Many will think we are talking about Christmas with all its' beautiful thingsthat we see. Well, in a way, yes, because without this there can be noResurrection and the beginnings of Christmas are brought together by the story of Lent.
Instead of just thinking of what to do during Lent, let think of the wonderful story of Lent and the tremendous liturgies of the Church along with those stories. Of any time of the year we only get the beautiful liturgies of Holy Week at the end of Lent - the processions of Palm Sunday - the beautiful ceremonies of the institution of both the Eucharist along with that of the
sacrament of Holy Orders, united with the Passion and realization of what the death of our Redeemer has meant to us, finally brought to conclusion with the Easter Vigil service, one of the most beautiful of all liturgical services.
We can think of the many things we wish to do during Lent to show our love of God and use them as some sort of repentance, and all that is fine. Regardless of our ages or sex, we all should be doing something during Lent - fasting for those whose age qualifies for that even though the Church says we only HAVE to fast a couple of days ( many times we forget that the Church also says that if we do not fast we should be doing something that can be beneficial to us spiritually). We can use penance in various forms to help us realize we are sinners and because of us, you and me, our Lord dies
on the cross. Yes, all of these things can be a very personal thing.
But, if we really wish to celebrate what Lent is all about and actually get a thrill from the final days of Lent, by joining with the Church in the celebration of the Triduum, the last three days of of Holy Week, we should prepare ourselves all during Lent for those great ceremonies and really, by doing our individual things during Lent get our soul prepared for the great celebration of our salvation at Easter.
Then our Lent will mean a little more to us, bring us a clearer understanding what Lent is all about along with our salvation by our Lord and why we too should really celebrate because of the Resurrection.
©2009 Fr. Louis Schlangen
Instead of just thinking of what to do during Lent, let think of the wonderful story of Lent and the tremendous liturgies of the Church along with those stories. Of any time of the year we only get the beautiful liturgies of Holy Week at the end of Lent - the processions of Palm Sunday - the beautiful ceremonies of the institution of both the Eucharist along with that of the
sacrament of Holy Orders, united with the Passion and realization of what the death of our Redeemer has meant to us, finally brought to conclusion with the Easter Vigil service, one of the most beautiful of all liturgical services.
We can think of the many things we wish to do during Lent to show our love of God and use them as some sort of repentance, and all that is fine. Regardless of our ages or sex, we all should be doing something during Lent - fasting for those whose age qualifies for that even though the Church says we only HAVE to fast a couple of days ( many times we forget that the Church also says that if we do not fast we should be doing something that can be beneficial to us spiritually). We can use penance in various forms to help us realize we are sinners and because of us, you and me, our Lord dies
on the cross. Yes, all of these things can be a very personal thing.
But, if we really wish to celebrate what Lent is all about and actually get a thrill from the final days of Lent, by joining with the Church in the celebration of the Triduum, the last three days of of Holy Week, we should prepare ourselves all during Lent for those great ceremonies and really, by doing our individual things during Lent get our soul prepared for the great celebration of our salvation at Easter.
Then our Lent will mean a little more to us, bring us a clearer understanding what Lent is all about along with our salvation by our Lord and why we too should really celebrate because of the Resurrection.
©2009 Fr. Louis Schlangen