Most around here in PJ Media parts are aware of the fact that I am a Roman Catholic. I always have been — I didn't even wander away from the church during my exceedingly wild young adult days. Fear of disappointing one's grandmothers can be a powerful motivator even for a youthful, ne'er-do-well comedian.
While I am not exactly on the fast track to sainthood, I do at least try to be an OK-ish practicing Catholic. That's why I am ashamed of the less-than-focused Lent that I have had this year.
I've always loved Lent. It's a time of great renewal, which always seems to come at just the right time for me. Lent is a much-needed annual reset for me. The reset is capped off by the three holiest days in my faith — the Easter Triduum — which is why Lent has resonated with me ever since I was a young altar boy.
Everyone knows that Catholics give something up for Lent. I like to do something proactive or positive as well every Lent. One year, I did the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. I often do a lot more Bible reading. In recent years, I would avail myself of the Lenten meditations on the Hallow app.
This year, the plan was ambitious, but doable. I gave up cheese, which is intense for me. I also supersized it this year. Leading up to Ash Wednesday, I had been doing Whole 30, which nixes dairy. It was during that time that I became acutely aware of how much I love cheese. That was why I decided that it would be a good discipline for me this Lent. Other than a couple of cheat days during my birthday week, I've been off cheese since mid-January.
That's been the one successful part of my Lent. I also had a good program set up for Hallow that I was adding to a daily reading of a stack of deep theology journals that I have. My dear friends, I lost the thread on that in a hurry. I'm not sure why, either. Yeah, my schedule is insane right now, but that's no excuse for putting faith on the back burner when it should always be at the top of one's priorities.
At least I never stop praying. The daily prayers have, admittedly, lost some intensity and focus along with the loss of both of those regarding Lent. Fortunately, there is mercy to be found out there, and what better time to seek it than Holy Week? One of my favorite things about being a Roman Catholic is that all of the rules and rituals are brilliant at getting me back on track whenever I am spiritually wandering afield.
Thank the Lord that there are plenty of those on the calendar this week.
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