BY LORI HADACEK CHAPLIN
Years ago, I heard Catholic psychologist Ray Guarendi on his radio show, The Doctor Is In, encouraging listeners to do something substantial for Lent. His words reminded me that I had felt God nudging me to attend daily Mass. With Dr. Ray’s pep talk in my ear, I approached my husband, David, and asked him if he could help me to attend Mass during the week. He supported my efforts wholeheartedly, even though he’s not Catholic.
Daily Mass attendance didn’t stop when Lent was over. I could feel it feeding my soul and giving me the courage to say yes. It changed me in many ways. I went from a faithful lump in the pew on Sunday to a woman who is joyfully active in more than one ministry in my parish. The habit of attending daily Mass continues today — I feel anchorless without it.
Like Dr. Ray, I’d like to offer a challenge to commit to doing something for Lent that makes a better you. The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Using the saints — and saints-in-the-making — as a guide, here are some suggestions for a fruitful Lent that will hopefully transform your life forever.
PRAYER
We live in a hectic world where it’s easy to skimp on prayer. St. Francis de Sales advises: “Every one of us needs a half an hour of prayer each day, except when we are busy — then we need an hour.”
Many forms of prayer exist in a Catholic’s tool kit, such as the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross. There is also contemplative prayer, in which a person directs their thoughts toward the things of God. For example, you might focus on the doctrine of the four last things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. The spiritual practice of contemplating death and what comes after fell out of habit, but it is making a comeback. Contrary to what you might think, this is not a depressing exercise but a freeing and life-changing one.
To get you started, I’ve included a brief meditation on death, judgment, heaven, and hell based on Fr. Wade Menezes’ book, The Four Last Things: A Catechetical Guide to Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell (EWTN Publishing, 2017), and Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble’s book, Memento Mori: Prayers on the Last Things (Pauline Books & Media, 2019). I highly recommend both books. I’ve also included mission suggestions because good intentions are limp without action.
Death
A Spanish nun named St. María Maravillasde Jesus called death “no more than falling blindly into the arms of God.” To be ready to fall into Our Lord’s embrace, our souls must be in a state of grace — without a known mortal (grave) sin. Our culture has conditioned us to frown on contemplating our death because we don’t want to seem morbid. But if we don’t think of our inevitable end, how will we take honest stock of our lives?
St. Junípero Serra, priest and founder of nine of the California missions, offers: “Of all of the things of life, a happy death is our principal concern. For if we attain that, it matters little if we lose all the rest. But if we do not attain that, nothing else is of any value.”
MISSION: Have you examined your conscience lately? Make a commitment to go to confession twice during Lent and at least once a month afterward.
Judgement
The soul faces two judgments; the first happens instantly after death. The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls our first private appearance before God the particular judgment (see CCC,1021–1022). The second judgment is called the general judgment — or last judgment — which will happen at the second coming of Christ and will be witnessed by the whole world (see CCC,1038–1041).
St. Thomas Aquinas warned: “Now, then is the time for mercy, while the time to come will be the time for justice only. For that reason, the present time is ours, but the future time will be God’s only.”
MISSION: Is there someone in your life who needs your forgiveness or an apology? Now is the time to heal relationships. Write a letter, make a call, or better yet, invite the person out for coffee.
Heaven