Reflective Moments Moments Reflective February 2009
The purpose of Reflective Moments is to offer you a way to incorporate the spirit of Saint Angela Merici into your own lives. We hope that it enriches you spiritually.
Lent brings us back to Baptism By Sister Marietta Wethington, OSU
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s I write this reflection on Lent, we have just celebrated the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. How appropriate. Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M., suggests that the first thought that should come to our minds when we say the word “Lent” is Baptism. Fr. Richstatter, a liturgist, believes Baptism provides the richest symbol for what we do during Lent. In the 4th and 5th centuries Lent was a 40-day retreat for the catechumens, those preparing for Baptism, at the Easter Vigil. Later the Church began the practice of infant baptism and the focus of Lent shifted to sacrifice and penance. For those of us who were baptized as infants, Lent is a good time to reflect on and to renew our baptismal promises made for us by our parents and godparents. Through them Feb. 25-April 11, 2009 we promised to reject Satan, his works, and his empty promises. We gave a resounding “I do” to the questions: “Do you believe in God? Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit and the Holy, Catholic Church?” It takes a lifetime for us to internalize all those “ I dos.” Each Lent the Church offers us the opportunity to renew those promises and to once again say, “I do.” In the Easter Vigil liturgy, after the catechumens are baptized, we are asked: “Do you reject…. Do you believe…. Do you wish to renew your Baptismal promises? If we spent the 40 days of Lent focusing on Baptism through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, no doubt, we can speak our “I do” without hesitation. See other side