GROWING IN HOLINESS DURING LENT: “We Unite Ourselves With the Cross”

Lent is an opportunity to recollect ourselves and take a closer look at the priorities in our lives. Fr. Butler points out that our lives are a battle between the voices of the world and the voice of God. Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we can silence the voices of the world and give ourselves over to the love and the voice of God.

“Lent is a time to try to clear all of that,” Fr. Butler says. “It’s different from other times in the year because our focus is on the Passion. We are focused on the cross and on love because the cross is the definition of love. We unite ourselves with the cross, and then our fasting and sacrifices are a little bit easier because we unite ourselves to Christ.”

The pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, but what do those pillars really mean for our Lenten journey? In our parish and in parishes across the world, we are all experiencing this time of growth together.

“During Lent, we try to increase our quality and quantity of prayer,” Fr. Butler says. “Our human nature reviles sacrifice and fasting, but it’s like lifting weights — no pain, no gain. We know it’s good for us.”

During Lent, it’s important to take small steps towards God and towards holiness. This means pushing ourselves to do what is hard. Prayer is the time that we give to God. If we allow ourselves to be distracted by television, news, social media, or our work, then we aren’t giving God the time to love us and to hear His voice. Fasting is the deliberate removal of some of these material distractions.

“Fasting is integral,” Fr. Butler says. “When we fast, it makes us more focused on the Lord, and we are less likely to get derailed or to focus too much on things of the world.”

We are always invited to take fasting one step further than our obligation, to fast from screens or to give up a luxury such as sugar, meat, or snacks. When we give alms to the poor, it can be a chance to stretch ourselves. We can give until it hurts. Our parish will participate in Hope for Haitians, an opportunity for all of us to give.

Stations of the Cross are offered every Friday at 7 p.m. with a simple supper and fellowship beforehand. Adoration will be held each weekday from 6 to 7 p.m. and all day on Friday. Bring yourself and your family to Confession at least once during the Lenten season — there are many opportunities. A Lenten Retreat will lead us into Holy Week. First and foremost, come to Mass. Come every Sunday and consider adding a weekday Mass into your routine. Be sure to refer to the bulletin for upcoming events.

“We yearn for intimacy, but we live in a culture of loneliness,” Fr. Butler says. “We need to let God love us. To do that, we have to quit pushing Him to the side and make these efforts. We do this together, as families, a parish, and the universal Church.”