bro. Fred's Lent and Holy Week pages

The 40 Days of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday

“Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will
have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

“Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. 

Mt. 6:1-2

Works of Love are given freely without conditions. You give what you can but you don't advertise it. Some people have few funds so they give little, but they give. People who have more should give more. Your prayer life will determine how much you love God, and how much you want to help those in need.

Why is Lent 40 days? (pdf)

Fred's Reflection:

"Let us go to the Mountain of God" - Ash Wednesday prepares us for the journey through Lent. On this day, we pray in anticipation of leading a life with fewer distractions for 40 days. In order to go up the mountain of interior prayer which has a fuller life with God as its goal, we have to eliminate the confusion and frustrations of life so that we will become pure of heart. The ashes placed on our foreheads are a sign of going into penance. It is also a sign of leaving the world by preparing to go up the mountain. Have you done everything to make the trip? Have you received the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that you may receive Our Lord in Holy Communion more often during Lent?

It would be nice if you did not have to travel alone. Perhaps your spouse will want to make this journey with you. Or your brother or sister? On Fridays, some of us (depending on age) will have to fast. I hear people say - what difference does it make what we eat on such days, or being above the age limit, people talk as if a great weight has been lifted from them. Really, fasting, if you can, is all part of the trip up the mountain. Jesus would be so pleased if you did something you were not required to do.

We are always called to share what we have with our sisters and brothers, especially with the poor and homeless. In Lent that is even more important! While we seek a certain intimacy with God in our prayer life, this intimacy would go nowhere unless we learn how to say 'I am sorry, ' and 'I forgive you.' more easily. We also must be able to forgive ourselves. You go to confession and God forgives you. That means, you will not heal until you forgive yourselves too - but some people are unable to do that. Many parishes have Lenten homilies or special Lenten retreat programs. These are very useful for getting us on our way. Jesus invited us to "Come follow me." Let us say "Yes, Lord, your servant is listening."

We listen for instructions how to come closer to Jesus. In a world that is so much into speed, warp-speed, let's slow down just a bit and make a daily commitment each day of Lent that will lead, eventually, to a life-long commitment, to take the opportunity offered to us, to begin our trip. In olden days, the priest used to pray "Introibo ad Altare Dei." (Let us go up to the Altar of God) - it is an upward trip to become closer to Jesus, every day. Becoming closer to Jesus has an immense amount of "Grace" attached to it, and it will help you along the more difficult passages up the mountain."

May this Lenten Journey inspire you, and May God bless you, and keep you!

Fred Schaeffer, OFS

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