We have gone through so many Lents already: what change did they bring about? Yet, holy Church promises: "Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile, ecce nunc dies salutis!" . . . Lent is to be a time of grace especially because it leads us to amend our lives by expiating our sins in union with Christ's sufferings, thus preparing ourselves for the spiritual renewal of Easter in union with Christ's Resurrection. Let us see how we can sanctify our Lent by making it a time of active warfare against sin - in ourselves - and in our flock.
IN OURSELVES
Too often the priest's efforts in Lent are mostly concentrated on improving his people: he forgets - at least in practice - that he too has sins to expiate and sinful habits to eradicate. Yet, even the efficacy of his ministry will depend on the degree in which his soul is purified from sin and thus made a fit instrument in the hands of God. Besides, his influence will come more from the example of his life than from his words of exhortation: how can he invite others to a more austere way of life, if they see no change whatever in his own? "Deeds speak louder than words" (Pius' XI ). "Non confundant opera tua sermonem tuum" (St Jerome).
But the desire of our own salvation and sanctification also should spur us on to enter into the spirit of Lent and to wage war against sin! Our whole aim in spiritual life is to come closer and closer to God and to let His love fill our life.
Sin is the great obstacle: mortal sin of course, simply shutting out God; deliberate venial sins, blocking the way to God's choice graces; habitual sloth, apathy and carelessness, leaving us impervious to the wooing of the Bridegroom. . .
Alas! How often we stagnate and live in mediocrity and frustrate the designs of God's love upon our soul, because we do not keep clear of sin and do not free ourselves from the shackles that keep us bound to creatures and the things of this world! We understand so little the necessity of utterly separating ourselves from all that is opposed to God's friendship. How different the attitude of the Saints, who pursued relentlessly all enemies of God in their soul: their past sins were, till the end of their life, a source of compunction and penance; their vigilance was unceasing to detect and combat all sinful tendencies; the slightest infidelities gave them a poignant sense of shame and sorrow. . .
* Let me resolve to enter upon this Lent in a spirit of sincerity. I should feel a hypocrite if I were to say the prayers of the Lenten Masses, and still more if I were to exhort others to penance and mortification, and did not myself fully enter into the spirit of Lent.IN OUR FLOCK
I will live a more penitential life, increasing my mortifications, if prudence and discretion allow of it, at least taking in a true spirit of penance the sacrifices inseparable from my ministry.
I will aim at a deeper realization of the meaning of sin and of its consequences in my life, trying to see sin as God sees it, pondering over what it costs Him: the mangled Body of Christ on the Cross!
Let me examine myself sincerely: Is there not a passion in me that imperatively claims correction and amendment; which are my habitual daily faults that may shock men around me as well as put an obstacle to divine grace; is there not a general slackness and self-indulgence in my life, particularly regarding my spiritual exercises?
I will take practical resolutions, with the echo of holy Church's warning in my ears: "Exhortamur vos ne in vacuum gratiam Dei recipiatis."
The priest's Lent must also be a time of great zeal for the sanctification of his flock. No other time of the year perhaps is more promising of abundant harvest: everything in the iiturgy of the Church, in the special exercises of the ministry, is calculated to dispose souls to repentance and amendment. And in those days that prepare us for the anniversary of the Redemption, the Precious Blood of Christ, surely, comes to us laden with special efficacy and graces.
Our efforts must be directed first and foremost towards heaven, redoubling the fervour and intensity of our intercessory prayer: "Inter vestibulum et altare plorabunt sacerdotes ministri Domini et dicent: Parce, Domine, parce populo tuo."
We must awaken the faith of our people by a carefully prepared set of instructions, to bring them to real repentance for their neglect of God's service, fill them with confidence in the mercies of the Lord. This mercy must be brought home to them by our own behaviour in the sanctuary, the pulpit, and the confessional: a priest according to the Heart of Jesus does not repel sinners by coldness or harshness, but draws them on by showing in his whole attitude the "viscera misericordiae" of the Divine Master. At the same time let us not be afraid to exhort them to a generous practice of penance, in keeping with their circumstances, for which there are so many occasions in the present-day hardships of life. Laymen are not unfrequently an object lesson to their pastor by their readiness to embrace Lenten practices of mortification and selfdenial.
* What is my eagerness to rescue souls from sin in this hallowed season? Have I unbounded confidence in Christ's Precious ""Blood? Being resolved at the same time not to be disheartened by difficulties and failures, knowing well that no labour is ever lost in the sight of God and that merits do not depend on success. Am I ready to spend myself without counting the cost? To reinvigorate my generosity I look up to Christ on the Cross who beholds all sinners across the centuries and utters His " Sitio"."Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut familia tua, quae se, affligendo carnem, ab alimentis abstinet, sectando iustitiam a culpa ieiunet" (Monday after 2nd Sunday of Lent).
_________________________
Adapted from Alter Christus, Meditations for Priests by F.X. L'Hoir, S.J. (1958)
Meditation 39.
###
Please pray for our priests and pray for vocations to the priesthood.
No comments:
Post a Comment