Parish of the Visitation 

A Note From Our Administrator,

KEEPING A HOLY LENT

Easter has always been the most important celebration of Christ’s Church. We observe a period of fasting and preparation before the great feast in order to grow in love of God and neighbor and to gain a clearer, more joyous vision of the Risen Christ come Easter Day. Lent is a time when we try to clean out the clutter in our hearts and minds and souls, to prepare ourselves for the joyful gift of new life, freely given to us through the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection. The forty days of Lent symbolizes the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness. It was a time of cleansing and prayer for him, and it preceded the launching of his public ministry. So Jesus’s “Lent” was a time of deep inner transformation, through prayer and silence and fasting.

Lenten guidelines provides us with some general rules for fasting and abstinence. However, there is so much more we can do to make this a truly meaningful Lenten season. Think of additional sacrifices you can do … plan to attend daily Mass, join us for the Stations of the Cross every Friday evening, come to our Tuesday Holy Hour, join us on Sunday evening for the Scriptural Rosary. Make a concerted effort to begin and end each day with prayer. Pray the Rosary more often. Take more time for silence, meditation, and pray unceasingly, making sure to touch upon each and all of the facets of Christian prayer: adoration, confession, petition, intercession, and thanksgiving. Lent is also a time for almsgiving — giving money or other resources to those in need. In other words, Lent involves doing something extra as a response to God’s love.

Can you give up Facebook and other social media, video games, and at least significantly reduce time spent on entertainment devices, and television for a while? Also, put aside anger, gossip, slander, and vulgar language. Do these things in order to become more at one with the mind and will of God, and to experience His power and presence in your life.

“Be still and know that I am God,” proclaims Psalm 46. But to find that stillness within, we need to empty ourselves.

With love and prayers,

Father Benny