Learning to be Quick to Listen

Lent can sometimes feel like a spiritual marathon where we’re just trying to make it to the finish line, but looking at it through the eyes of St. Augustine and St. Gertrude helps shift the focus from "doing" to "being." Augustine, who famously wrote about his own "restless heart," saw Lent as a period of holy desire . He taught that by fasting and giving to others, we are essentially "stretching" our souls. It’s like clearing out a cluttered room to make space for a guest; the less we fill ourselves with distractions, the more room we have for the joy of the Resurrection to move in. For him, the discipline isn't about the hardship—it’s about the freedom to finally rest in God. Adding to that, St. Gertrude the Great reminds us that this journey is deeply personal and fueled by love. She was one of the first visionaries of the Sacred Heart, and her approach to Lent is all about " loving reparation ." Instead of seeing our Lenten sacr...

As we journey through the early days of Lent , we are invited to follow Jesus into the quiet, searing heat of the Judean desert. It is here that we witness the profound mystery of the Incarnation : Jesus was fully divine, yet fully human. After forty days without food, His body was not merely "performing" a fast ; He was truly, viscerally hungry and parched. In His weakened physical state, He felt the crushing weight of exhaustion that any of us would experience. This vulnerability wasn't a flaw, but a testament to His love—He chose to enter into our frailty so that no human struggle would be foreign to Him. Yet it was in this moment of extreme physical depletion that the "Stronger Man" emerged victorious. The devil sought to exploit Christ’s hunger and humanity, dangling comfort and power as bait, but he found no foothold. Though His body was faint, Jesus’ will remained perfectly anchored in the Father. By defeating the tempter through Scripture and sacrifice, ...

Lent. It's a word that evokes images of ashes, fasting, and a general sense of solemnity. But why do Catholics embrace this period of spiritual discipline? It's all about preparation. Preparation for the pinnacle of the Christian calendar: Easter, the glorious celebration of Christ's Resurrection. Easter, even above Christmas, holds the highest place in the Christian year. And the Church, recognizing its profound significance, calls us to prepare our hearts through the 40 days of Lent. As Archbishop Fulton Sheen eloquently put it, the difference lies in the approach. While some might embrace a "feast then hangover" mentality, Catholics understand the power of "fast then feast." This period of self-discipline isn't about mere deprivation; it's about creating space for spiritual growth and deeper connection with God. The Significance of 40 Days Why 40 days? This number carries deep biblical weight, representing periods of judgment and spiri...

Fasting is a form of self-discipline that purifies the soul, allowing us to focus on God rather than earthly attachments. The Catechism explains that fasting is an expression of penance and conversion, helping us grow in self-mastery and unite with Christ’s sacrifice (CCC 1434). Jesus fasted in the desert for forty days (Matthew 4:2), teaching us that fasting strengthens the spirit against temptation. St. Anthony of Padua beautifully describes the fruits of fasting:  “If you have fasted, but have not restrained your tongue, your fasting counts for nothing.”  True fasting must be accompanied by virtue—especially love and kindness toward others. In connection with Catholic Social Teaching, fasting reminds us of the suffering of the poor. By voluntarily depriving ourselves, we develop compassion for those who lack basic necessities. Pope Francis urges us not only to fast from food but also from indifference:  “Indifference to our neighbor and to God also represents a rea...