LENT 2005

The holy season is soon upon us. Check out the message of our Pope. We are to make this a time of discipleship, renewal, purification, and a turning back to the Lord. In this Year of the Eucharist, our Lenten fasting reminds us of our dependency on the Bread of Life. We are called to be in solidarity with the Poor, those closest to our Savior's heart. Visit Catholic Relief Services for information on how you can observe the discipline of almsgiving.

In my house growing up, Lent was a time of simplicity and sacrifice. In contrast, on Fat Tuesday, we would eat Paczkis for breakfast, get a brownbag lunch jam-packed with goodies we would never have packed otherwise (pudding snacks and candy), and eat a big dinner with ice cream to follow. Sometimes we'd watch a movie, even though it was a school night. Girl Scout cookies had to be devoured or packed away in the freezer with all the other perishable treats.

The next day was solemn and quiet. We would have one meal, such as lentil soup or- as we grew older- nothing at all. The tablecloth would be removed and a bowl of pretzels laid out to remind us at each meal that we are the Salt of the Earth, called to be a leavening agent of justice, called to flavor life with love, and called to be a sign of peace (as indicated by the pretzel's shape). For 40 days, life would be spare, yet joyful.

I'm resolved to spend this year's Lent in preparation for our pilgirmage to El Salvador for the Holy Week activities marking the 25th Anniversary of Oscar Romero's assasination. The Archbishop was martyred for speaking out against military pogroms against the civilian population, among other atrocities during that nation's arduous and costly Civil War.

Join me in prayer, perhaps the most important of the three Lenten disciplines. In our walk with the Lord through this desert experience, we must seek him out, either in Word or Sacrament. Find out if your local parish offers opportunities for holy hours, penance services, evening masses, and most importantly- Friday Stations of the Cross. No matter how we journey closer to the Lord, that must be our Lent. Simply JESUS.