The magnificent seven soul-savings of the season
Gotta admit, the above title immediately came to mind after a recent night’s television airing of the classic 1960 Western, The Magnificent Seven. That, coupled with the fact that given this economy nearly everyone is pinching a penny these days looking to save three cents on a length of pipe, seemed to be fitting for this column’s subject matter. Although not packing quite the punch of the Yul Brynner character in the film who dressed in all-black clothing and as the Lenten season begins with black ashes, the following roundup of reminders may prove to be just as rewarding.
Of course, improvise as you see fit, and try to keep in mind the point made in last week’s column, that a relationship with God is primarily personal, followed by a supporting institutional one. Guidance, even in this column as well as throughout this paper, is necessary and can be offered, but essentially spirituality starts with you.
1. Why Ashes? Need we be reminded that we are dust, and unto dust we shall return? How often do we get caught up in our everyday rigmarole, losing perspective of who we really profess to be? Football, politics, and who the latest Hollywood star is having an affair, seem to rule our lives. My God, wouldn’t it be nice if the 6 o’clock news reported a story about the state of the soul? Grand Opening Sale: Don’t get lost in the crowd.
2. Go to Confession. Unfortunately, recipients of the Sacrament of Reconciliation are on the decline. Mysteriously however, long confessional lines seem to appear between Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday in too many 11th-hour efforts at redemption. But why do people wait until Good Friday to make their annual pilgrimage? Are they hopeful the priest won’t recognize their voice among the many? Bargain Basement: Either keep your sins or get rid of them, it’s your choice.
3. Visit the Stations. Many Catholic churches conduct the Way of the Cross every Friday night during Lent, culminating on Good Friday. Here the priest recalls each of Christ’s 14 stops during the last hours of his life. How many people do you know who celebrate Easter with no awareness of the Passion? Price Drop: Yeah, we’re all for the cute Easter bunny, but this is not what the season is all about.
4. Look at a Crucifix. That’s right, get up close and personal, perhaps with the head of the crucifix pictured, hand-carved by an artisan form Zakopane, Poland. Did you ever envision yourself being crucified? What did the crucifixion of Christ mean? We see movie stars sporting a cross or crucifix necklace while accepting an Oscar for a film displaying scenes of explicit sex, as the audience applauds. 2-for-1 Sale: It was once said that a two-minute gaze upon a crucifix can turn a sinner into a saint.
5. Pass-up the Popcorn. The issue here is not any particular item that tastes good or that we have grown habituated to. Rather, it is our tendency to become dependent on something, devoting a great deal of attention to it. 50-60% Off: Fasting is not only about food refrain, it is about detaching ourselves from any such overly dependent time-and-attention getter.
6. Almsgiving. Who’s got money to spare these days? Everyone has passed the beggar on the street asking for a dime. We pinch a penny walking up and down the supermarket aisles trying to break even. One Day Sale: How am I sacrificing if I am breaking even?
7. Prayer. Even though all of the six points mentioned above are actually forms of prayer in one way or another, the real essence of Lent begins in your heart, mind, and soul. Sure you can go through the motions by doing good deeds and going to church, but how often do you pray quietly and contemplatively? Saint John Paul II used to pray for hours per day. Closeout Sale: Can we be so bold as to attempt at least 10 minutes of daily prayer?
Fortunately for many Polish Americans enriched with tradition, these seven takeaways are a rehearsal for what we have been habitually doing every Lent. This hallmark of our heritage provides an inspiration to others who may not be so devout. Kneeling that extra minute or vocalizing your response a little louder at Mass just so someone else might notice is a great way to influence. Who knows, perhaps because of your faith effort, somebody somewhere will take notice of your seven soul-savings of the season and start saving themselves too.
Of course, improvise as you see fit, and try to keep in mind the point made in last week’s column, that a relationship with God is primarily personal, followed by a supporting institutional one. Guidance, even in this column as well as throughout this paper, is necessary and can be offered, but essentially spirituality starts with you.
1. Why Ashes? Need we be reminded that we are dust, and unto dust we shall return? How often do we get caught up in our everyday rigmarole, losing perspective of who we really profess to be? Football, politics, and who the latest Hollywood star is having an affair, seem to rule our lives. My God, wouldn’t it be nice if the 6 o’clock news reported a story about the state of the soul? Grand Opening Sale: Don’t get lost in the crowd.
2. Go to Confession. Unfortunately, recipients of the Sacrament of Reconciliation are on the decline. Mysteriously however, long confessional lines seem to appear between Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday in too many 11th-hour efforts at redemption. But why do people wait until Good Friday to make their annual pilgrimage? Are they hopeful the priest won’t recognize their voice among the many? Bargain Basement: Either keep your sins or get rid of them, it’s your choice.
3. Visit the Stations. Many Catholic churches conduct the Way of the Cross every Friday night during Lent, culminating on Good Friday. Here the priest recalls each of Christ’s 14 stops during the last hours of his life. How many people do you know who celebrate Easter with no awareness of the Passion? Price Drop: Yeah, we’re all for the cute Easter bunny, but this is not what the season is all about.
4. Look at a Crucifix. That’s right, get up close and personal, perhaps with the head of the crucifix pictured, hand-carved by an artisan form Zakopane, Poland. Did you ever envision yourself being crucified? What did the crucifixion of Christ mean? We see movie stars sporting a cross or crucifix necklace while accepting an Oscar for a film displaying scenes of explicit sex, as the audience applauds. 2-for-1 Sale: It was once said that a two-minute gaze upon a crucifix can turn a sinner into a saint.
5. Pass-up the Popcorn. The issue here is not any particular item that tastes good or that we have grown habituated to. Rather, it is our tendency to become dependent on something, devoting a great deal of attention to it. 50-60% Off: Fasting is not only about food refrain, it is about detaching ourselves from any such overly dependent time-and-attention getter.
6. Almsgiving. Who’s got money to spare these days? Everyone has passed the beggar on the street asking for a dime. We pinch a penny walking up and down the supermarket aisles trying to break even. One Day Sale: How am I sacrificing if I am breaking even?
7. Prayer. Even though all of the six points mentioned above are actually forms of prayer in one way or another, the real essence of Lent begins in your heart, mind, and soul. Sure you can go through the motions by doing good deeds and going to church, but how often do you pray quietly and contemplatively? Saint John Paul II used to pray for hours per day. Closeout Sale: Can we be so bold as to attempt at least 10 minutes of daily prayer?
Fortunately for many Polish Americans enriched with tradition, these seven takeaways are a rehearsal for what we have been habitually doing every Lent. This hallmark of our heritage provides an inspiration to others who may not be so devout. Kneeling that extra minute or vocalizing your response a little louder at Mass just so someone else might notice is a great way to influence. Who knows, perhaps because of your faith effort, somebody somewhere will take notice of your seven soul-savings of the season and start saving themselves too.