The Three Pillars of a Holy Lent

The following reflections are compiled from various meditations over the years by His Excellency, Monsignor Thomas Sebastian. May they aid us in a very holy and profitable Lenten season.

Be mindful therefore from whence thou art fallen: and do penance, and do the first works. Or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou do penance. -Apocalypse 2:5

God is calling us to a penance especially in these days because the world is in such need for it. So often Lent is a missed opportunity, many do not take it seriously or, worse, loose their zeal in its midst. If even a handful of the faithful took their Lenten observance seriously (very seriously) there would be a noticeable and tangible different in the world.

Our prayer ought to be that every soul faithful to holy tradition (no matter what their theological opinions are) would unite in purpose for their conversion, and the conversion of all sinners. Surely, we would see such incredible graces.

Prayer, Penance and Sacrifice, the three pillars of Lent, are meant to transform us and to please God Almighty. We live in such a convenient and privileged world that what we consider “suffering” a generation or so ago considered luxury.

Today it seems so foreign to willingly suffer for God and to repent of sin, and yet people starve or deprive themselves to “look” better. People frequent the gym, run marathons and the like for human accolades, they strive to constantly improve their bodies with no thoughts to improving their souls: they seek after that perishable crown and pass by the imperishable (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

But why do penance? In penance we show God our sorrow for sin and strive to overcome sin; for in sin is spiritual death: For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). The sin of our first father Adam continues to wreak havoc upon us, as St. Paul teaches: Wherefore by one man sin entered into this world, and by sin death, and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned (Romans 5:12). Penance will help us overcome the spiritual death of sin and its result: hell. Penance will help us regain the friendship of God and His saints. Penance will create in us a new man, who lives in the light and grace of God. Penance will make us saints!

May we all become saints this Lent, this truly is the only thing that ultimately matters. When we again sing the blessed Alleluia, may we be able to stand with the saints in light (Colossians 1:12)!

Him, who knew no sin, He hath made sin for us, that we might be made the justice of God in Him. -2 Corinthians 5:21

St. Paul reminds us that our filth and sin necessitated Our Beloved Lord Jesus, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, to take our sin upon Himself and become a sin offering in order to redeem us. Because of our infirmity we continually need a Saviour. As the Church prays:

We beseech Thee, Almighty God, mercifully look upon Thy family: that by Thy great goodness it may be governed in body, and by Thy protection be preserved in mind.

This prayer centers the true focus: the great goodness of God. Our Lord reminds us, many times, that God is good, and that all He does is good: “And God saw all the things that He had made, and they were very good” (Genesis 1:31).

The Lord also teaches us, again, many times, that we must imitate that same good in all we do before men. God is the source of all good because He is the Good. Our Lord Jesus Christ, being God, is good; and He does good. He came into this world by His Most Holy Incarnation to save us; and His entire earthly life was spent in that saving action of good.

He healed, He comforted, He taught, and He raised us from our spiritual and physical death, and by His own sorrowful Death and Passion redeems us. Let us remember how this good is accomplished for us: Our Lord is raised upon the Tree of Life, the Holy Cross, and affixed to it: so must the Son of Man be lifted up (St. John 3:14).

St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us that man has become unclean due to the soiling of his soul by sin, and that our soul was created in noble dignity, virtue and beauty; therefore by only such a great price can our soul be cleansed and purified. The Passion of Christ is made horrific not only by our sin, but also on account of the sublime dignity of the soul: its nobility demands a greater price!

Behold the Wood of the Cross on which hung the Saviour of the world!

Our sin is in direct opposition to the goodness of God; sin mocks and defiles His great goodness. The Saintly Benedictine, Dom Columba Marmion, teaches us that one of the greatest means of overcoming sin (he uses the term destroying sin) is to have a supreme hated of it, “one makes no pact at all with an enemy one hates. To have this hated of sin, it would be necessary for us to know its deep malice and diabolical ugliness. But who can understand the malice of sin? To measure it, we would have had to understand God Himself whom it insults.

And that is why the Psalmist cries out, Who hath an understanding of sin? (Psalm 18:13)

Let us all make a proper and well-ordered use of the goodness of God by overcoming our attachment to sin. Let us enter this holy season with purpose and vigor: make a good and holy confession and strive to live in His grace by building the habit of grace. Sin can, and must be conquered! Christus Vincit!

We have had enough time living in luxury, without a care for our souls. This is the time to truly repent: not just “giving up” coffee or chocolate for Lent. We need to truly make a sacrifice worthy of the Sacrifice made for us. Let us make this a very sanctifying Lent.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We love you. Save souls. Amen.