Easter chocolate. I savored the moment when I could finally indulge in a Reese’s peanut butter egg. And for some reason, when I should have been simply relishing the moment, I felt a little strange. A little hesitant, and dare I say, almost guilty. I didn’t have a chocolate addiction. I didn’t even eat chocolate all that often. So why did I attach something negative to that moment?
Brother Knights, I can tell you this. This Easter Sunday I am going to destroy some chocolate eggs and I will feel ABSOLUTELY NO GUILT!
May you all have a blessed Lenten season and look forward to the celebration of our Savior’s rising from the grave.