Although this Winter may have brought us almost to the point of despair at ever seeing green grass before the Fourth of July, yet the liturgical Season of Lent reminds us that Spring and new birth are on the way. The word ?Lent? comes from the Old English name for ?Spring.? Similar to the liturgical Season of Advent which prepares us to celebrate the Birth of the Savior, Lent prepares us to celebrate the saving Death and Resurrection of the Lord. The fathers of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) in their Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (109) taught that ?the Lenten Season has a two-fold character: (1) it recalls Baptism or prepares for it; (2) it stresses a penitential spirit. By these means especially, Lent readies the faithful for celebrating the Paschal Mystery after a period of closer attention to the Word of God, and more ardent prayer.?

The recently-published Essential Guide to Seasons and Saints (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013) explains that during Lent ?the faithful are called to focus on the traditional penitential practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These practices help to purify the mind and heart and help us recognize our dependence on God and our solidarity with our brother and sisters who lack the basic necessities of life. In this way, these practices call us to renew our baptismal commitment to be conformed to Christ as members of His Body? (18). Besides being an aid to the baptized, ?Lent is also the period of purification and enlightenment for those elected to receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil? ( Essential Guide, 18).

In the Church, a person preparing for Baptism is called a catechumen which literally means ?one being catechized,? that is, being formed to understand the teachings of Christ and to live as His disciple. Our parishes have the privilege this Lent of prayerfully accompanying catechumen Ben Blegen as he prepares to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil in April. Ben, 22, is a graduate of Spring Valley High School currently residing in Elmwood. You may recognize Ben as he works at the Coop in Elmwood and at the Spring Valley Public Library. A member of our parishes ? and coworker of Ben ? fielded Ben?s many questions about God, faith, and the Catholic Church. Eventually this coworker invited Ben to come to Mass and also encouraged him to meet with me. Even though he is not even baptized, since Palm Sunday of last year Ben has missed Mass of Lord?s Day only once through no fault of his own. Indeed, Ben usually participates in Mass on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays as well. For months Ben has been meeting with me to explore more deeply the Catholic faith and discipleship in Christ. At the Vigil Mass this Saturday Ben is formally accepted as a catechumen and his godfather and our parish communities pledge their prayerful support of him in these last weeks of his preparation to be fully initiated into the Christian life. We also beg God?s choicest blessings on him as we send him to our Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman on Sunday for the Rite of Election celebrated by Bishop Callahan?s delegate, Monsignor Michael Gorman. Catechumens from all over our Diocese will participate in this liturgy during which Ben?s godfather and I present him to the Bishop?s representative testifying that Ben is ready to be baptized. Accepting our witness of Ben?s readiness, Monsignor Gorman declares Ben to no longer be a catechumen but a member of the elect ? that is, called to be initiated into the sacred mysteries at the Easter Vigil. Monsignor Gorman concludes saying to Ben: ?God is always faithful to those He calls: now it is your duty, as it is ours, both to be faithful to Him in return and to strive courageously to reach the fullness of truth, which your election opens up before you.? May these rituals of this weekend and the coming weeks of Lent not only draw Ben toward the baptismal font and the Eucharistic altar ?but rekindle in those already baptized a new commitment to their baptismal call? ( Essential Guide, 19).

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! Saint Luke, pray for us!
Father Kevin C. Louis, STL