The Lenten Journey
Lent has begun, and we once again begin our journey with Our Lord through the desert. During this time, we should be partaking in some acts of mortification, but we should remember that our acts need not be giant; rather, our journey can be a series of many little acts by which we improve spiritual disposition and grow ever closer to our baptismal vows.
Part of the object of Lent is to deny ourselves so that we may grow closer to Our God and hear more clearly the Holy Spirit who ever desires to speak to us, but who can be ignored because of our own worldly wants and desires. At the beginning of the Lenten journey, we may find things difficult; however, through discipline, practice and grace, things will become ever easier, but we should be careful not to take on more than we are able to do.
In zealousness, we can sometimes attempt mortification that are above our realm of expectation. Now, I am usually not one to deter people from taking the hard road, but what I am saying is that one must be realistic in their abilities and health.The end goal of our actions is an increase in faith, hope and charity and we should therefore consider if our journey of denial has this in mind or is it for others to see. Nevertheless, if your mortification is too great, do not be disheartened. Offer your prayers and your best to the Lord and He will be pleased. He knows the limit of all people and He will know if you have given him the best you could, but the best thing to do would be to consult with your spiritual advisor and find your next course of action. You may just need a bit of encouragement or prayer from someone else, or you may have indeed picked something much too difficult and in that case, your advisor can give you a good recourse of action.
No matter what our mortification, we should consider an increase in our prayer life and time for biblical and religious reading and meditation. If we haven't already incorporated the Rosary or Divine Office into our daily life, it would be an excellent time to put them into practice. When you consider the rosary, it really doesn't require too much time to say it, maybe between 15-30 minutes depending on your reflections on the mysteries, and if you think you don't have time - make it! It would be a mortifying act. Wake up earlier, go to bed later, or give up 15 minutes of internet time. This actually can be applied to any set type of prayer, not only the ones I've mentioned, make time.
By beginning our Lenten journey, we are striving to imitate Christ and denying the world while being in it. Even Christ, while in the desert, was tempted by Satan and was offered the world, but He rejected it and it is the same thing that we must do. This is the time for us to reject the distractions of the world, the pomp of Satan and grow ever more in Jesus Christ, to embrace loss and realize that it is really a gain, to come to the realization that the temporal will never reward us as much as the spiritual comforts of God, but first we must release ourselves for its worldly chains by self-denial and prayer; thus being a new creation in Christ, as was realized in our baptism.
Pax tecum.
Part of the object of Lent is to deny ourselves so that we may grow closer to Our God and hear more clearly the Holy Spirit who ever desires to speak to us, but who can be ignored because of our own worldly wants and desires. At the beginning of the Lenten journey, we may find things difficult; however, through discipline, practice and grace, things will become ever easier, but we should be careful not to take on more than we are able to do.
In zealousness, we can sometimes attempt mortification that are above our realm of expectation. Now, I am usually not one to deter people from taking the hard road, but what I am saying is that one must be realistic in their abilities and health.The end goal of our actions is an increase in faith, hope and charity and we should therefore consider if our journey of denial has this in mind or is it for others to see. Nevertheless, if your mortification is too great, do not be disheartened. Offer your prayers and your best to the Lord and He will be pleased. He knows the limit of all people and He will know if you have given him the best you could, but the best thing to do would be to consult with your spiritual advisor and find your next course of action. You may just need a bit of encouragement or prayer from someone else, or you may have indeed picked something much too difficult and in that case, your advisor can give you a good recourse of action.
No matter what our mortification, we should consider an increase in our prayer life and time for biblical and religious reading and meditation. If we haven't already incorporated the Rosary or Divine Office into our daily life, it would be an excellent time to put them into practice. When you consider the rosary, it really doesn't require too much time to say it, maybe between 15-30 minutes depending on your reflections on the mysteries, and if you think you don't have time - make it! It would be a mortifying act. Wake up earlier, go to bed later, or give up 15 minutes of internet time. This actually can be applied to any set type of prayer, not only the ones I've mentioned, make time.
Pax tecum.
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