Some spiritual advice for Lent
This Lenten season is a good occasion to lay down a true picture of the Christian life. Such a life could be compared not only to a strenuous sporting competition, but also to a battle.
The Athletes of Jesus and Mary
Over the past few weeks, the media has focused much of its attention on the Winter Olympic Games held in Sochi, Russia. It was an amazing contrast to witness the overwhelming joy of those who were able to step onto the podium and receive the highly coveted medals alongside the weeping and moaning of those who missed earning these medals by a few hundredths of a second.
Already in his time, St. Paul witnessed the frenzied madness of the stadium games. He spoke about it in the First Epistle to the Corinthians:
Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may obtain. And every one that striveth for the mastery, refraineth himself from all things: and they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible one. I therefore so run, not as at an uncertainty: I so fight, not as one beating the air: But I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway." (1Cor. 9: 24)
Life is a battle
This Lenten season is a good occasion to lay down a true picture of the Christian life. Such a life could be compared not only to a strenuous sporting competition, but also to a battle. The liturgy of Ash Wednesday describes our Christian warfare with wonderful precision:
Grant us, Lord, the grace to begin the Christian’s war of defence with holy fasts: that, as we do battle with the spirits of evil, we may be protected by the help of self-denial." [1 ]
Fr. Scupoli provides a graphic description of that warfare:
The first thing to do when you awake is to open the windows of your soul. Consider yourself as on the field of battle, facing the enemy and bound by the iron-clad law - either fight or die. Imagine the enemy before you, that particular vice or disorderly passion that you are trying to conquer. ... At the same time, picture at your right Jesus Christ, your Invincible Leader, accompanied by the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph, whole companies of Angels and Saints, and particularly by the glorious Archangel Michael. At your left is Lucifer and his troops, ready to support the passion or vice you are fighting and resolved to do anything to cause your defeat. ... Hold your ground! Do violence to yourself, no matter how painful it is. Call out for the help of Jesus and Mary and all the Saints. If you do this, you will be victorious." [2 ]
Never be discouraged
This spiritual warfare is very challenging because it requires us to fight against devils, who can deceptively appear as angels of light. However, we should never be discouraged but follow the example of the zeal of athletes, who are not afraid to make any sacrifice to gain the victory as the reward of their labours:
Keep up your courage, O athlete of Jesus-Christ; with all your might undertake the good fight, obtain eternal life. May no work be too long lasting for you; may no challenge be too discouraging for you! To you belongs Heaven, the crown of an eternal reward, a throne of shining light, eternal glory. To you it is promised to possess and to see God. Countless treasures await you!" [3 ]
Rigorous training
Like athletes, we ought to undertake rigorous training. Which exercises should we practice to get ready for the competition? The answer is given by Our Lord. He told us that certain devils can be cast out only by means of prayer and fasting. On one hand, let us generously undertake the great penitential practices of the Church during Lent, such as fasting and almsgiving; on the other hand, let us take advantage of this Lenten season to deepen our prayer life through silence and meditation.
We will, of course, meditate upon the Way of the Cross and upon our Lord’s awful sufferings at Calvary. However, there is another devotion which the Church particularly recommends to her children: the Rosary. The Rosary Crusade launched by Bishop Fellay provides us with an excellent occasion to draw closer to our Lord through our Lady. She alone stood by the Cross with perfect constancy. Let us beg her to obtain for us this same grace!
As true athletes of Jesus and Mary, we ought to strive for victory! Let us offer our Blessed Mother a crown made of 5 gold medals – that is, of five million Rosaries. But keep in mind that we ought not to seek the highest score merely to indulgence in the proud spirit of competition.
True athletes of Jesus and Mary will find it easier to win the victory if they consecrate themselves to Our Lady according to the method of St. Louis-de-Montfort. In a famous booklet, St. Louis-de-Montfort notes that
Friends of the Cross are a group of Crusaders united to fight against the world, like brave warriors on the battlefront! They fight with all their might to win the victory." [4 ]
This year, on March 25th, some faithful will put this advice into practice by consecrating themselves to Jesus through Mary. Let us hope that they will become true Friends of the Cross, and true Slaves of Jesus through Mary, until death! If they persevere in this combat, then they can victoriously exclaim with St. Paul:
O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? Death is swallowed up in victory!" (1 Cor. 15:54-55.)
