Posts Tagged ‘Lent’

During the liturgical season of Lent, many Catholics give things up – from avoiding Facebook to abstaining from the office candy jar – for 40 days. The list is endless. But Lent isn’t just about giving up; it can also be used as an opportunity for growth in your spiritual life.

Jesuit Father Gregory Konz, Secretary for Higher Education, Finance and Advancement at the Jesuit Conference, recently offered reflections on the four themes found throughout St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises, and how they can enrich our experiences as we move through the 40 days of Lent. Fr. Konz first made the Spiritual Exercises during two of the stages of his Jesuit formation: novitiate when a man first enters the Jesuits, and then years later after his ordination to the priesthood, during tertianship, the final stage of formation for a Jesuit.

Check back here next week for another reflection from Fr. Konz!

During Vice President Joe Biden’s travels to Russia to meet with President Medvedev, his staff reached out to Jesuit Father Janez Sever asking him to celebrate Ash Wednesday with Biden and his staff. The Russian Jesuit accepted the opportunity with grace and humility “to make this Lent an effective moment in [Biden’s] life.” Sever reflected on his recent thirty day retreat experience for his homily during the service and encouraged Biden and his staff to remember that Lent is an opportunity for spiritual reflection when they should take time to listen to God and to examine their deepest desires. Many of Biden’s staff shared with Sever their background of having attended Jesuit universities. Sever also presented the vice president with a copy of Jesuit Father James Martin’s bestselling book “The Jesuit’s Guide to (Almost) Everything” as Sever finds Fr. Martin’s writing style approachable and inspiring to those seeking to find God in their daily lives. Biden told Sever that he was very familiar with Fr. Martin having had read much of the popular priest’s book and accepted Sever’s gift with thanks and appreciation.

Jesuit Father Jim McDermott, a screenwriting student at UCLA, offered one idea on what to give up for Lent this year: Facebook.

“Ah yes, that great and never-ending time suck; for those of us invested in it, how many hours fly by trolling friends, pages, posting, poking, updating, friending, sharing, linking, liking, defriending…In a season in which we want to be released from distractions and open ourselves more fully to the murmurs and the mysteries of our brother Jesus, could there be a better object of our mortifcation?”

For those not ready to give up Facebook for 40 days, Fr. McDermott offers a Facebook-based spiritual exercise to try instead. Read his five-step guide on the Wisconsin Province website.

“No spiritual practice is for everybody. If praying with Facebook helps you see and respond to the face of Christ around you, try doing it once a week,” he wrote.

Again this Lent, the Chicago and Detroit Provinces of the Society of Jesus are offering audio reflections (on CD and in podcast format) by Jesuit Fr. Pat McGrath. Each podcast is approximately 6 minutes in length and includes accompanying scripture readings for each of the reflections. The podcasts can be downloaded here.