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Rembrandt: Almsgiving, 1606

LENT 2007:
Red triangleWednesday Evening Program
Red trianglePray the Penitential Psalms
Red triangleRule of Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving
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A PRAYER against sin by Fr. Louis OCSO, monk of the Abbey of Gethsemani*

"Let me use all things for one sole reason: to find my joy in giving You glory.

"Therefore, keep me, above all things, from sin. Keep me from the death of deadly sin which puts hell in my soul. Keep me from the murder of lust that blinds and poisons my heart. Keep me from the sins that eat a man's flesh with irresistible fire until he is devoured. Keep me from loving money in which is hatred, from avarice and ambition that suffocate my life. Keep me from the dead works of vanity and the thankless labor in which artists destroy themselves for pride and money and reputation, and saints are smothered under the avalanche of their own importunate zeal. Staunch in me the rank wound of covetousness and the hungers that exhaust my nature with their bleeding. Stamp out the serpent envy that stings love with poison and kills all joy.

"Untie my hands and deliver my heart from sloth. Set me free from the laziness that goes about disguised as activity when activity is not required of me, and from the cowardice that does what is not demanded, in order to escape sacrifice.

"But give me the strength that waits upon You in silence and peace. Give me humility in which alone is rest, and deliver me from pride which is the heaviest of burdens. And possess my whole heart and soul with the simplicity of love. Occupy my whole life with the one thought and the one desire of love, that I may love not for the sake of merit, not for the sake of perfection, not for the sake of virtue, not for the sake of sanctity, but for You alone."

*Thomas Merton, from his Seeds of Contemplation, 1961



 

  

The Lenten Rule:
Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving
The Right Reverend Father Robert F. Waggener

IT WAS THE BEST of times, it was the worst of times. These words are particularly applicable to Lent. It is one of those tricky seasons, the only real penitential one in the West, and the only serious time of preparation we observe together. Like all intense spiritual periods, the season can lead to the best and worst of Christian piety. It can issue in real growth in holiness, or in sentimental and superficial additions to an already ill-conceived discipline, or even to self-serving ascetical practice.

It is helpful to take the days prior to Lent, or the first days of Lent itself, to reflect carefully on an appropriate Lenten Rule, so that our preparation for the Christian Pascha may be a time of true strengthening of our Christian discipleship, a deepening of our relationship to Jesus and real conversion of our lives.

The traditional categories to consider are three: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. It may be that Lent will best be a time of rededication to an already established Rule of Life, in which we may have become lax over the year, or a time of focusing on a particular area of our Life in Christ. It is better to aim at a minimal addition to our Rule, or the establishment of a simple one if we don't already have one, rather than taking on or giving up so much that we succumb to despair.

Whatever the Lord leads you into in your prayers for guidance in developing your Lenten Rule, here are some things to consider in each of the areas:

Prayer

1. The Daily Offices
     — offering Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer corporately, if possible, or privately, if necessary. The shorter forms found on pages 587-593 in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer may be a good place to start.

2. Eucharistic Devotion
     — attendance at Mass and making your communion on Sundays and Holy Days. As a minimum requirement: attendance at an additional weekday Mass. Serious preparation before Mass to enable deeper participation.

3. Personal Scripture Reading and Prayer
     — reading Scripture daily according to some organized plan; for example, the tables at the front of the Prayer Book, pages xvi-xxi. [Purchasing one of the books on prayer available on Sunday mornings at the Book Stall.] Meditation on a particular theme during Lent, such as our Lord's Passion. A programme of intercessory prayer.

4. Confession
     — a programme of regular self-examination, making a regular Confession. [Confessions at Ascension and Saint Agnes are heard in the Church at 5:00 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month, or by appointment with the Rector.]

Fasting

1. Observance of the Ash Wednesday & Good Friday fasts
     — no food until at least 3:00 p.m. if you are physically able. Abstinence from flesh meat on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent.

2. Discipline in eating habits in general
     — eating less at meals, eating more slowly. Cultivating discipline in other habits, "fasting" from television, entertainments and shallow pursuits. Moving towards a generally simpler lifestyle.

3. Offering the fast for a specific intention
     — peace, unity of the Church, identification with the poor and hungry, reparation. Making a financial contribution to an organization or group [such as our own parish outreach to N Street Village] addressing the problems of hunger and the homeless.

4. Dealing seriously with a besetting sin
     — striving for a particular virtue in our Christian walk.

Almsgiving

1. Becoming a good steward
     — of all the God has given you. Tithing of your income, or working towards the tithing standard. Giving sacrificially.

2. Acts of mercy and generosity
     — in the Name of Christ to those less fortunate. Going beyond your current involvements.

These are only suggestions. Strive to focus on a specific area and offer you intentions to God, asking for His grace to enable you to be faithful, and His mercy to allow Lent to be a time of deepening your commitment to Jesus and to costly discipleship, that the whole Body of Christ may be strengthened by your gift of holiness. Finally, if you do establish a new habit of discipline during Lent, give thanks for the new grace given you and hold to it with joy and perseverance throughout the year.

  

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