Lent then and now
Coffey Break from the February/March 2012 issue
We didn’t call them rituals when I was growing up, but every Lent we did the same things to mark the 40 days. First, Mother always put an empty box in Dad’s sock drawer. Any time we received candy during Lent, it was put in the box. We were never allowed in the sacred sock drawer and no one wanted to find out what would happen if we tried to sneak a peek. We also never thought to eat the candy, this was Lent.
The other Lenten ritual we did was praying the Rosary every evening after we finished dinner and cleaned up the kitchen. My father was often out making sales calls in the evening so it was up to Mother to get all ten of us kids rounded up to pray the Rosary. Imagine all of us rushing to kneel by the softest piece of furniture. The youngest would sit on Mother’s lap. We had to go in order of age to lead the decades. My oldest brother Ken always led the First Sorrowful Mystery, Pat the Second Mystery, I led the Third Mystery, and down the line we would go. This was Lent, and this is what we did.
So it is with our February/March Lenten issue. We look at the three traditional practices of Lent—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Savor your prayer time and make prayer time for those you teach special. Teach your students to be compassionate and virtuous Christians. As catechists, it is our role to model and teach the meaning of this sacred time before Easter. After all, this is Lent.
Easter was much more meaningful because of the rituals we did as children. It is the same for us today. Unless you mark each day of Lent as one day closer to the Risen Savior, you get lost on the journey and Easter is just another Sunday. Let this Lenten season be one that makes a difference in our lives and the lives of those we teach. Write and let me know what Lenten rituals are most meaningful to you.
Blessings on your Lenten journey,
Rosanne Coffey
Editor
rcoffey@rtjscreativecatechist.com
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Rosanne was named editor of RTJ's Creative Catechist in April 2010. She was previously advertising manager and worked in marketing for RTJ's Creative Catechist, Today's Parish and God's Word Today. For over 20 years she taught in Catholic schools. She has also been a catechist and associate director for the Norwich Diocesan Office for Faith Formation.
