As a small child in a Catholic school, I was encouraged to practice some form of “self-denial” during Lent, the six week period leading up to Easter Sunday; this teaching was reinforced at home where my parents and older siblings observed the prescribed fasting and abstinence- from meat as well as choosing other forms of penance, such as abstaining from alcoholic beverages. Gradually I absorbed the underlying purpose of Lenten practices – deepening my faith connection to God and understanding the significance of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection for our world, for my own existence. I also learned that developing will power enabling me to make good choices mattered a great deal. Observing Lenten practices such as fasting and almsgiving taught me to practice control over my selfish tendencies, consider the needs of others, and develop empathy for persons who suffered. Christians, especially Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox churches encourage fasting, almsgiving, and sacrifice during lent. Many other faiths, e.g., Islam, Judaism, Hinduism prescribe periods and practices of some form of self-denial. All of these are aimed at making our society better and learning to control our own behaviours.
A recent article in the Globe and Mail about alcohol-free-January, "Dry January", in which the writer described the benefits he experienced in abstaining from alcohol for a month brought back memories of my childhood struggles to refrain from eating candy in lent. Our secular culture today encourages self-indulgence rather than self-denial, as evidenced in advertising, excessive consumerism, and changed norms of sexual behaviour. The results of unrestricted satisfaction of perceived needs has had some undesirable outcomes such as obesity, loneliness, poverty, selfishness, anger, superficiality, mental health and relationship problems. The “me generation” has an inward focus and little interest in creating a society in which persons, cultures, and nations care for each other. Proposed remedies are mainly secular rather than spiritual. We have a secular version of self-denial aimed at self-improvement rather than spiritual growth. Consider practices such as dieting, exercise, alcohol free January, or abstinence from facebook, internet, and cell phone usage. All of these practices are good in themselves but have limited value in saving our environment, reducing violence, or promoting peace among nations. We are spiritual, intellectual, and emotional beings. Nourishing the spiritual base of our existence is essential for the welfare of our world. Lent matters.
- Sister Patricia McKeon, csj