As
we begin Lent we need to ensure we understand the season. Yes it’s a time for
self-denial, but it’s more than simply giving things up as a six week period of
penance: it is a time to ‘repent’; a time to change our ways; a time to be re-made
in Christ. Our liturgical commemoration of His Passion, Death and Resurrection will
be a merely ritualistic, external commemoration if it isn’t made real in our
own lives; if we don’t die to self and rise from our sins to new life in Him. To
die to self can indeed include giving up TV or chocolate, but it should also be
about seeking -through prayer, penance and charity to others- an eradication of
our sinful habits and attitudes by putting into place their opposite, virtuous
habits under the grace and Lordship of Christ.
Thus,
if laziness is our sin we need to spend lent building the habit of industriousness
and diligence; if lack of prayer is our sin then we need to discipline
ourselves to a set time of each day to bring to God our praise, our apologies
for sin; our hopes and our needs; if gossip is our sin, we need to build the virtue
of affirming the good in those who are the object of gossip (or at the very
least, build the habit of holding our tongue while admitting that “I cannot
criticise because I have my own faults”). Lent will be successful for us only
if we end it as a new person, remade by the grace of God and our cooperation
with that grace.
We
will be celebrating Easter this year under a new Pope following the resignation
of Pope Benedict on grounds of age and ill-health. Be aware that a Pope resigning
or retiring is envisaged by the Church in Canon 332 §2
of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, and that this is not the first time a Pope has
resigned: Benedict IX resigned in 1045; Pope Celestine V resigned in 1294 after
only a few months in office, and Pope Gregory resigned in 1425.
It does leave a
danger of course: it may mean a future Pope will be pressured into resigning by
his opposition, and all Popes have had their opponents. We need now to pray for
Pope Benedict; for the Cardinals who will elect his successor; for whoever is
elected, and for the whole Church. I admit I am disappointed Pope Benedict will
no longer hold the Petrine Office, but he has given his reasons -and may have
reasons of which we are, as yet, unaware. In
any case, who are we to judge? Surely if a Parish Priest or a Bishop can retire
on grounds of ill-health or advanced age, why not a Pope?
Thank you very much for this, Father. It's really helpful. There is a particular thing in it that I have started to put into effect today, and I hope to persevere, please God.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment.
ReplyDeleteI think perseverance is key to it all; that God rewards every sincere, genuine effort.