During the season of Lent, Joan Chittister will provide a daily reflection to online readers, a kind of
Monastery Almanac for Lent.
Ash Wednesday
February 25 — A monastic Lent is a time of growth, not of discipline for its own sake. The Rule of
Benedict says that the life of a monastic “ought always to be a Lent,” ought always in other words, to
be lived with discipline. Then, the Rule says, and in Lent the monastic will add a little reading. So,
today, on Ash Wednesday, the community receives ashes from the prioress and a list of the readings we
will do together until Easter. It means that we will empty ourselves out so that something more uplifting
than daily concerns can begin to grow in us again. Monastic communities concentrate on good reading,
deep prayer, a consciousness of the soul during Lent — not on artificial penances, good as they may
be. The purpose of a monastic Lent is to freshen the basics of life, to fill our empty selves with meaning.
Thursday, February 26 — In Lent, we begin the process that brings us face to face with ourselves. In
Lent there are no masks, no pretenses, no escaping the hollowness that comes with having to face
ourselves. Lent is about coming to know ourselves. Lent is about emptiness filled with a new
understanding of the meaning of life.
Friday, February 27 — On this day in 1902 John Steinbeck, the author of the novel, The Grapes of
Wrath, was born. The book is about the life of the poor during the depression and our responsibility for
seeing that others have the chance to come to fullness of life. Steinbeck wrote: “The great companies
did not know that the line between hunger and anger is a thin line.” It is a good Lenten story for those
who really understand the words of scripture: “This is the fast I want…to break the chains of the
oppressed…to feed the hungry…". Is. 58:6
Saturday, February 28 — Saint Benedict’s prescription for Lent is a simple one: It is to “add to the usual
measure of our service.” We are simply told to do more of what we usually do, in other words. We aren’
t asked to make up exotic penances that might fill us with spiritual pride. We’re asked only to be
better at the spiritual things we already do. We’re asked to fill ourselves more with what might empty
us.
First Sunday of Lent
Sunday, March 1 — Today’s Gospel retells Jesus’ journey into the wilderness and the temptations that
confront him there. It’s an important story because it reminds us that temptations are part of life, part
of growing up. We grapple with them often — in some instances for our lifetime — before we come to
realize that it is not so much the victory as it is the struggle that is holy.
Monastery Almanac for Lent.
Ash Wednesday
February 25 — A monastic Lent is a time of growth, not of discipline for its own sake. The Rule of
Benedict says that the life of a monastic “ought always to be a Lent,” ought always in other words, to
be lived with discipline. Then, the Rule says, and in Lent the monastic will add a little reading. So,
today, on Ash Wednesday, the community receives ashes from the prioress and a list of the readings we
will do together until Easter. It means that we will empty ourselves out so that something more uplifting
than daily concerns can begin to grow in us again. Monastic communities concentrate on good reading,
deep prayer, a consciousness of the soul during Lent — not on artificial penances, good as they may
be. The purpose of a monastic Lent is to freshen the basics of life, to fill our empty selves with meaning.
Thursday, February 26 — In Lent, we begin the process that brings us face to face with ourselves. In
Lent there are no masks, no pretenses, no escaping the hollowness that comes with having to face
ourselves. Lent is about coming to know ourselves. Lent is about emptiness filled with a new
understanding of the meaning of life.
Friday, February 27 — On this day in 1902 John Steinbeck, the author of the novel, The Grapes of
Wrath, was born. The book is about the life of the poor during the depression and our responsibility for
seeing that others have the chance to come to fullness of life. Steinbeck wrote: “The great companies
did not know that the line between hunger and anger is a thin line.” It is a good Lenten story for those
who really understand the words of scripture: “This is the fast I want…to break the chains of the
oppressed…to feed the hungry…". Is. 58:6
Saturday, February 28 — Saint Benedict’s prescription for Lent is a simple one: It is to “add to the usual
measure of our service.” We are simply told to do more of what we usually do, in other words. We aren’
t asked to make up exotic penances that might fill us with spiritual pride. We’re asked only to be
better at the spiritual things we already do. We’re asked to fill ourselves more with what might empty
us.
First Sunday of Lent
Sunday, March 1 — Today’s Gospel retells Jesus’ journey into the wilderness and the temptations that
confront him there. It’s an important story because it reminds us that temptations are part of life, part
of growing up. We grapple with them often — in some instances for our lifetime — before we come to
realize that it is not so much the victory as it is the struggle that is holy.
ALMANAC FOR LENT
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