Catholic Mission In Canada

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is not the place where most people start in their meditations during the season of Lent. We know that Lent is the special time set aside for us to turn back to the Lord and reform our ways. All Christians are urged to set aside their selfish motivations and reach out to others, in what has been traditionally referred to as “almsgiving.” Yet, while recently going through the Catechism again, I stopped and was struck by the very spiritual foundation for all activities that pertain to Lent; and that is the fact that the Church is holy (para: 823). 

            The Concise Catholic Catechism puts the matter so straightforwardly: “The Church is unfailingly holy because Christ gave himself up for her to make her holy and has endowed her with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (# 107) The members of the Church may have some share in that holiness, but it certainly is not perfect. And so we have to strive for holiness as Jesus himself hoped that we would. 

            Striving for holiness can be the Lenten project. Thus, the Church in various places sets before people a variety of activities and spiritual exercises during the journey toward Easter. Some places have parish retreats to present a fresh outlook on a person’s religious life; others stress the well-known devotions, such as Stations of the Cross, the rosary, and weekday Mass; and all churches and missions present the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a means to growth. 

            Sometimes, here at Catholic Missions In Canada, we receive requests from individuals in distant places, requesting bibles, rosaries, prayer books, and other devotional items. Although that is not one of our normal services, we always try to assist with what the local mission may not have on hand, if we have access to such things. Such requests speak of a desire on the part of people to grow in holiness, and to bring themselves closer to God. 

            The Season of Lent, then, can awaken in our imagination the true motive for the disciplines and spiritual exercises of the Church. And that is the desire of Christ that we all be holy, and come with the community of the Church to holiness.