The Lenten Pillars

In traditional Catholicism (and Orthodoxy), there are three pillars of Lent- prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. All three are key to take full advantage of the season of Lent (called Quadragesima in Latin, or "40 Days"). Prayer is a positive, something that benefits us as it's something that we actively do. We take on prayer, and we grow closer to G-d. Fasting benefits us by having us give something up (specifically food, but at the same time could be understood as giving up anything). We take things out of our lives that disctract us, helping us to focus more on G-d. Fasting should not be understood in terms of giving up a sin (we should do this anyway!). Almsgiving can be understood as both a positive and a negative action. We are giving money, but it a communal act. Prayer and fasting are generally personal actions; almsgiving involves at least two people. It takes from us and gives to others. It allows us to spiritually benefit ourselves, and spiritually (and physically) benefit others!


The Holy Father described the "Lenten journey" as a road traveled, a road that "means accompanying Jesus as he travels to Jerusalem, the place where the mystery of his passion, death and resurrection is to be fulfilled." Lent does often seem like a journey, where we walk with Jesus towards his Crucifiction, Death, and Resurrection. It is a larger version of the Stations of the Cross, one that incorporates more events in Christ's life, but that contains the same message. Pope Benedict XVI went on to say that "on this Lenten journey, let us be attentive to welcoming Christ's invitation to follow him more decisively and coherently, renewing the grace and commitments of our Baptism, so as to ... clothe ourselves in Christ, thus reaching Easter renewed and being able to say with St. Paul 'it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me'."

Two interesting initiatives happening in the U.S. in relation to Lent are the "Sacrificium" campaign and the "Light is On For You" campaign. The Archdiocese of Denver has started the "Sacrificum" campaign, a campaign directed towards helping others remember the sacrifices of Lent, and why they are making them. The Office of Liturgy in the Archdiocese is reposible for the campaign. It consists of "a promise card, upon which people write what they intend to give up for Lent; a personal reminder card which spells out the fasting, abstinence and sacrifices the person will do; and a black band imprinted with the word, “Sacrificium,” which the person wears on their wrist throughout Lent." The idea was developed and put into use by Father Dollins. In regards to the name of the campaign and the word printed on the black bracelet, Father Dollins explained that “[he] wanted a bilingual bracelet and thought the official language of the Church would work for both Spanish- and English-speaking parishioners. The psychology is that you are not in it alone. It is a constant reminder of the practices of fasting and abstinences that you and every other Catholic are doing during Lent."

The second initiative comes from the Archdiocese of Boston, which has partnered with Catholics Come Home to reach practicing and non-practicing Catholics alike. All Churches in the archdiocese (over 300) will offer Confession on every Wednesday evening of Lent, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Bishop Robert Hennessey, who is is charge of the initiative, "[estimated] that up to 26,000 Boston-area Catholics returned to Confession last year, through the simple but effective initiative." Bishop Hennessey expects and even better turnout this year because the inititive is in conjunction with Catholics Come Home. The Bishop also speaks of a funny, and  very encouraging, story. "One priest called me up and left a message on my voicemail. He said, 'It's a quarter of ten, and I just left the confessional. It's all your fault!' He had been there since 6:30, hearing confessions. He thought it was wonderful."

What, if anything, is your (arch)diocese doing for Lent? What are you doing for Lent?