Lent

Lent is such a beautiful time of preparation. Every year, however, many of us make Lenten resolutions for reasons other than true penance, say for health/fitness reasons or even possibly a false sense of penance. I also sometimes wonder how many people have to suffer in the name of someone else doing a penance.

It is important to remember that our penance should be between us and God. This means that if my attitude toward my penance is noticeable or troublesome to others that I need to do a better job at being more discreet and charitable.

For example: we all know the person that gives up smoking and everyone around them knows because of their attitude. No one can stand to be around them. This is not what we are called to do. When we do a penance we do it between God and ourselves.

A question to ask may be: do I want the graces here on earth or in heaven? For if we do penance to be praised on earth we have gained nothing, and if our penance just makes us a more intolerable to others we have gained nothing. When we do a penance and it is only between us and God, however, gain many graces in heaven.

What a beautiful season to get closer to our beloved Lord and to be able to offer personal sacrifices to unify ourselves with Christ... the One who loved us so much that He gave of himself totally for us. In dealing with the pro-life movement we remember that many of these acts of love done with a spirit of penance can contribute tio bringing a culture of life back into our society.

Let's keep that intention in our hearts this Lent.