Halfway through Lent, most people need a kick start. Whether they miss Sunday Mass, failed at their Lenten discipline, or feel spiritually “tired”. March 14th was Laetare Sunday. This Sunday is designed specifically to be full of joy and encourage Christians on their journey through an otherwise quite somber season.
Lent is the liturgical season of the Church during which Christians prepare spiritually for Easter through almsgiving, prayer and penitence. Often, the time is associated with “giving up” something. This is, however, not the only way to observe Lent.
Penitence (or “fasting”) is manifested most popularly in the act of self-denial. However, the Church also particularly encourages the faithful to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation. Reconciliation is available at regularly scheduled times throughout the week, and appointments with priests may be made either directly or through Campus Ministry. In addition, as part of the “The Light is On” campaign being run by the Archdiocese of Boston, every parish (including St. Ignatius) is open on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 until 8:00 to offer confession.
Almsgiving is perhaps the most overlooked aspect of Lent, especially for college students. The idea usually conjures ideas of giving extra money to charity and the poor. For students at Boston College, this frequently is not a feasible option given their normal lifestyles.
One way to participate in almsgiving is to limit the indulgences one partakes in, and giving the resulting pecuniary balance to charity. This hardly ever proves difficult at Boston College, where service groups give students the opportunity to donate meal plan (and “real” money) to their causes.
Alms can also be given in the form of time. Though it might not be prudent for every student to hand over money to someone else, almost everyone can lend his own hand. Though this might mean keeping oneself from going out to drink on a Friday night so that he might help feed the homeless, this is a very viable option. Boston is a city which has many people in very desperate need of all kinds of help.
Prayer is also often thrown by the wayside. Besides the ever-occurring opportunities for Mass and reconciliation, students at Boston College are encouraged to seek out a spiritual director. Spiritual direction allows a student the opportunity to meet with some qualified individual — a Jesuit, diocesan priest, another religious or a lay minister — and discuss aspect’s of the student’s spiritual life and formation. Information about spiritual direction may be found on the Campus Ministry website.
Campus Ministry is offering a “Busy Student Retreat” for Lent that runs ten days, beginning March 16. The retreat takes place on campus and is flexible around participants’ schedules. Students are expected to meet with a spiritual director several times over the course of the retreat, and are afforded a few prayer services, as well. Information about other retreats available throughout the year can be found on Campus Ministry’s website.
In the interest of facilitating the Boston College community’s members’ relationships with God, The Church in the 21st Century Center is hosting Fr. William Barry, SJ on March 18 at 7:00 PM to speak about “Friendship With God”. The talk, which is free and will take place in the Heights room, promises to be beneficial for both practicing Catholics and those who have fallen away from their faith.
It is important to remember that Lent does not have to be a miserable, boring time. What is most important is that one grows in faith and closer to God.
