Ash Wednesday, Lent, and the Rosary

As we begin this Lenten journey into the desert it is worth noting that today, Ash Wednesday, also is the Glorious Mysteries on the holy Rosary. Our Lenten journey begins on the day we pray for what we journey through the a desert of fasting for: the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. There is nothing more appropriate than to start Lent praying the Rosary as it reminds us what we journey towards, namely the Resurrection. This is pretty elementary for a lot of Catholics but it bears exploring.

The first mystery is the Resurrection. After three days of mourning Christ unexpectedly returns from the dead. Our journey through Lent is of course a reflection on the Passion but it is also a journey towards our own rebirth in Christ by sacrificing what separates us from Him or by sacrificing inconsequential things that we love so that we may unite our loss and discomfort to His suffering. Our journey through Lent is first and foremost about loving Christ more and renewing our love for Him.

The second mystery is the Ascension. How do we ascend into heaven? Prayer and fasting. Through praying more and fasting we unite our minds, hearts, and souls with God. Our prayers should always be in thanksgiving, especially in Lent. Our journey towards Easter should be a time of reflection and thanks for the things that God has given us, including the crosses God saw fit for us to carry.

The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is the birth of the Church. Lest we forget, not long after Easter we celebrate the beginning of the revolution that Christ launched through Peter, Paul, and the Apostles. Our Lenten journey has a purpose beyond our own sanctification. We are to be salt and light in the world, bringing the light of Christ to others. Lent should be motivating us to evangelize those we love and to bring Christ to the darkest corners of society. In short, Lent should be about building up our courage to bring a world spiraling into madness the only antidote that can save it: the Gospel.

The fourth and fifth mysteries are for Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary. She can lead us to Christ if we let her. She and the saints constantly pray for our salvation and for the spread of the Gospel. Yet many Catholics feel uncomfortable praying the Rosary, probably because much of the west has been influenced by heretical Protestant ideas. If you aren't in the habit of praying the Rosary daily, try it daily during Lent. I guarantee that you will be enriched spiritually by the experience.

Finally, Lent should be a time of joy. Our Lord returns in 43 days! Easter is the biggest festival in the Church, and for good reason! We celebrate the triumph of life over death! In today's Gospel Jesus tells us not to let our sufferings from fasting show on our faces. Fasting can unite us to Christ, which itself is an occasion for joy. Let joy rule this season so that when Easter arrives we can enter into a season of Eucharistic ecstasy.