Lent and Spring Training

As we continue the Lenten Season, we pray for those who lost their lives in the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida. And we entrust the grieving parents, spouses, siblings, classmates, and family members to the intercession of the loving heart of Mary, Mother of Sorrows.

We pray too for our elected officials so that they may enact laws prohibiting the sales of high powered assault rifles, and that mentally unstable and violent individuals may be helped and prevented from doing harm. Lent is a sort of Spring Training for our bodies and souls as we prepare ourselves for the celebration of Easter and Jesus' Resurrection. Like coaches everywhere, the Church is asking us to be moderate in food, drink, entertainment and many ways to restrain our appetites. Anyone who has competed or even had a class in one of the sports, practice is a daily requirement. Practice turns a habit of doing good into a virtue. When you steer a conversation away from the brink of gossip and flip the topic to a positive outlook, you have practiced the virtues of prudence and charity. When we begin our day with the Morning Offering and tell the Lord that "all I am going to do today, cooking, driving, walking, praying, etc., as well as all that I enjoy and all that causes me discomfort I offer up to you Lord for you and your holy intentions. Like the pitchers of the baseball leagues, the batters, the catchers, and the first basemen and all the team's players need to be in top shape. I read an article that gave 15 ways to "Keep Lent" by doing something, or by avoiding certain foods or activities. One suggestion was for those who spend a lot of time in the gym. The author suggested cutting back on the treadmill and putting in more time in reading the Bible, or books on the spiritual life. Listening to CD's or podcasts on our Faith and spiritual lives are other ways to get in some spiritual life training.

Recently I was privileged to spend time with Sister Augusta who is almost 102. When she was hospitalized with the flu and pneumonia, she kept repeating many short prayers. When not impeded by various tubes and IV's, she kept her rosary in her hand. I can't tell you if I will ever live to be 100, but I do want to become a person of prayer so that when it is time for me to exit this world, I will have hit a "grand slam" and covered all the bases of faith, hope and charity well lived. I pray for all those who read this that you may continue this Lenten season growing in grace and virtue not nly day-by-day, but moment-by-moment!