Preparing for Lent: Do not look for the devil

Do not look for the devil around every corner and on every doorstep. If you do that, you will find him. Fascination with the devil, either in forms of curiosity or defense, opens oneself up to the influence of the devil.  

Remember, temptation comes from three main sources: the devil, the world, and the flesh. Do not flatter the devil, or yourself for that matter, by thinking that the devil is the sole thorn in your side. 

It is far better, far more efficacious, to live a life rich in merit and full of sanctifying grace than it is to constantly worry about demons and devils.  Too often reactionary Catholics, upon learning that they have practiced superstition of some kind, careen from embracing superstition to attempting to actively fight the devil, without the proper spiritual discernment or preparation. 

Our culture is seeped with images, activities, and superstitions that could open us up to the influence of the devil, the world, and the flesh. How often does a Catholic learn that a practice of theirs, or an entertainment of theirs, could potentially lead one down the wrong path? 

For myself, I learn more about the expectations of Almighty God often. And, I comfort myself in that I cannot be mortally held accountable for the things I did when I did not know. For a sin to be mortal, the sinner must know and will to commit the sin of grave matter. An example from myself, when I was young, I did not know that Yoga could be spiritually dangerous. It was merely a form of relaxation and exercise for me. I took a class at a college campus, and as I was taking the class I began to realize that Yoga was a form of spirituality. Then, I did some research on it. I realized that Yoga could be spiritually dangerous. So, I stopped doing Yoga.  If there was sin when I exercised using Yoga, it was not mortal because I did not know. 

Recently, I saw a post online saying that an unnamed exorcist stated that a company curses its religious products before sending them to customers. Although exorcists are usually unnamed for their protection, I have never heard this claim before. Aside from that, I am not fearful of curses. Living a sacramental life, frequenting the sacraments and Holy Mass, should suffice. If you know for sure something is cursed, then by all means, contact a good and holy priest for advice on what to do. 

Looking for the devil gives the devil power over your thoughts. How often have you listened to a song or watched a movie, then thought about that for days later? Worrying about what the devil might do can subconsciously control your thoughts and fill you with unnecessary anxiety more easily than a catchy song can linger in your mind. 

Do not think that this post is to discount the devil. He exists. He is smarter than us. He is stronger than us. He is openly opposed to all that is good, beautiful, and holy. We should not flirt with the devil. We should not antagonize the devil. We should not draw attention to ourselves. 

We should frequent the sacraments. We should live simple, good lives. We should seek to performs meritorious actions. We should do penance in reparation for sin. We should seek to know, love, and serve Almighty God above all else and in all things. 

70 Days Until Easter and 40 Days Alone in the Desert with Christ

Today is Septuagesima Sunday. In the older Roman calendar, this Sunday marks 70 days until Easter. In the New Advent entry on Septuagesima Sunday, it states the following:

Septuagesima is today inaugurated in the Roman Martyrology by the words: "Septuagesima Sunday, on which the canticle of the Lord, Alleluja, ceases to be said". On the Saturday preceding, the Roman Breviary notes that after the "Benedicamus" of Vespers two Alleluias are to be added, that thenceforth it is to be omitted till Easter, and in its place "Laus tibi Domine" is to be said at the beginning of the Office.  

 The countdown for Easter has began. Next Sunday will be Sexagesima, or sixty, and the following Sunday will be Quinquegesima, or fifty. These weeks before Ash Wednesday are a pre-Lenten preparation. In the Fisheaters Septuagesima Overview, the noted theme is man's fallen state and the mood is penance. 

The wonderful part of the older liturgical calendar is that it gives one time to prepare. One is not thrown into a liturgical season without warning. Ash Wednesday and Lent do not suddenly appear on the doorstep unannounced and unprepared for. I have a very good friend, who exclusively attends the Novus Ordo, who lamented to me that she has been in "penance mode" since the beginning of the year because she wants to be ready for Lent. She admitted that she did not properly celebrate Christmas because she was focused on her New Years resolutions and having a routine that would allow penance. This makes me so sad. 

As noted in the sermon at my parish today, this is the time to prepare for Lent. We should be thinking about our acts of penance and easing into them. We have just come out of a great season of joy and the Church, in her wisdom, preserved in the old calendar, provides us with a time of preparation so we can be successful in the season of Lent. 

Soon, starting on Ash Wednesday, we will be alone in the desert with Christ for 40 days. During this time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving; that is, during this time of penance, we should strive to grow in holiness in abundance. We should seek to perform meritorious actions and works of penance. But, we should be reasonable for our age, spiritual maturity, and state in life. 

It has been said that a penance which become burdensome to others is not a good penance. A mother who spends a holy hour daily at the expense of her children is not performing a good act of penance. The expense should only be mortifying self, not mortifying all. The father who chooses to fast all day and becomes irritated and demeaning toward his family, or hangry as modern colloquial language allows, is not performing a good act of penance. 

This being said, giving up chocolate is probably not a very good act of penance either. Unless you eat chocolate in abundance, the act of giving up chocolate is a minor inconvenience at times. Giving up cream in your coffee is a minor inconvenience, and not usually considered a mortifying act. These may be good examples of penance for children and those just beginning to understand the spiritual life. 

Over the next several days, it is time to begin a self-examination of what penances can be undertaken during Lent. 

Some articles to read on the subject of Septuagesima are:

Septuagesima: The Time that the Land Forgot

The Dismissal of the Alleluia

The Forgotten Customs of Septugesima