Ash Wednesday 2013

ASH WEDNESDAY: Feb 13 2013.  In his Introduction to Christianity, Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) writes, “one could very well describe Christianity as a philosophy of freedom” and “The Christian message is basically nothing else than the transmission of the testimony that love has managed to break through death here and thus has transformed fundamentally the situation of us all” (1968, p. 158; p. 307).  

As we begin Lent, once again let's claim our freedom (cf. Gal 5:1) as sons and daughters of a loving God who gently and gradually transforms us into persons who can live in love forever. Lent is a time to prepare ourselves and participate more fully in the great transformation worked in us by Baptism and our participation in the sacramental life of the church.  We need to know and live our faith.  Why?

Without faith, all falls apart. All burns down.  There's an old story about the clown who ran into town from the fields outside where they were setting up the Big Top.  He yelled the Circus was on fire.  Everyone thought he was drumming up business for the show and laughed while ignoring his cries for help.  He continued to yell, "NO, the Tent really is on fire.  Come and help me put it out."  No one believed him.  They thought it was just part of the show.  Soon, the fire spread to the outskirts of town and quickly erupted, burning everything to the ground.  No one had paid any real attention to the cries of the clown.

Let's proclaim Christ these days.  Let's show by the ashes on our foreheads that we want to live in true freedom, knowing that love has broken through death and destruction.  Our situation is fundamentally transformed.  Deo Gratias.

First Monday of Lent

"Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel"

           

 Becoming aware of our sins is a big part of Lent. None of us are perfect, I can absolutely attest to that about myself. We do not reflect on our sins to feel like failures and to see how bad we’ve screwed up. On the contrary, we look at our sins during Lent to move forward: to honestly evaluate where we are in our lives on every level.

            During these forty days, look at the sin in your life but please please please do not stop there! Seek forgiveness from God (perhaps get some pardon and peace from the sacrament of confession), forgiveness from others who you’ve wrong and forgiveness from yourself- often the hardest to achieve. And then strive to be better and to grow from your sins, to not fall back into those same patterns.

Here’s hoping you have a Lent full of forgiveness that you both give and receive.

-Lauren ‘13

Ash Wednesday 2012

Ash Wednesday Reflection

            “What are you giving up?” the phrase we so often hear around this time each year. When I was younger I never put any thought into it. I’ll give up candy because I’m supposed to. This God guy wants me to be good and apparently interrupting my sugar intake was good.

            But as I grew up I learned that there is a lot more to Lent. Giving things up for God can be good, but they aren’t ends in themselves. Our sacrifices are meant to bring us closer to God. Maybe to send up a prayer when we get tempted or to put him in our daily lives. Maybe to remember that God is more important than what we gave up.

            Another part of Lent I didn’t know when I was a kid was doing something for Lent. This can be an active process and can dedicate our actions to God. Whether it’s doing service, praying a bit more or even reaching out with love; it’s all a part of Lent when it’s done for God.

            So think about what you’re doing for Lent and how that will draw you closer to Him.

- Lauren

Ash Wednesday

Hi, my name is Ciro S., a freshman, and this is a brief reflection on what the season of Lent means to me.

The season of Lent is supposed to involve prayer, almsgiving (or charity), penance, fasting, and self-denial. Did you notice the last two elements of Lent mentioned are fasting and self-denial? That’s right, Lent is NOT ONLY about giving things up like ice cream, candy, and coffee! Lent is most importantly about praying and doing works of charity. Don’t pray too much? Try it for two minutes a day, before you start your homework. If you find yourself praying for longer than 2 minutes, don’t beat yourself up! Don’t have time to go to the hospital to do charity during the week? Consider calling your grandparents to say, “Hi, how are you?” or going out of your way to make a friend smile each day.

If you are looking for something more meaningful to do for this Lenten season, stay posted for more brief reflections from students that will be posted everyday outside of the University Ministries office. And, whatever you chose to do for this Lenten season, don’t limit it to just giving things up.