Wednesday, March 5th, marked Ash Wednesday, the beginning of another Lent. Although we have gone through many Lents before, this is a good occasion to remind ourselves of the purpose of Lent and suggest some ways we can observe this sacred season.

The purpose of Lent is to prepare us to celebrate the central mystery of our faith, the Paschal Mystery, the mystery of Christ’s saving death and life-giving resurrection. The Liturgy of Lent helps us through the rich scriptural readings it provides at daily and Sunday Mass. These readings and and the prayers of the Lenten liturgy remind us of our need to reform our lives so that we can joyfully celebrate the Paschal Mystery. It is not the purpose of Lent to make us sad or gloomy. It is not the purpose of Lent to make our lives difficult or drab. Lent is quite positive in outlook. It reminds us of the future God has prepared for us through the death and resurrection of his Son: resurrection life with Jesus Christ.

The church provides us with three ways to live this Lenten season: (1) Almsgiving, (2) Prayer, and (3) and Fasting. Almsgiving invites us to share the many blessings we have received with those less fortunate than ourselves. Prayer invites to enter into a deep communion with God. Fasting invites us to master our desires and senses so that can participate more fully in the Paschal Mystery.

If these three traditional practices are to be effective, we must exercise all of them. Prayer without almsgiving can become barren and routine. Fasting without prayer can become a source of pride. And almsgiving without fasting runs the risk of giving without any personal sacrifice on our part. Each of these practices is meant to support the other, and it is only when we practice all three, each practice supporting the other, that we attain the goal of Lent. Here are some practical ways that we, as a parish community, can practice almsgiving, prayer, and fasting this Lent.

First, let us resolve to give some of our financial resources to those in need. There are many ways we can do this. For example, consider a gift in accordance with your means to this year’s Archbishop’s Annual Appeal as a way of sharing in the charitable work of the Church in the Archdiocese of Hartford. The gift that you give to this year’s Appeal will be used for those in need.

Second, let us resolve to deepen our life of prayer. There are many ways we can do this. We can attend the Stations of the Cross on the Fridays of Lent, or join in saying the rosary after Mass on Saturday morning. But nothing will be more fruitful for our lives than a deeper participation in the Eucharist at daily Mass. The Lenten daily Masses with their scriptural readings are especially rich and rewarding. Resolve to attend daily Mass during Lent, or to attend daily Mass once or twice a week during Lent.

Third, let us participate in some form of fasting so that we can give alms with a generous heart during Lent. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting for those between the ages of 18 and 59. On these days, we should refrain from eating between meals and eat only one full meal with two lighter means. Those who are 14 years of age and older should abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent. These are all rather minimal requirements. And so we might consider fasting and abstaining from meat on other days as our health allows. Whatever we do, let us do it with a generous heart rather than from a sense of obligation. If we do, we will experience the full joy of the Paschal Mystery at the end of this Lent.