Lent, A time of Sacrifice and Thanksgiving

    And thus we have entered into the Lenten season. Ash Wednesday was yesterday, we all got our ashes at Mass and it was the start of the most solemn time of the year. These next 40 days or so are the days we must reflect on the sacrifice he made for each and every one of us on Good Friday so many years ago. This is time of sacrifice, service, meditation and thanksgiving. A time when we must prepare our souls for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 
    There are many traditions or disciplines that come along with the Lenten season especially in the Catholic faith. One tradition that is universal among most Christians is abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday during Lent. Have you ever wondered why we abstain from meat on Fridays? Well, I know there are different explanations as to why the tradition actually started but I always learned that we give meat up on Fridays as a form of sacrifice and remembrance that Christ offered His flesh for us on the cross. It is a form of prayer and discipline in which we can focus on Christ and our souls and offer Him our 'flesh' as a sacrifice instead of focusing on ourselves and our own bodies. 
    Another tradition is to fast during Lent. There are different ways of fasting. We are all called to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday but some people choose to fast the entire Lenten season. Fasting usually means eating one full meal and one or two smaller meals that don't add up to a second full meal each day and no meat on Fridays. There are a lot of people in the religious life who fast during all of Lent and that's just the least of what many of them do for Lent. 
    Sacrifice is huge part of Lent and a huge part of what allows us to focus on Christ and be more one with Him. That is why along with abstaining on Fridays and Fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday we, as Catholics give up something else for the whole 40+ days. Whether it be chocolate, junk food, coffee or some type of action such as going to church every day, saying the rosary every day at noon, meditating for a couple hours a day on the crucifixion, giving up swearing, etc. The idea is to choose something that is a challenge, something that will be hard for you to do every day for Lent. And every time you face that challenge and overcome it you offer it up to Jesus Christ and become closer and closer to him. 
    Among these traditions there are the Stations of the Cross that are usually said once a week during Lent and there are many meditations and prayers and services that you can do to enrich your Lenten experience. Lent is different for everyone, embrace it and use this time to really strengthen your relationship with God. Jesus died for us, let us show Him how much we love Him and thank Him for the sacrifice He made by making our small daily sacrifices for these 40 short days.