Lent a time to focus on temptations, sacrifices

Tomorrow (Feb. 10) is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, which means I spent this past weekend in a panic making lists. I made lists of art and craft supplies, simpler recipes, fasting ideas, and passages to memorize. I made lists of organizations to send extra donations to, reconciliation services to attend, and special prayers to focus on. I’m already worried about my failures from last year. I feel impossibly tired, like Luke Skywalker when he’s finally found at the end of the new Star Wars movie.

He was in a sacred place, perhaps looking for the first Jedi temple. Perhaps he needed to renew his faith after failure. The director chose a truly sacred place to film this scene – a former monastery on an island off the coast of Ireland called Skellig Michael, named for Saint Michael the archangel. It was founded in the 6th century by Finnian of Clonard (taught by Patrick himself) and several monks from Clonard Abbey, which educated thousands in its day. These few sought an earnest life of prayer and fasting, after the lesson from Jesus in Mark 9:29: “This kind (of evil) cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” They would combat evil this way. Michael the archangel is a fighter, spoken of in Jude as contending with the devil and in Revelation as leading the armies of heaven against Satan. These Christian men had serious work to do.

And Lent is serious interior work. To be sure, there is plenty of laughter and celebrating (favorite feasts for saints Joseph and Patrick fall within these six weeks, as well as an entire service midway dedicated to rejoicing). The Church re-reads and re-lives the great events of salvation history in the “today” of her liturgy. As we contemplate our Lord’s footsteps in the wilderness, we rejoice because “Christ vanquished the Tempter for us … by the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert (#540).”

From Pope John Paul II: “Lent must renew in us our union with Jesus who speaks to us of the need of conversion and shows us the way to reach it. The Church, a wise and loving mother, suggests useful ways to reach this wonderful purpose; these are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.” Our family has some beloved traditions as we focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving; and although I feel a little overwhelmed, I know that our efforts are beloved by Jesus.

We memorize several passages of Scripture, circling around and doubling back over the years. We’ve learned sections from Psalms 51 and 103, Joel 2, Luke 4, and Philippians 2. We make sure everyone knows precious prayers like the act of contrition and profession of faith. We learn a new song or two (as yet unchosen; must add that to a list).

We attend a meditation service for examinations of conscience and the sacrament of reconciliation.

We read through the stations of the cross every Friday, which the children have colored pictures of and hang up on our mantle. This year, since our youngest is now 4 and not as rambunctious, I wrote on a list to attend our church’s Friday evening “stations and soup” together. We’ll see; mustn’t worry.

We choose a family fasting sacrifice for the duration of the season, usually no desserts or television. It is good to put limits on some desires, even good ones, in order to train the will and control our feelings. It is good to realize that saying no to something won’t kill us. Practically, it is good to remind ourselves that we are spoiled and that some have much less. So much less. When we want more, more, more, Lenten fasting reminds us to take a second, trace the sign of Jesus’ cross on our bodies, and ask Him to bless our sacrifice as a prayer for someone else.

We choose as a family where to give extra money. Sometimes it’s more items to our food bank; sometimes it’s local charities; sometimes it’s international like the Heifer Project. Four years ago, our daughter was officially diagnosed with cystic fibrosis during Lent and all we could manage was more in the collection basket. Sometimes our sacrifices are chosen for us.

I decorate the house in as much purple, the color of penance and royalty, as I’m able. Scripture tells us that a purple robe was placed on Jesus at his trial as a mockery. It is a fitting color as we acknowledge our sins that mock the King of King’s goodness. I cover bookcases and tables with purple cloth and get out purple candles (they smell weird but are the right color). I buy packages of only purple construction paper for the children’s art projects (kept in purple folders, of course).

We braid Play-doh into a circle, put it on a plate with a small bowl in the center, and stab it with dozens of toothpicks. This is a crown of thorns. When I catch the kids making good choices, and sometimes not hitting is the best we get, I tell them they can take a thorn out of Jesus’ crown. Usually by Good Friday, all the thorns are out of the crown and in the bowl. On Easter morning, the thorns are gone, replaced by shining jellybeans.

So we begin tomorrow with an ancient sign of repentance – ashes. This season of Lent focuses on Jesus’ time in the wilderness – a time to face our temptations, to pray more, to give more, and to discover anew that God is with us in his great love. Maybe someday we can visit Skellig Michael and pray among the beautiful ruins of the monastery, a place of power and prayer. Saint Michael the archangel, defend us in this battle.

Allison Howell and her family are longtime residents of the Valley. They are Catholic converts and keep a hobby farm full of animals and children.