February 27, 2009

The Bishop's Forum

Lent 2009

by Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger

Lent 2009 will be unusual compared to those in recent memory. Unfortunately many of you may have or already have had your jobs threatened or lost. Your families may be struggling to make ends meet with salary or work hour cutbacks. Pastors are forced to make difficult decisions with respect to their parish budgets. All in all, there is no escaping the fact that the lives of all of us are being affected by the economic climate.

This Lent gives us all more reasons to review our lives with respect to the way we use money or how we must conserve our personal resources. But more importantly, Lent is a time to exercise personal discipline not only in a financial way but in a spiritual way.

Self indulgence is a good place to begin a personal review. Following are personal questions for consideration for two audiences: adults and children.

ADULTS

Do I have any addiction? How am I managing it?
How much coffee do I purchase outside the home?
How much am I spending on alcoholic beverages? Gambling?
How much am I spending at fast food restaurants?
How much time am I spending in personal prayer per day? Per week?
How much time am I sharing for the benefit of others outside the home?
How am I sharing my personal talent for the good of the parish or society?
How do I relate to my children? Am I an ‘absentee parent’?
How often do you speak your love to each child?
How do I relate to my spouse? Am I as faithful as my wedding band attests? How often do you speak your love to your spouse?
Do I go to Mass every weekend?
How often do I receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

CHILDREN:

How much of the money I spend comes from working? From parents?
How many soft drinks do I drink per day? Per week?
How much ‘junk food’ do I eat per day? Per week?
Do I make my own bed? Keep my room clean?
Why do I need a cell phone? An Ipod? Television in my room?
How do I share my personal time and talent for others outside the home?
How do I get along with my parents? My brothers and sisters?
How many times a day or week you tell your parents you love them?
How many times a day or week you demonstrate your love for your brothers and sisters?
Do I belong to a “clique’ at school? Do I worry about my schoolmate when others make fun? What do I do about it?
Am I generous with my time and talent outside my home?
How much time am I spending in personal prayer per day? Per week?
Do I go to Mass every weekend?
How often do I receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Lent is a special time for consideration of these personal questions. Where there has been failure, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a partial answer. A will to change completes the answer.