'tis the season

I've been thinking about this post for a couple days now, as this past Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent for us Catholics.  I call myself a practicing Catholic; though I don't go to Mass as regularly as my Catholic school background would have me go, I consider myself active in my faith, and here's why.  

First, I do pray regularly.  It's probably a 50/50 split between traditional scripted prayers and free-form "conversation" with God.  (For the record, my favorite go-to traditional prayer is the Memorare of St. Bernard.  It's lovely and comforting... and my entire high school said it together every Friday of the academic year, so it's familiar and has very special meaning for me.) 

And second, I observe the practices of our faith.  Ash Wednesday begins Lent, the season in which Roman Catholics prepare for the coming of the kingdom of Christ (signified by His resurrection on Easter).  We honor the season with fasting (taking just one meal) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and with abstinence (from meat and foods made with meat) on Fridays.  Abstinence also takes the form of "giving up" something; making some personal sacrifice for the 40 days of Lent.

(Side note:  my sacrifice this year is that I've given up all caffeinated beverages.  None of that glorious french toast coffee for me; no Diet Coke, which practically runs in my veins; not even iced tea, unless it's green.  God be with me... and with those I encounter!)

Ash Wednesday is also the day when you'll notice your coworkers and friends walking around with inky-black smudges on their foreheads.  No, it's not a bruise; yes, we do wash our faces; this smudge is intentional!  It's a reminder of the fleeting nature of human life and of the original sin that separates us from God.

When I commented to someone about giving up caffeine and getting to Mass on Wednesday, he responded with a roll of his eyes, an audible "ugh" and the rhetorical question:  "you still do that stuff?"  

Well... yeah, I do.  Isn't that what faith is?  Doing the "stuff" your religion holds sacred?

I tell this story here not to make myself sound "holier than thou" but to draw connection to the daily meditation I've been trying to incorporate.  I've always observed Lent, but I realized this week that I haven't always known why I do it.  This year, the daily effort at gratitude has made me pay closer attention to the reasons why I observe the Catholic rituals... and I'm grateful for my faith.