By Sister Cathy Feeney, SSND
As a Catholic school child, I took quite seriously the challenges of Lent. Daily Mass, weekly Stations of the Cross, and giving up candy seemed to be the criteria by which I measured my “progress.” I can remember reminding my working mother not to use meat sauce on the spaghetti! Looking back, I doubt love was my focus.
High school retreats and Sodality activities began to open my heart to using Lent as the way to deepen my love for Jesus and my neighbor.
There is a Lenten time that stands out in my memory. For eight years I was privileged to prepare candidates and catechumens for full communion in the church. Their sincerity and simple ways of walking with their Lord toward Holy Saturday changed my own way of living Lent. It became a time not only to deepen my prayer, but to give myself unselfishly to those in my care.
This Lent I hope I don’t make a to-do list, but rather be intentional about how I live. Hopefully, this readies me to meet Jesus each time he knocks on my door.
This quote from the oldie, but goodie Fulton Sheen will be my Lenten guide:
“Show me your hands. Do they have scars from giving?
Show me your feet. Are they wounded in service?
Show me your heart. Have you left a place for divine love?”
