Following is something I found years ago, concerning our disposition during the upcoming penitential season, which will be beginning next Sunday.
LENT…a time for discipline
By Fr. Raymond Zweber
(Taken from the St. Augustine bulletin)
A Christian is a follower of Christ. Christ left
no doubt as to the one absolute condition required
of His followers: “If anyone wants to be a follower
of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his
cross every day and follow me.”
During Lent, we renew our commitment to Christ:
to follow Him more closely. We renounce ourselves
and take up our cross and walk in His footsteps.
What makes up that cross? Immediately we
think of sickness, misfortunes of all kinds, the
burdens of work, bearing with one anothers'
faults, the heat of summer, the cold of winter, etc.
But seldom do we think of the most obvious crosses
which arise from our human nature weakened by
original sin:
There is the weakness of covetousness which is
greed. “I want more and I want it now.”There is the weakness of lust, which is difficultly
in ordering my sexuality as God intended and to
practice the virtue of chastity.
There is the weakness of pride, that seeks to
dominate; that fails to be considerate of others;
that exalts self above all others.
There is the weakness of envy, which brings
sadness at the good fortune of others and
jealousy that sees a threat to my own excellence
in the blessings that come to others.
There is the weakness of gluttony, which finds
difficulty in disciplining appetites for food and
drink and creature comforts.
There is the weakness of sloth which is a dis-
taste for spiritual things(prayer, Mass, confess-
ion, etc.) or an aversion for work, even essential
work.
There is the weakness of anger which is a
rebellion against God and others because of
circumstances or persons.
All these weaknesses need discipline and
so involve the cross. All our penances of Lent,
whether fasting, prayer or alms-giving have this
discipline as an end. Unless they are directed
to this end, we are just going through the motions
of Lent and we are no more a “Christian” at
Easter than we are now.
Examine yourself honestly. See where
discipline is needed in your life. Then enter
into the true spirit of Lent---denying yourself
and taking up your cross daily to follow
Christ.
Following is part of the prayer that Abbot Gueranger asked of St. Agatha, whose feast day was a few days ago. It seems relevant yet today:
'It is now the season when every Christian should renew his whole being by repentance and compunction. We know the power of thy prayer; let it procure us these gifts: the fear of God, which keeps down the working of corrupt nature; the spirit of penance, which repairs the injuries caused by our sins; and a solid love for our dear Lord, which sweetens the yoke, and ensures perseverance. More than once a whole people has witnessed how a relic of thine, thy veil, has checked the stream of lava which rolled down the sides of Etna; we are threatened with a torrent of vice, which will drive the world back to pagan corruption, unless divine mercy stay its wild fury; and prayers such as thine can obtain it for us. Delay no, O Agatha! each day gives strength to the danger of a literature that is infidel and immoral; by thy prayers keep the poisonous cup from them that have not tasted, neutralize its power in them that have drunk its venom of death. Oh! spare us the shame of seeing our Europe(and the rest of the world) the slave of sensuality, and the dupe of hell.
LENT…a time for discipline
By Fr. Raymond Zweber
(Taken from the St. Augustine bulletin)
A Christian is a follower of Christ. Christ left
no doubt as to the one absolute condition required
of His followers: “If anyone wants to be a follower
of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his
cross every day and follow me.”
During Lent, we renew our commitment to Christ:
to follow Him more closely. We renounce ourselves
and take up our cross and walk in His footsteps.
What makes up that cross? Immediately we
think of sickness, misfortunes of all kinds, the
burdens of work, bearing with one anothers'
faults, the heat of summer, the cold of winter, etc.
But seldom do we think of the most obvious crosses
which arise from our human nature weakened by
original sin:
There is the weakness of covetousness which is
greed. “I want more and I want it now.”There is the weakness of lust, which is difficultly
in ordering my sexuality as God intended and to
practice the virtue of chastity.
There is the weakness of pride, that seeks to
dominate; that fails to be considerate of others;
that exalts self above all others.
There is the weakness of envy, which brings
sadness at the good fortune of others and
jealousy that sees a threat to my own excellence
in the blessings that come to others.
There is the weakness of gluttony, which finds
difficulty in disciplining appetites for food and
drink and creature comforts.
There is the weakness of sloth which is a dis-
taste for spiritual things(prayer, Mass, confess-
ion, etc.) or an aversion for work, even essential
work.
There is the weakness of anger which is a
rebellion against God and others because of
circumstances or persons.
All these weaknesses need discipline and
so involve the cross. All our penances of Lent,
whether fasting, prayer or alms-giving have this
discipline as an end. Unless they are directed
to this end, we are just going through the motions
of Lent and we are no more a “Christian” at
Easter than we are now.
Examine yourself honestly. See where
discipline is needed in your life. Then enter
into the true spirit of Lent---denying yourself
and taking up your cross daily to follow
Christ.
Following is part of the prayer that Abbot Gueranger asked of St. Agatha, whose feast day was a few days ago. It seems relevant yet today:
'It is now the season when every Christian should renew his whole being by repentance and compunction. We know the power of thy prayer; let it procure us these gifts: the fear of God, which keeps down the working of corrupt nature; the spirit of penance, which repairs the injuries caused by our sins; and a solid love for our dear Lord, which sweetens the yoke, and ensures perseverance. More than once a whole people has witnessed how a relic of thine, thy veil, has checked the stream of lava which rolled down the sides of Etna; we are threatened with a torrent of vice, which will drive the world back to pagan corruption, unless divine mercy stay its wild fury; and prayers such as thine can obtain it for us. Delay no, O Agatha! each day gives strength to the danger of a literature that is infidel and immoral; by thy prayers keep the poisonous cup from them that have not tasted, neutralize its power in them that have drunk its venom of death. Oh! spare us the shame of seeing our Europe(and the rest of the world) the slave of sensuality, and the dupe of hell.
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