Lenten Observances and the Vincentian Duties (Article 2/2)

….by John Chongkon Aniya.

Lent also referred to as Quadragesima ‘fortieth’ in Latin is the period whereby Christian religious practitioners commemorate the forty(40) days in which Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan and also includes the period of His death which serve as the foundation of Christianity. Lent is observed by the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, Methodist and many other traditions of Christianity.
In the Catholic Church particularly, Lent is celebrated with the omission of the Gloria, Alleluia and also veiling of Holy images used. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday in the Western rites and on clean Monday in the Eastern rites and lasted until evening of Holy Saturday. Sundays may or may not be excluded depending on the denomination. These period of Lent normal ends with a great celebration of Easter.

Lenten Observances

Three major activities are normally observed during the period of Lent. They are prayers, fasting
and almsgiving.

Prayer is a way of communicating with God and growing in a good relationship with Him. Engaging in prayers especially during this Lenten season help to reduce stress, decreases blood pressure and heart rate psychologically. It gives an opportunity for someone to express his/her innermost fear to God Almighty by so doing, it removes the piled up challenges in the heart and mind thereby increasing mental health of an individual. It also increases empathy in human views which let to knowledge and understanding. Prayers are offered to God Almighty in different ways and circumstances; through adoration, confession, Thanksgiving and petition. All through this processes, a close communication and abjuration with God is achieved.

Fasting is one of the major ingredients during the period of Lent. It involves abstaining from something to reduce distraction and focus on what is more desirable which is closeness to God.
In fasting we have a clear path to God (Daniel9:3), through fasting shows our sorrow for the  sins we are committing(1Samuel7:6), we learned about humility, self control, save time and resources, develop intentionality and help us control excesses in life. In fasting, we are able to fight the devil, rediscover God purpose in our life, strengthen our connection with God and also help us to avoid the calamities in life we live.

Almsgiving and Vincentian duties.

Lenten season call for making the need of others our priority, therefore, the need for almsgiving. The burden we carry in observance of fasting, help us to appreciate the suffering of others. Thereby when we share our possession with others shows the beginning of the Christian faith we practice. Almsgiving does not mean it is done for the benefit of the poor only, it also benefit us too, it assist us in conversion of our heart and also grow our freedom in existence. Therefore, the need for Vincentian duties especially in the Lenten season. Vincentians are known for their charitable show case and compassion to their masters the poor. This act mostly is by direct assistance with food, clothes, shoes, caring for the homeless, providing social housing and even go further in providing self sufficiency in a
community, which enable people to help themselves and be independent. At this period of Lent, it is a duty for Vincentians to practice their calling sufficiently and in glorification to God Almighty. They are to do more in fighting for social justice and also seeking to transform the cause of poverty, this is mostly in advocacy for good leadership by those in position of power.

Vincentians are called upon to remember the frequent slogan which admonishes their services “whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me” says the Lord.

In this period of Lent, we are call upon to be the light of the world by been an exemplary figure (Ephesians 5:8-14) admonishes us to be different, we should get rid of darkness and carry light to wherever we go. During this period of Lent, through our prayers, fasting and almsgiving signify the presence of light of God in us, therefore it is a duty for us to take this light and shine the world bright through our love, sacrifices, humility, discipline and faith which truly show the Christ-like nature in us.