Weekly Update from CCM

Good morning, students!  This week marks the beginning of Lent.  Did you know that the word Lent was originally a Teutonic word meaning springtime?  Looking at the weather this week certainly doesn't fill one with springtime feelings.  But by the time the 40 days of Lent are over, the rebirth of spring will be upon us, bringing with it warm weather, spring flowers, and the great celebration of the Resurrection of Christ.

To help us prepare for the joy of Easter, the penitential season of Lent officially begins tomorrow.  Ash Wednesday is so-named from the practice of imposing blessed ashes on the foreheads of penitents.  The ashes themselves are traditionally made from burning the palms used in the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration, and invoke scriptural imagery, including, "All are from the dust, and to dust all will return" (Ecclesiastes 3:20), and, "I repent in dust and ashes," (Job 42:6).  

Ashes are meant to remind us that we are mortal; just as God made us from the dust we will again return to the dust.  Being reminded of our mortality, we should ponder our own death and whether we are prepared today for that eventuality.  Are we in a right relationship with God?  If the answer to that question is no, then Lent should lead us to repentance from our sins and a return to God.  If we are in a right relationship with God, Lent can still lead us into a deepening conversion and draw us closer to Him.

What are you doing this Lent to make it a more prayerful time?  How do you plan on getting to know Christ better, and love Him more intensely?  The spiritual benefits of Lent don't just happen magically.  You have to participate.  If you are still unsure of how to do that, coming to our discussion Wednesday evening may help give you some ideas.  Here are some other suggestions.

• You can sign up to get a Lenten reflection in your email each day.  There are many services available to do that.  Here is one.
• You can read a little bit of scripture each day and prayerfully reflect on it.  The USCCB web site gives the readings from each day's Mass.  It's a great way to get to know scripture better and to pray with the Church.
• Try to come to Adoration at least once a week; if the Adoration times don't work for your schedule, come spend some quiet prayer time in the chapel on your own.
• Pray like a monk!  You can start praying one of the offices of the Liturgy of the Hours, just like monks, nuns, priests, and countless lay people do each day.  You can find these prayers online at DivineOffice.org or download the app to your phone or tablet.
• You can spend Lent in a tent!
• You can give up, or lessen, something you are attached to - like coffee, Facebook, or sweets.  But remember to accompany your sacrifice with prayer to reap the spiritual benefits.  

These are just a few ideas to help you get the most out of Lent.  We pray that this will be a season of renewal and spiritual growth for all of you.

Pax Christi,

Matt

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WCU Catholic Campus Ministry

Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister

www.WCUCatholic.org

  

(828)293-9374  |   POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723

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Fat Tuesday

Dear Students,

Happy Fat Tuesday!  Or, as it is traditionally know, "Shrove Tuesday."  Today is a day of festivities and celebration before we begin the penitential season of Lent tomorrow with Ash Wednesday.  Lent is a season of fasting and abstinence, but the particular fasting disciplines set by the Church have changed over time.  It used to be that Catholics were required to abstain from meat throughout Lent, as well as products derived from meat (eggs, dairy, fat, etc).  Both to celebrate before the fast and to use up any foods that would not keep until Easter, the days preceding Ash Wednesday were used to cook and serve cakes and bread and other such treats so that the eggs and dairy would not go to waste.  If you'd like to learn more about Fat Tuesday, check out this brief article by Fr. William Saunders: "Shrove Tuesday and Shrovetide."  

Lent is that 40 day period before Easter (not counting Sundays) that is marked, as I said above, by prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  It is a penitential season meant to assist us in preparing ourselves to meet the Lord (both in the joyful Easter season, as well as at the end of our own lives) by repenting of our sins, purifying our spirits, and drawing closer to Him in holiness.

The Church gives us many tools to help us along this path, one of which is the discipline of fasting and abstinence.  While the doctrinal teachings of the Church cannot change (though they can develop and be clarified), Church discipline can and does change, at the prudence of the Church, to meet the needs of a given time and place.  As I said before, the Lenten fast used to mean abstaining from meat and all meat products.  These days, it is much less restrictive, though it remains something that we should take seriously.

The official guidelines for fasting and abstinence during Lent can be found on the US Bishop's web site, here.  In short, if you are between the ages of 18 and 59, you are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  Fasting means that you are allowed only one full meal during the day.  You are also permitted two smaller meals (think of them as snacks) that together do not add up to one meal.  These are if needed to maintain strength and health.  For example, someone who works a physically demanding job and needs to maintain caloric intake to avoid passing out.  Or someone who is a diabetic and needs to keep sugar levels regulated.  Use common sense, in other words.  Someone who spends all day sitting a desk and is otherwise in good health can fast more strictly than a diabetic physical trainer.  Liquids, such as water, do not break the fast, nor does medication.

Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent are also days of abstinence from meat.  This means no flesh meat.  Fish is considered permissible, as are broths made from meat.  

In addition to these fasting rules, Catholics are encouraged to "give up" something else during Lent.  What to abstain from is a personal decision, but it should be something good you are giving up, in order to truly be a sacrifice.  The point of the exercise is to both increase discipline and also to make an offering to the Lord.  Giving up swearing, for example, or gossip, or some other vice is a good thing, but it's not really in the spirit of the Lenten fast.  You should not do those things because they are bad to do, regardless of the season.  For Lent, we are asked to give up something that is good, that we enjoy, as a way of detaching ourselves from the things of this world that are passing away - even the good things - and to remind ourselves to rely on God, who is the source of all goodness and who will never pass away.

For more information on the Lenten practice of fasting and abstinence, I invite you to read this article by Deacon Mike Bickerstaff, "Why Do Catholics Practice Fast and Abstinence?"  I'll also be posting more helpful information relating to fasting, prayer, and almsgiving on our Facebook page throughout the Lenten Season.  Remember, fasting is just one aspect of Lent.  We are also encouraged to ramp up our prayer life as well as our charity to those in need!

BISHOP'S LENTEN PILGRIMAGE - April 5

Bishop Jugis' annual Lenten pilgrimage is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, at Belmont Abbey, and college students from across the Diocese are invited to join him.  For a schedule and registration information, please see:
http://www.catholiconcampus.com/lent

--

WCU Catholic Campus Ministry

Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister

www.WCUCatholic.org

  

(828)293-9374  |   POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723

Join our FACEBOOK Group!

CCM bulletin part 2 for week of Feb 24

Ash Wednesday Blessing

Merciful God,

You called us forth from the dust of the earth; you claimed us for Christ in the waters of Baptism.

Look upon us as we enter these Forty Days bearing the mark of ashes,

And bless our journey through the desert of Lent to the font of rebirth.

May our fasting be hunger for justice; our alms, a making of peace; our prayer, the chant of humble and grateful hearts.

All that we do and pray is in the name of Jesus, for in his Cross you proclaim your love forever and ever. Amen.

FAQ… What’s the difference between fasting and abstinence?

• What is fasting? In the Catholic tradition, in terms of food, it means limiting oneself to one moderate meal (usually at midday), plus two smaller meals that together don’t equal a full meal, and no snacking. Of course, you can fast from other things during Lent as well, like smoking, chocolate, or gossiping.
• When do we fast? In the current liturgical calendar, we only fast (in the traditional sense) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. “Back in the day” (before Vatican II), however, we fasted for the entire season of Lent (except Sundays, of course) (and you only got one meal a day, and not meat or eggs or dairy products!). We also fasted on Fridays in Advent, and a variety of other days, including “Ember Days,” four weeks throughout the year in which fasting was observed on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Individuals can fast any additional times they believe it spiritually appropriate.
• Why do we fast? According to the Church, on Ash Wednesday we fast in penance for our sins, and on Good Friday, to observe the suffering of Jesus crucified. The Church also regards fasting as a way to control bodily desires, and a way to be in solidarity with the poor. Other reasons to fast are to increase our awareness of our body and its cravings, to learn what controls us, to practice self-discipline, to focus ourselves on a specific prayer intention, and to prepare ourselves for the Feast of the Lamb, the heavenly banquet. Ultimately, as with all spiritual discipline, it’s all about focusing our attention more closely on God.
• Why shouldn’t we fast? To punish ourselves. To lose weight. Because it’s harming our health (fasting taken to the extreme, or fasting when we’re sick). Because we’re supposed to be celebrating (on Sundays, for example, we never fast, because we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord, which is a happy thing).

• What’s abstinence? This means not eating meat.
• When do we abstain? Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.
• Why do we abstain, and why from meat? Because it’s a partial fast? (Sorry, can’t find a more specific reason). It was observed differently in different places, but was standardized pretty early on (5^th century I think) as refraining from meat.
• Why Fridays? It’s been a day of fasting, abstinence and penance from the earliest days of the church, to commemorate the death of Jesus on the cross.

FAQ… What are the Lenten disciplines?

Traditionally we talk about the three disciplines of Lent: fasting, almsgiving and prayer. Why? The gospel reading for Ash Wednesday draws from the portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount where he teaches about…fasting, almsgiving and prayer. Lent is a time of preparation, a time to break down walls and strip away bad habits, a time to re-focus ourselves and re-turn ourselves towards God, so that when we arrive at Easter, we can reclaim our baptism and sing alleluia with all our heart. So what do these Lenten disciplines mean, and how can they be meaningful for us today?

Fasting:
Currently in the Catholic Church we have only two formal fast days, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these days, we limit ourselves to one proper meal, two small meals and no snacking. We also abstain from meat on those two days, and on all the Fridays of Lent. We fast for different reasons: as a form of penance; to develop self-control and self-discipline; to be in solidarity with those who are hungry and suffering; to better understand what controls us and what we’re ‘addicted’ to; to become more perfect.

We traditionally also “give up” something for Lent. It’s the rare Catholic who didn’t give up chocolate as a kid! But when choosing what to give up, you should ask yourself why you’re choosing what you choose. Are you giving up chocolate just because it’s what you’ve always done? Because it makes you suffer? Or are you giving it up because you’re addicted to it? Perhaps you could give up a bad habit that’s potentially destructive human relationships, like gossiping. Or maybe give up sleeping late, and use some of that time for regular prayer. Maybe you could fast from texting, and push yourself to spend more face-to-face time with your friends, or even write a letter to someone who’s too far away to join you on a coffee date. Or maybe you give up fast food and focus on eating locally grown food instead.

Your fasting is never just for yourself—it should always be outward directed, toward your neighbor or toward God. What is it that keeps you from being a good friend? What is it that keeps you distant from God? What is it that contributes to the on-going suffering in the world? What prevents you from being a good steward of creation?

Almsgiving:
Alms traditionally consist of monetary donations, but they can also include giving your time and your talent and your focused attention. Maybe you can schedule yourself to do a little extra service work during Lent. Or write your Great-Aunt Matilda a letter, or visit someone in the Pines. I once read about a first-grader who gave up ice cream, and then donated that money to a fund in her school cafeteria that will allow kids who can’t afford to buy ice cream enjoy the treat.

The key here is that your giving doesn’t come out of what’s left-over. Like the poor widow in the gospel, our giving comes from all that we start with (money, time, talent)—not what’s left after we’ve spent it all on other more necessary or pleasurable things.

Prayer:
Prayer ultimately is about being in mutual communication with God. You take your concerns, your thanksgivings, your sorrows, your joys to God—and you sit back in silence so that God’s concerns, sorrows, joys, and thanksgivings can fill you. Making time and embracing silence are difficult to do. That’s why prayer is a discipline. There are a multitude of opportunities on campus to help you with this, from Mass to walking the labyrinth to Taize services to bible studies to Thursday Night Worship to walking (iPod-free) on the cross-country trails.

___________________

Karen Soos
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423

Looking ahead to Lent

Dear Students,

The season of Lent is right around the corner.  Ash Wednesday is March 5.  Lent is a penitential season before Easter that is traditionally marked by prayer, almsgiving and fasting.  It begins Ash Wednesday and runs through Easter (40 days, not counting Sundays).  You will be hearing more from me about Lent next week, but for now, here is a helpful article by Deacon Mike Bickerstaff entitled "Practical Advice for a Deeper Faith This Lent."

It is typical for Catholics to "give something up" for Lent.  This relates to the practice of fasting, which is integral to the Lenten season.  Often people are tempted to give up a vice in an attempt to better themselves, whether that be consuming alcohol, candy, smoking, etc.  Or they will give up swearing, or lying, or gossip.  Some of these things are sinful in themselves, such as lying and gossip, and others can be sinful if abused or misused, such as alcohol or even over-eating.  And so it would certainly be good to use Lent as a springboard to help us get rid of these harmful vices.

However, as good as that is, it's not really the spirit of fasting that Lent is all about.  The Lenten fast is about making a sacrifice, and for our sacrifice to be meaningful we ought to be sacrificing something is good.  If I give up coffee for Lent, it's not because coffee is bad for me and I ought not to be drinking it anyway.  If I give up coffee for Lent, it's because I view coffee as a good, something I value.  But as much as I love coffee, I love Christ more and I want to give up my enjoyment of coffee to remind myself of all that Christ gave up for me.  

I say this to hopefully inspire you to start thinking now about what you might want to give up this Lent.  As I said, you'll be hearing more from me about Lent in the weeks to come, not only about fasting, but also about prayer and almsgiving.  The purpose of all of these activities is to draw us closer to Christ.  I pray that the Lenten season may, for you, be a time of grace that draws you ever nearer to our Lord.

Pax Christi,

Matt

--

WCU Catholic Campus Ministry

Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister

www.WCUCatholic.org

  

(828)293-9374  |   POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723

Join our FACEBOOK Group!