Readings: Ash Wednesday | USCCB 

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent in this new year.  Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin offers us the following “10 Things to Remember for Lent”. 

First, he reminds us of the three disciplines of this season: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.  Once again, you will have the opportunity to participate in our campus wide Rice Bowl Collection during these forty days. Lent is also a time for prayer, a time to draw closer to Christ. Lent is a time for fasting, both today, Good Friday, and abstaining from meat on Friday’s during Lent.  

Lent is an opportunity for renewed spiritual discipline. Can I pray more, give more, fast more frequently during these forty days? In a word, can I enter into Christ’s suffering during these days and be raised to new life with him at Easter? Bishop Ricken adds, “it is tempting to make Lent some ambitious period of person reinvention” but he says, “keep it simple”. Trying to do too much is a recipe for failure.  

Lent reminds us of our weakness; thus, we more readily seek God’s help. Be patient with yourself, God’s love is unconditional.  If you learn to be patient with yourself, you can show that same patience and understanding toward others as you share God’s love with them.   

Finally, says Bishop Ricken, “Lent is a journey through the desert to the foot of the Cross on Good Friday, as we seek him out, ask his help, join in his suffering and learn to love like him.” 

Fr. Lawrence Blake 

Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry 

The Campus Ministry Seasonal Reflections are offered during the liturgical seasons of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter. We bring a variety of voices from Students, Faculty and Staff. The perspectives expressed in these reflections are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Campus Ministry.