St. Leo the Great gives us excellent motivation for our Lenten observance: “Dear friends, at every moment the earth is full of the mercy of God, and nature itself is a lesson for all the faithful in the worship of God.” (Office of Readings, Thursday after Ash Wednesday) St. Leo helps us to situate properly our Lenten spirituality: “The heavens, the sea and all that is in them bear witness to the goodness and omnipotence of their Creator, and the marvelous beauty of the elements as they obey him demands from the intelligent creation a fitting expression of its gratitude.”

During this season of Lent (which comes from the word “lengthen” in reference to the increasing “length” of the days during this time of year), St. Leo explains that “we are summoned more urgently to prepare ourselves by a purification of spirit.” In other words, it is in gratitude to God, our Creator and Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, that we desire to purify our souls more intensely during Lent.

“The special note of the paschal feast is this: the whole Church rejoices in the forgiveness of sins,” recalls St. Leo. Therefore, “what the Christian should be doing at all times should be done now with greater care and devotion, so that the Lenten fast enjoined by the apostles may be fulfilled, not simply by abstinence from food but above all by the renunciation of sin.”

Lent, of course, is a most opportune time to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Parishes generally hold a communal penance service, with a number of priest-confessors available to hear individual confessions. In addition, confession is offered weekly in parishes. I urge all of us to make a good confession during this holy season — and, ideally, every month or two throughout the year.

To foster Lenten purification, we are urged to pray more fervently, to fast and to give alms. Our penitential and charitable acts can be saturated with prayer. St. John Chrysostom explains: “Our spirit should be quick to reach out toward God, not only when it is engaged in meditation; at other times also, when it is carrying out its duties, caring for the needy, performing works of charity, giving generously in the service of others, our spirit should long for God and call him to mind, so that these works may be seasoned with the salt of God’s love, and so make a palatable offering to the Lord of the universe. (Office of Readings, Friday after Ash Wednesday) St. John continues: “Prayer stands before God as an honored ambassador. It gives joy to the spirit, peace to the heart. I speak of prayer, not words. It is the longing for God, love too deep for words, a gift not given by man but by God’s grace.”

Our Lenten spirituality, therefore, is marked not only by an openness to the abundant grace that God desires to give us during this holy season, but also by an expectation of the Divine Mercy being poured out on us during the Easter season. We would do well to prepare for this outpouring with growing awareness and with gratitude for God’s merciful love for us, manifested so convincingly by Jesus’ dying on the cross and rising to new life for us.

Along this line, Pope St. Clement, writing to the Corinthians urges: “Let us fix our attention on the blood of Christ and recognize how precious it is to God his Father, since it was shed for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to all the world.... We should be suppliant before him and turn to his compassion.” Indeed, we should; for now is the acceptable time; now is the time of salvation. (cf. 2 Cor 6:2)

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