TEN TIPS FOR LENT (To be published soon in 'NZ Catholic')

        I don't usually post my 'NZ Catholic' column until after publication but because my deadline was yesterday, Shrove Tuesday, and today is Ash Wednesday and my theme is Lent, l'm putting it out there now. A dear friend, an eremitical religious who advises me on such matters, said my 'Ten Tips' sounded like instructions instead of invitations.

        I think of them as suggestions! Please think of them as you see fit.

         ‘Pressed 4 Time’, as our local drycleaners say, I wanted to give you something short, snappy and Lenten. Ten tips, I thought, might do it. Wanting authoritative back-up I googled ‘Francis on Lent’ and there it was: ‘Lent: Pope Francis’ 10 tips’.

            Hmmm. I was happy to be on the papal wavelength but the devil, as we say, is in the detail. How would the Pope’s tips compare with mine, scribbled in the middle of the night, in the dark (not wanting to wake ‘im indoors)?

The papal exhortations for Lent, posted on an American university blog, were selected from Lenten messages, homilies and audiences, and obviously not limited by NZ Catholic’s exigencies of space. But my tips, with quotes from Francis throughout, are means to the same end and made in the same hope as his, that our parishes may become ‘islands of mercy in a sea of indifference’.

1.      Go to Confession. The Eucharist remits only venial sin; the Sacrament of Penance forms our conscience, heals and strengthens us in ‘leaving behind old habits and the lazy addiction to evil’.

2.      Go to Mass.  ‘Become what we receive – the Body of Christ’. Go weekdays as well as Sundays. If you attend weekdays already, go daily. When we make the most of our priests, God will send more.

3.      Fast. ‘Not a formal fast … which makes us feel good about ourselves’, not for the physical and mental benefits, but ‘to cultivate the style of the good Samaritan’. If you’ve never fasted, try simply waiting till lunch or dinner time before eating. If you’re already fasting one day, fast two.

4.      Fasting saves money. Give it to the Lent appeal. ‘Almsgiving leads to freedom from the obsession of possessing’. 

5.      Fasting saves time. Give it to God. Get out of bed 10 minutes earlier and simply listen to the Lord. ’Dive into the sea of God’s boundless love.’ If you pray this way already, give it twice the time.

6.      Do something for someone. Every day. ‘By loving and serving the poor’ (poor in terms of love as well as money) ‘we love and serve Christ’.

7.      Read or listen to the Gospel. Every day. To ‘experience the joy of spreading this good news’, first we need to hear the good news and make it our own.

8.      Pray the Rosary. ‘It’s spiritual medicine. Don’t forget to take it. It’s good for your heart, for your soul, for your whole life.’

9.      Kneel for the Consecration, as the Pope requires at his Masses. ‘We Christians kneel before the Blessed Sacrament because therein we know and believe to be the Presence of the One True God.’

10.  Kneel to receive Communion on the tongue, also required at Papal Masses. You’ll be criticised, but that helps conform you to Christ, whose family thought he was mad. So push the boat out!

‘Kneeling in adoration before the Eucharist is the most valid and radical remedy against the idolatries of yesterday and today.’