Preparing for Lent: A Traditional Catholic Homily on Love and Sacrifice
Summary of Headings
- Introduction to Lent
- Purpose of Lent
- Love as the Foundation
- Growing in Love
- The Role of Sacrifice
- Meditation on the Passion
- The Sacrifice of the Mass
- Living the Faith
- Learning from the Saints
- Conclusion and Call to Action
Introduction to Lent
In three days time, we'll begin Lent with the beautiful ceremony of Ash Wednesday. So, during these three days, it's important for us to tie up the loose ends as far as our resolutions. What are we going to offer up for Lent?
Purpose of Lent
Because that is the whole purpose of Lent. It is a stark reminder of the fact that the things of this earth are not where our happiness is. And it's for us to, it's a reminder for us that we are not supposed to just live upon this earth. We are to live upon this earth for the purpose of being able to go to heaven.
Love as the Foundation
Why do we have to pass through a time of suffering? Why do we have to pass through a time of penitence? Why do we have to pass through a time of hope and waiting, as opposed to just receiving the joy and the pleasure? Why is it that we have to go through all of this? And the answer is very simple. Love.
Growing in Love
We can grow in love. And that is one of the goals that we are supposed to set for ourselves during Lent. When we are giving up things, when we are sacrificing things, when we are offering things to the Lord, we need to make sure it is with an ever increasing love of God, prompted by an ever increasing desire to love God.
The Role of Sacrifice
We offer up our little things, whether it be, I don't know, video games for Lent, or sweets, or we decide to go and do one meal a day for the entirety of Lent, whatever it may be. We offer that up, we offer it up voluntarily, but we offer it up out of love.
Meditation on the Passion
And the first and most evident place to do that, Saint Teresa points out, the infallible place to appreciate the love of God and the one meditation that will always bear fruit is a meditation on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. All of Lent is gearing towards the passion, death, and suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Sacrifice of the Mass
Every Sunday we come to Mass. It's the exact same sacrifice as the sacrifice of the cross. The exact same, just in an unbloody fashion. It's the same victim, the same priest, the same offering, everything.
Living the Faith
We would not have the faith, so we must live the faith. We would not have the sacraments, so we must let the sacraments possess us and fill us so that we can be completely dominated by them.
Learning from the Saints
And if we want a good example of how to do that, of how to live these principles, we have nowhere else to look than the patron saint of this month, Saint Joseph. His silence is a perfect metaphor, a perfect explanation of how we are supposed to give ourselves.
Conclusion and Call to Action
Our love must be the silent, complete type of love that is just between us and our Lord Jesus Christ. Not for the benefit of everybody around us. Not so that everybody can see us. Not so that everybody knows that we are suffering. But just ourselves and God. No one else needs to be involved.
In conclusion, as Lent approaches, we are reminded of the essential practices of love and sacrifice in our spiritual journey. This homily emphasizes the importance of preparing one's soul to receive God's love by making sacrifices and engaging in profound acts of love, following the examples set by saints like St. Joseph. Through the lens of Traditional Catholic teachings, the faithful are encouraged to meditate on the Passion of Christ, understanding the depth of His love.
As we begin Lent, let us ensure our actions are aligned with the love of God, embracing the teachings of the Latin Mass and the Tridentine Mass. By participating in Holy Communion and the Mass, we draw closer to the love that God has for us, ultimately growing in our desire to love Him above all things. Let's start our Lenten journey with a renewed spirit, offering our sacrifices out of love and devotion.