We are now in the season of Lent. In the chapel, the altar is draped with purple. Atop the altar is a wooden cross, fashioned from wood from within our grounds. The flowers have been removed. A ‘child’s set’ of the Stations of the Cross has been added to the beautiful set of Stations that are permanently on the chapel walls. These are all visual signs that remind us that this time is ‘different’, a time to prepare ourselves for the events of Holy Week, and the subsequent joy of Easter.
Lent is a time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
In a Lenten message Pope Leo has encouraged us to think about these three things in these ways:
Prayer is about a relationship, and like all relationships it requires a willingness to listen. So we are encouraged, during Lent, to pay extra attention to the way that we listen, to one another, and to the Word of God proclaimed through the scriptures.
Fasting means denying ourselves something in a spirit of humility. Going along with thinking about listening, Pope Leo has encouraged us to think about the words we speak, and to ‘fast’ from using any words that may be hurtful, unkind, judgemental or spoken behind someone’s back.
Almsgiving involves giving something of ourselves or of our belongings to someone else who is in need. Pope Leo has encouraged us to think of ‘togetherness’ during Lent; we can make the lives of others better through being generous with our time and with our company, as well as by contributing money or other gifts.
Listening, speaking only kindly and togetherness: with these three of Pope Leo’s principles to guide us we can, during Lent, strive to improve ourselves, improve our relationships with others and to deepen our relationship with God.
