Letter of February 24, 2006

A Good Lent Makes a Happy Easter
Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling, Bishop of Lansing
As I getting ready for Lent, a long forgotten treasure popped out of a file. It was a Lenten Planner that I distributed in my parishes for thirty years. I hope you will find it helpful.

Good Planning
Our Lenten journey to Easter begins on Ash Wednesday, when we admit that we need to change and be converted to the Lord. In this journey, we follow Jesus, step by step, as He shows us how to die to all that is opposed to love of God, neighbor and our true self. He shows us the way to a new life at Easter when the entire Christian Community rises to a New Life. A good Lent means a real Easter. Good preparation leads to a good Lent. Without Lent, there is No Easter. Let us plan well.

Centered in Christ
Jesus said to Satan: "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God."

Jesus’ response sets the tone for His followers. The wise person listens to the Word of God... who is a person, Jesus. In the life and words of the Word of God.. Jesus ... we find the Way, Truth and Life.

This is the primary reality of the entire Christian life, which Lent emphasizes with special intensity.

During Lent we expand and deepen our union with the Word of God and His words so that we can rise with Him on Easter to a new life. In the Lenten Masses the Church provides us a daily journey with Christ to Easter. His way, truth and life become ours.

The fool chooses to live on bread alone, and perishes along with the bread. The wise man chooses not to live on perishable food alone, but on the Word of God, who is Jesus, and lives forever ...

What Can I Do?

Give up Sin
Occasions of Sin. Make a serious and good Confession. This is my Commandment: "Love one another as I have loved you." Sin wreaks this.

Prayer
The essential for any friendship is that people talk to each other. Prayer is talking with God and He with us. It is absolutely necessary for the Christian. Set aside times for daily personal prayer. Use the Bible as a starter in prayer. Let the Lord speak to you and you with Him. Daily Lenten Masses are the highest form of Lenten Prayer. Lenten Devotions, Stations of the Cross, private and Communal, our sacramental meetings with the Lord, all are times of prayer.

Fasting
This the most ancient form of Lenten self-denial. St. Augustine wrote: "Fasting raises the mind, cleanses the soul, subjects the flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite, scatters the clouds of evil desire, quenches the fire of lust and kindles the light of true chastity." Fasting brings our passions and appetites back into the service of Love of God and neighbor.

Giving Alms
Sharing with others frees us from avarice and a preoccupation with things. Things can take us away from God and from others. Things can enslave us. Almsgiving for love of Christ and His poor sets us free to love. What we do for others, we do for Christ. Be generous to programs of local, national and international sharing. Use the Rice Bowl to aid the needy. The Lord will reward you a Hundredfold.

Doing Good Works
Jesus’ command to love others in the way He loved us can be fulfilled by doing the Works of Mercy. (Read Matthew 25, 31-46)

Bodily Works of Mercy

Feed the Hungry–Give drink to the thirsty

Clothe the naked–Visit the imprisoned

Shelter the homeless–Visit the sick\Bury the dead

Spiritual Works of Mercy

Admonish the sinner–Instruct the ignorant

Counsel the doubtful–Comfort the sorrowful

Bear wrongs patiently–Forgive injuries

Pray for the living and the dead

Duties of One’s Vocation
This means accepting the obligations and responsibilities of our state in life, realizing that God has called us to this vocation and provides the necessary grace. It also includes acceptance of the conditions and circumstances in which these vocations are to be realized, as partners with God.

Spiritual Reading
Nourish your faith and life in Christ with daily readings of the Bible. Your parish library contains books for adults on every aspect of the Christian life. There are books about the Faith, Bible, Saints, etc. Read several spiritual books during Lent.

Abstinence
In Lent we abstain from meat on all Fridays and on Ash Wednesday. In Lent we ought to bring under control our use of food, drink and entertainments. Give up alcoholic drinks, smoking, sweets, entertainments ... so that you can become free again. Give what you saved from these denials to the poor.

Participation in Parish and Community Programs
Join with others in programs that build up the community and parish. Use the talents God gave you for His people and the Kingdom of God. Don’t put your candle under a bushel basket... Let it shine!

Discipline Your Tongue
Use this wonderful gift of speech to say good things; to uplift others, to console, counsel, support ... Control your temper! Clean up your dirty language! Say good things to others! Say good things about others!