Easter Reflections

April 2019

 As Valentine's Day approaches, we asked our writers to write
about what it means to truly love another person.

We Retreat to Seek

Harry Scherer
Class of 2022

Recently, I overheard a particularly patient and caring person describe the season of Lent to someone who had never heard of it. "It is a recalibration," she said. "It is time to get away while staying exactly where you are."

This simple, yet wise, description of the holy season of penitence led me to consider the profound observation that one observes Lent exactly where one is. The beauty of these 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving can be observed at any time and at any place. This is where the action of recalibration occurs. A scale does not become balanced by moving the base of the scale; it is the beams which need to reach harmony with each other.

Consider the charge to pray. It is an activity in which the Son partook. It has been prescribed by the Saints since the time of Peter. Certainly, people do not continue to pray just to emulate the actions of the Incarnate Word and His followers, while this would be a noble task. St. ThérPse of Lisieux said, "For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy."

This description of prayer has always prodded me to take part in this divine activity. It is an escape from the mundanity of ordinary life and a momentary participation in the divine. The surge of the heart lifts the soul up from the confines of the body and allows the mind to quickly meet a portion of the peace of heaven.

The next charge which we are given during this season is to fast. This is an activity which is most similar to the question, "what are you giving up for Lent?" At the very least, we are called to "give something up" as a sacrifice for the sins we have committed and in solidarity with the rest of the Church and the world. In addition, a direct effect of intentional and quiet fasting is the betterment of the soul. Because of this, we are called to take advantage of that betterment and act in a more Christ-like manner.

What is the purpose of cutting sweets from our diets for 40 days if we still speak in a salty way to our family? Why cut music in the car from our commutes if we cannot have peace in our souls? The immediate vocations of one who is fasting during the season of Lent is to draw spiritual benefit from the way in which we are physically denying ourselves.

This vocation is actually immensely convenient. Because we are not confined to a specific time or place in which to deny ourselves and offer that denial for the good of souls and the world, it can be achieved when any tribulation comes up; we are certain that tribulation does not confine itself to time or place. Again, the nature of the season which emphasizes recalibration reemerges in the aspect of fasting. This is a rare occurrence for a Christian during any other time of the year, and an extinct occurrence for the rest of the world. Because we are called to "deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow" Christ especially during these 40 days, the activity of fasting makes this denial as easy and fast as possible.

Certainly, there is nothing easy and fast about removing sweets from our diets and removing complaint from our lips. The Church recognizes that this is a difficult task but is also cognizant of the fact that this activity unites the members of the Mystical Body of Christ to the Cross. For the 2000 years that the Church has existed, She has always taken the opportunity to touch the Cross of Christ, for it was by this Cross that the salvation of man was made possible.

Finally, Christ and the Church calls us to give alms. The apparent intention of this practice is for the soul to remind the body that physical objects are not the end, or purpose, to life. A small, or even large, denial of physical goods can recalibrate the soul to better understand life’s individual and absolute purpose. Specifically, by giving alms, we are given the grace to come closer to understanding why all human persons are on earth, and why we are individually on earth.

The practice of the Lenten season is, simply put, an admission that the cares of the soul are superior to the cares of the body. In my eyes, the most difficult aspect of living out the fulness of the season, is recognizing and acting upon this superiority. After all, we are being called to believe that an inanimate reality, which we have never seen with our physical eyes or heard with our physical ears, is more important than the body, from which we act upon the will of the soul.

Alternatively, the beauty of the season lies in the heightened use of our spiritual eyes and ears. We begin to see earthly matters from a supernatural perspective. We begin to see things closer to the way in which God sees them. Is there a more significant way in which to live? Can anyone on the earth suggest a more lasting and spiritually fulfilling manner of life?

As we pray, fast and give alms, we are given the opportunity to recognize these activities as eternal goods, temporarily beneficial for our bodies in this life and eternal beneficial for our souls in the next. As we move to recalibrate our souls from a tepid water to a flowing stream, we should be aware and intentional of keeping our souls by the brook of the stream. Instead of settling for mediocrity, we are called to be uncomfortable with our insufficient attempts at greatness. Instead of keeping our sights on the things of this world, we are called to escape our ways while staying exactly where we are.

Read other articles by Harry Scherer

Let There Be Meat!

Angela Guiao
MSMU Class of 2021

Growing up in a Roman Catholic family, I used to dread Lent. I absolutely hated the idea of not eating meat on Fridays, and I never had any ideas of what exactly I should "give up" that season. It was difficult to try to come up with something which would hold meaning but would still be possible.

As a young child, my mother was very involved in bible studies. She, and a bunch of her friends would get together to worship God through songs and talk about their faith. Lucky for me, bible studies always took place on Fridays.

Now, my mother’s friends could cook very well. They were experts in Filipino cuisine. So, when Lent came around and delicious pork and beef dishes would degrade into leafy greens and veggie platters, my hungry heart would break silently inside.

Why? I used to ask myself. Why did we have to give up meat? Why did I have to give up watching T.V., or eating chips, or sweets? How does change me? What am I supposed to learn? I never understood the importance of giving up things that made me happy for no particular reason. At least, from the point-of-view of my 7-year-old mind, there was absolutely no reason at all. We did it because "that’s what God wants us to do" my mother used to tell me. And usually, I wouldn’t say anything after that because what could I say?

Now, for those of you who don’t know what Lent is, let me give you a little background information. The Lenten season is a period of 40 days where people fast or abstain from their guilty pleasures, bad attitudes, or just try to better themselves in some way, whether that be living a healthier lifestyle or growing closer to God. Beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter Sunday, the forty-day season is comparable to Jesus’ forty days in the desert, which he spent fasting. Or it may be similar to the Israelites forty days in the wilderness, where their faith in God was tested.

Fast forward and Christian today celebrate lent where they fast and abstain from the things that they like or attitudes that can hurt as an attempt to show their devotion to God. It’s meant to cleanse the soul and show that we can control ourselves and restrict our self-indulgence as proof of our devotion to God.

Now that I’m older, Lent has found a new meaning for me. It represents change and the betterment of myself. It’s no longer just about giving up my favorite foods or pastimes, but rather a self-reflection on my personality and who I had transformed into. It became a chance to reinvent myself every year; almost like a wake-up call to try to live more in God’s image.

In high school, it started off simply. Freshman year: Don’t judge others. Sophomore year: Say only positive things about others. Junior year: talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to. And finally, Senior year: Focus on the good you see instead of the bad. They were simple things, but I can tell you that until today, I still try to do the things I decided to do during Lent.

Lent had become so much more than giving up the things I like. I had become more about discipline, more about change, and more about living as Jesus would. I think now, I focus more on the self-discipline, the self-reflection that is a part of Lent rather than the sacrifice.

Before, I used to give up my favorite food and count down the days until I could eat it again. I used to question why God would want me to give up something that makes me happy. And that’s when I realized that he doesn’t. The point of Lenten season, at least for me, is for us to realize that those little things, those little guilty pleasures, are things that we can live without. Lent is not meant to deprive us of the things that make us happy but show us that the wrong things are making us happy.

While we give importance to things like foods, electronics, sweets, and all that other junk we miss that the point of Lent is to focus less on the miniscule, unimportant things and more so on the things that matter:

This Lent, I’ve decided that I would give up trying to please others. It’s a weird thing to say and an even weirder thing to hear because it doesn’t sound particularly sinful. But I’ve realized that in my effort to do things that make others happy, I’ve forgotten about the things that make me happy. Jesus did not live to please others. He lived and died for our salvation, for our chance to be happy and live the lives we want.

So, I decided to focus on myself and on the things that I like to spend time doing, like writing for this newspaper, and spending time with the people that matter most to me. I decided to get rid of the things that don’t hold much value in my life, and to focus more on the betterment of myself. As I’ve realized, trying to please others really brings me to a place where I forget who I really am.

So, here’s to a joyful Lenten season, and the betterment of ourselves! May we all find fulfillment and understanding in our reflections. May we all become better people because of it. Jesus wants us to love, understand and live in his name. And may we all give our best effort to try and do exactly that. Happy Lenten Season!

P.S. I’m still a little disappointed in no-meat Fridays.

Read other articles by Angela (Tongohan) Guiano

Bettering myself

Morgan Rooney
MSMU Class of 2020

Each year when the Lenten season rolls around, I always struggle to figure out what differences to my life I should make. Honestly, usually I completely forget it’s nearly lent until Mardi Gras comes around the corner and I spend the rest of the night thinking of something I can give up or change that doesn’t require any preparation, as I can’t allow all the unhealthy food I had just spent my whole paycheck on go to waste.

As a child I was told (in my Sunday evening classes at Church) that lent doesn’t have to be about giving something up, though for many people, that is their choice to do so. Instead of giving up sweets, soda, or going completely vegetarian (as I know many people who have done so), I could choose to do something to add into my life that would also hold significance, such as praying the rosary each night, or attempting to build up my closeness with God.

Sometimes I can be repetitive with the things I give up or take on, although I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. If I feel like it is making me greater than I once was, it shouldn’t matter if I have done it previously. This year, I decided to do something similar to what I did two years ago. I gave up social media. Now, before someone checks my Instagram to make sure I’m not lying, I will say that I did not give it up in entirety, but I have significantly decreased my social media usage. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with going online every once in awhile and sharing a photo of an experience with relatives and friends, however, I do think there is so many better things to do than spending your free time on social media.

Out of everything God gave us in the world: all the people we could be spending time with, all the places we could be exploring, or all the things we could be learning about, I don’t think it should be staring into our phone or laptop. There are so many things we could be doing to better ourselves, yet so much of our time is wasted.

I would like to elaborate that I am grateful for my phone and laptop. I don’t think there is a single thing wrong with communication with friends, family, and other loved ones on a frequent basis. Our technology is also an instrument of learning. We can have a majority of the world’s information in just seconds with a quick search on google. I honestly think that in this day and age, this technology does more good than bad, in moderation of course. I wouldn’t give up my long-distance relationships for the world and I love the fact that I can learn at any time of the day, whatever I want. All that I’m saying is that we mustn’t forget about what’s right in front of us: a world that we are mean to navigate and people we are meant to spend time with and love.

When I think of lent, I think of trying to better myself into everything I am capable of; everything God made me capable of and wants me to become. With this time I am saving from social media and online streaming services, I have found time to exercise, spend time with close friends who put me in a happier place, and out in nature (especially since the weather is starting to get warmer as summer is getting closer).

Going on walks outside, walking through the Grotto of Lourdes, and even just walking around the Mount St. Mary’s campus really brings me into a mental state to open my eyes and look at all the beauty that surrounds me and reminds me that God created it all for us to thrive in. The perfection of it all entices me and having such an awareness for it makes me so appreciative of where I am, who I am, and the fact that I exist. This is my way of taking a step back and realizing what’s really important and it usually isn’t what’s on my phone.

The last thing I am trying to do to improve myself this season is strengthen my relationships with others. You cannot expect to have a support system if you do not support others in their challenges. Instead of expressing frustration or anger, I’ve been trying harder to be more patient with people, even if I am frustrated. I’ve learned that in most situations (of course not all), it isn’t worth it. Sometimes it’s better to just spend a moment by yourself instead of saying something you’ll regret.

Within improving my relationships with others, I’ve also been trying to reach out to more people more often who I don’t usually reach out to very frequently. This is family members, like aunts and uncles, grandparents, and even old friends. I won’t be in the situation forever where I will be living near and with my friends that I have in college, so I think it’s important to keep those relationships with other people, who I don’t see often, strong.

I would love to make these little changes to my life permanent, however, I think the season of lent is a great place to start. It gives me a reason to further myself, live to the fullest, and become the best possible version of myself that I can be, which is my goal as a Roman Catholic: to live my life in a way where I serve myself, and serve others, even in small ways like daily kindness regardless to if I’m having a good day or not. There is no reason for me to project negativity on other people.

Though it can be frustrating to limit myself on certain things each year, I come out of the season each Easter feeling like I’ve grown as a person and as a Catholic.

Read other articles by Morgan Rooney

To give a little time

Shea Rowell
MSMU Class of 2019

Every Fat Tuesday, I spend the day thinking about all the things I know I will miss during Lent: that snack food I like to munch on after dinner, that show on Netflix or that book I use to pass the time in between obligations. I find myself, in that last week before Ash Wednesday, trying to cherish the freedom that, once Lent begins, I will not see until Easter comes around. As much as I dread its arrival, Lent is one of my favorite Liturgical seasons. I look forward to it each year as an opportunity to start again, to examine my life anew and make concrete changes to improve it. Lent is the one time of year when the soul is at the center of everything we do, and the time when we most concretely attempt, wearing our imperfections on our sleeves, to live as Christ lived.

A holy life, however, is not one-size-fits-all, and the best way to grow in holiness is particular to each person. This Lent is a time of preparation for me, not only for the sacred feast of Easter, but also for the renewals that are fast approaching in my life: graduation, only a few weeks after Easter, and the vocation that awaits me beyond. "How could I," I asked myself and God, "use this Lenten season to prepare for the great changes that are coming? How do I use my time now, so that my graduation and the steps that follow will not seem like the death of the beautiful years behind me, but instead an opportunity rise to a new life?"

The answer that came to me was to try to live the best possible version of my last two months at school. In order to end my time at the Mount on a good note, I resolved through my Lenten promises to reform my body, mind, and soul, the resources God gave me, so as to direct them more readily toward the proper fulfillment of my vocation.

While it may seem like common sense to live a healthy life, college students are notorious for neglecting the needs of their bodies, mostly using the excuse that "we don’t have enough time" to do what our bodies need us to do in order to remain healthy. This Lent, I resolved to make time to take care of my body. Proper and regular eating, sufficient sleep, exercise –by far my weakest point!—and time for rest are all part of my Lenten practice this year. This may not sound like "fasting," and indeed it may not be, in a traditional sense. It can, however, bear fruit nonetheless. This year I have resolved to rest on Sundays as a way to dedicate time to rejuvenating my body, to spending cherished time with loved ones, and to prayer. While it has been difficult to rearrange my work week to accommodate this, I have found that the commandment exists for a reason. The human body, mind and soul need rest sometimes. We must carve out time to be ourselves outside of the demands of our work, to form bonds of companionship with others, and to spend special time in prayer.

I have also resolved to take care of my mind this Lent. The primary reason I came to Mount St. Mary’s University in the first place was to expand my mind. Learning, then, is my primary vocation as a student, and the task that God has given me to fulfill during these four years. My Lenten promises, then, challenge me to give this vocation my best efforts, and to finish my four years strongly. In the next several weeks, I will present two capstone projects that will serve as the representation of my work here at the Mount: my senior honors presentation and my senior music recital. Both are intimidating projects which will require much of my time to prepare, so a little Lenten discipline will go a long way. This Lent, I have resolved to give these projects the time and effort they deserve. I owe it to God, who gave me the gift of this education, to my mentors who have guided me along the way, and to myself to finish with my head held high.

Finally, and most importantly, Lent is the time to take special care of the soul. The noisy demands and distractions of daily life sometimes pull me away from the most important part of life: my relationship with God. Building a healthy spiritual life will help build a healthy life in general; it will center me around God, on whom I can always depend, and help me to act according to His will as I prepare to leave His holy mountain. To promote spiritual growth this Lent, I have set aside specific times to prayer and reflection, replaced leisure reading with sacred reading, and resolved to frequently participate in the sacraments of Communion and confession. These practices will help me keep God by my side as the year progresses, and to entrust Him with the anxieties and uncertainties of the coming months.

As day after day passes by, it seems like time is my enemy. There is simply not enough time in the day to dedicate to the bare necessities, let alone the extra joys of uninterrupted evenings spent with friends and leisure hours to enjoy the beauty of the campus around me. For Lent, I am trying to use the time I have left deliberately, in ways that prepare me for what lies ahead.

In this way, Lent is like a microcosm of the Christian life. We cannot know how much time we will be given, and inevitably it will come to an end, probably before we feel "ready." Our time is our responsibility to spend wisely. We must prepare while we can and withstand the sufferings that arise while we wait for the new life ahead of us to welcome us home.

Read other articles by Shea Rowell

Read Past Editions of Four Years at the Mount