Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et pulvem revertitur
The season of Lent brings with it the annual reminder of man’s transience. The treasures and promises of the world are fleeting, and inevitably unsatisfactory for man. To instruct us in this school of virtue, Holy Mother Church provides us with three lessons: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. Almsgiving reminds the Christian of the fleeting nature of physical goods and material wealth. By exhorting her children to generously share those good things with which they have been blessed, the Church showcases that these things we share are not ours alone. As the prophet Job aptly reminds us: “the Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away, blessed be the Name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). In this spirit, may we share not only our treasure, but our time and talents also, with the poor and less fortunate.
Fasting reminds the Christian of the necessity of reparation for sin, and the reordering of himself in the pursuit of virtue. By following the example of Our Lord in the desert, the Christian sheds from himself, quite literally, dependence on worldly goods. The prayers of the Church during the season are replete with exhortations to fast, to deny ourselves food not only as a form of penance for our sins, but also to mold ourselves after Christ. As the Lenten Preface states: “Who by this bodily fast, dost curb our vices, dost lift up our minds, and bestow on us virtue and its rewards.” The curbing of vice, the lifting of our priorities from Earthly matters to Heavenly ones, and the bestowal of virtue are lofty goals indeed. Hence, Holy Mother Church exhorts her children (especially in her stricter disciplines) to rigorous fasting. To use St. Paul’s analogy, just as the athlete must train to run in his race, so, too, must we train to run in the race of salvation.
Prayer reminds the Christian of his total dependence on the Triune Godhead. What profits a man who passes the first two lessons of Almsgiving and Fasting, yet lacks Prayer? For what shall it avail him? Prayer is the nucleus of the Lenten Season. While the previous two lessons are certainly important, prayer is what brings the Christian into the Lenten season wholeheartedly. Prayer gives meaning and purpose to Almsgiving and Fasting. It is by Prayer that we ask for forgiveness for our sins. It is by Prayer that we meditate on Our Lord’s bitter Passion, and His ignominious death on the cross for the sake of our redemption. And it is by Prayer that we shall rejoice at His triumph over death on the third day.
Yet what imbues these lessons of the Church? Why must we suffer through Lent, nay, why ought we suffer through Lent? Our motivation, in all things, but especially in this season, must be Love. For that is what we contemplate this season: the Love which redeems mankind of his sins, the Love which poured itself out upon us with no greater thought than our betterment. Let us reflect during this season on that all-conquering Love, and how we ought to love Him who has borne this Love for us in turn.
Nolan Williams, Editor-in-Chief
