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A couple of weeks ago, I went food shopping at Stop & Shop. Per usual, I started in my favorite aisle, the one all the way to the right of the store, particularly known as the ice cream aisle. As I stood there deciding which pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to get, I heard a voice yell, “Hey Msgr. Kenney is that you?” Immediately I turned around and grabbed a container of yogurt.
We are about to embark on another season of Lent, that 40-day period of preparation for the Lord’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection, the heart of our Catholic Faith. While it might not be a bad idea to abandon the ice cream in favor of yogurt to shed those pesky pounds, Lent requires a more challenging diet: a diet the Church suggests evidenced by the Collect prayer for Ash Wednesday:
Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.
Lent is not a season for the faint of heart. Far from it. Let’s look at the three recommendations the Church proposes for Lent (prayer, fasting, and works of mercy) in the light of the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity.
Prayer
All too often we pray as if we were trying to change God’s mind or offer Him suggested outcomes for a particular person or situation. That is far from authentic Christian prayer. Prayer is energized by faith, believing that God’s will must be done in all situations. Saint Gianna Beretta Molla said: Do what God wants and want what God does. “Wanting what God does” means accepting with surrender all that God allows to happen in our lives and believing that God gives the grace we need to face every battle with confidence in His loving mercy. This Lent I encourage all Catholics not so much to pray more frequently but to pray with more honesty and sincerity, believing that God always has our best interest at heart.
In that spirit, I also encourage every Catholic to make time to receive God’s forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance where we take our faults, failings, and sins to God for pardon and peace.
Fasting
Of the three Lenten pillars, fasting is probably the least appealing and least practiced. After all, would you rather reach for the Ben & Jerry’s or yogurt? Whether it’s fasting from food, desserts, or alcohol, or more challenging, fasting from gossip, hasty judgments of others, or anger, hope gives fasting a chance at redemption, making it fruitful for us and for the entire faith community. Pilgrims of Hope is the theme selected by the Holy Father Pope Francis for this Jubilee Year 2025. May each one of us choose the form of fasting we will practice during this time of Lenten renewal.
Works of Mercy
Through almsgiving, we participate in the corporal works of mercy by serving others in need. Even the smallest of sacrificial gifts can bring healing to the sick and suffering, which is how we as disciples share the love of Christ with others. Over the years, I have encountered so many dedicated volunteers in all aspects of parish life who remind us how joyful and rewarding it is to serve and give back. Practicing the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy makes us more conscious of, and connects us to, our broader community. It’s a more outward-facing aspect of the 40 days of Lent. Works of Mercy are made possible by the gift of theological charity. God’s love poured into our hearts is expressed in almsgiving and other works of mercy.
May Lent 2025 be an extraordinary opportunity of grace for the Church in the Diocese of Providence. Let us encourage one another by our good example of prayer, fasting, and works of mercy energized by our faith, hope, and charity. And if you see me anywhere near the ice cream aisle of your local supermarket, please call my name and make sure I pick up the yogurt instead! Amen.
Msgr. Albert A. Kenney is the diocesan administrator of the Diocese of Providence.
