Communication with Visitors* Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us! February 1 (P.S. Feb. 16) Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, This is the second Lenten season of the new millennium. Through the course of the years the stringent regulations for fast and abstinence have been modified. The stresses of daily life, the pressures of the modern economy, the demands of labor gave rise to these adjustments. While this is so, yet the spirit of the season remains the same. It is understood to be a period of preparation for Easter. In the first three centuries the period lasted, as a rule, for two or three days. The first mention of forty days occurs in the Council of Nicea [a..d. 325, can. 5]. How the custom originated is not definitely indicated. The number forty may have been suggested by the forty days fast of Moses on the mountain, of Elijah and especially of the Lord himself, although, as the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church states the period was reckoned differently in the different churches. In the Latin Church the number forty was not made up until the seventh century when the four days from Ash Wednesday to the First Sunday in Lent were added. While in ancient times the emphasis was upon fasting from food, in modern times apart from the actual fast Lent is taken as a time of penance by abstaining from festivities (including the solemnization of marriage), by almsgiving, by other corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Let us use this sacred time as a preparation for the great mystery of the Christian Pasch, thereby fulfilling our Lord's directive, "Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News." Michael Lapierre, S.J. P.S. (Feb. 16) PIETY FOR THE CHOSEN PEOPLE Among the Chosen people of God three activities marked an individual as a pious person. They were almsgiving, praying and fasting. Almsgiving would comprise the fulfilling of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Praying would be practicing the forms and methods of prayer found in their practices of devotion. The prayer of the Shema serves as an example. Fasting involved abstaining from food for periods of time. We have the example of Moses, Samuel, David, Elijah, and Daniel, among others. I note the insistent emphasis that Isaiah, in speaking of fasting, places upon deeds of charity, upon the exercise of just and honest relationships with neighbors, the effort to protect widows and orphans, the willingness to share food with the hungry, the concern to relieve the oppressed. The prophet has in mind the spiritual dimension of fasting, namely growth in love of God and neighbor. These same three activities Jesus refers to in the Gospel when He instructs his disciples on the manner of almsgiving, praying and fasting. [Mt.6:1-6,16-18]. It is well for us to reflect upon His words in our endeavor to fulfil our Lenten duties. As with the members of the Chosen People so with the Christian People these three activities of fasting, paying and almsgiving, when properly performed mark the doer as a person of piety. Michael Lapierre, S.J * Fr. Michael Lapierre, S.J., and the editor John Cheng are currently taking part in this column. While the latter is doing January, March, May, etc., the former is partaking in February, April, June, etc. As usual, we take a summer break during July and August. The song in the background here is called "Immaculate Mary".
February 1 (P.S. Feb. 16)
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
This is the second Lenten season of the new millennium. Through the course of the years the stringent regulations for fast and abstinence have been modified. The stresses of daily life, the pressures of the modern economy, the demands of labor gave rise to these adjustments. While this is so, yet the spirit of the season remains the same. It is understood to be a period of preparation for Easter. In the first three centuries the period lasted, as a rule, for two or three days. The first mention of forty days occurs in the Council of Nicea [a..d. 325, can. 5]. How the custom originated is not definitely indicated. The number forty may have been suggested by the forty days fast of Moses on the mountain, of Elijah and especially of the Lord himself, although, as the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church states the period was reckoned differently in the different churches. In the Latin Church the number forty was not made up until the seventh century when the four days from Ash Wednesday to the First Sunday in Lent were added. While in ancient times the emphasis was upon fasting from food, in modern times apart from the actual fast Lent is taken as a time of penance by abstaining from festivities (including the solemnization of marriage), by almsgiving, by other corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Let us use this sacred time as a preparation for the great mystery of the Christian Pasch, thereby fulfilling our Lord's directive, "Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News."
Michael Lapierre, S.J.
P.S. (Feb. 16) PIETY FOR THE CHOSEN PEOPLE
Among the Chosen people of God three activities marked an individual as a pious person. They were almsgiving, praying and fasting. Almsgiving would comprise the fulfilling of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Praying would be practicing the forms and methods of prayer found in their practices of devotion. The prayer of the Shema serves as an example. Fasting involved abstaining from food for periods of time. We have the example of Moses, Samuel, David, Elijah, and Daniel, among others. I note the insistent emphasis that Isaiah, in speaking of fasting, places upon deeds of charity, upon the exercise of just and honest relationships with neighbors, the effort to protect widows and orphans, the willingness to share food with the hungry, the concern to relieve the oppressed. The prophet has in mind the spiritual dimension of fasting, namely growth in love of God and neighbor. These same three activities Jesus refers to in the Gospel when He instructs his disciples on the manner of almsgiving, praying and fasting. [Mt.6:1-6,16-18]. It is well for us to reflect upon His words in our endeavor to fulfil our Lenten duties. As with the members of the Chosen People so with the Christian People these three activities of fasting, paying and almsgiving, when properly performed mark the doer as a person of piety.
Michael Lapierre, S.J
* Fr. Michael Lapierre, S.J., and the editor John Cheng are currently taking part in this column. While the latter is doing January, March, May, etc., the former is partaking in February, April, June, etc. As usual, we take a summer break during July and August. The song in the background here is called "Immaculate Mary".