Catholic Family News March Edition

March 5, 2025

Ash Wednesday

Dear Friends of Catholic Tradition,

Lent is upon us. Let us consider for a few moments an important aspect of this season. There is a greater potency and additional graces available to acts done publicly and as the whole Church. For unlike Liberals, we know that Man is both an individual (a whole being) and also a part of a whole. Man can act in an individual or private capacity as well as part of a whole. This latter occurs when Man participates in public acts. We know this principle from a proper understanding of prayer. There is certainly a great importance in developing a private prayer life. We need time spent alone with Our Lord to know Him so we can love Him. Yet, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the summit of prayer because it is a public act to which we unite ourselves. Unlike Protestants, we know that there is a unique value to each of us playing our appropriate part in the public prayer of the Church.

This same principle applies to acts of penance such as fasting and abstinence. We must cultivate a spirit of penance and devote ourselves to appropriate methods to mortify our flesh and to make reparation for our sins. Yet, there are particular graces and merits attached to public acts of penance, when we do not act merely as private individuals, but as a member of the Mystical Body of Christ. Once a year, Lent provides this unique opportunity to participate actively in the public penance of the Church. This is one reason that virtual abandonment of most legislated Lenten obligations is such a loss to the Church in our time. Certainly, individuals can choose and execute their own personal acts of penance in Lent. Yet, it was different when all Catholics acted as one in observing more demanding rules of fasting and abstinence. Certainly, as individuals, we can freely choose to observe former practices, but those practices are no longer vested in the public life of the Church. This is a great loss. The minimal remaining Lenten requirements should be approached with great reverence as a result. They are an opportunity for us to act as part of a whole and not merely a private whole.

We at Catholic Family News pray that you our readers and supporters are showered with many graces this holy season. We pray that your heart is open to the penances and suffering God will see fit to send you this Lent. Often the sacrifices God sends are more suited than those we choose ourselves. This is not surprising as He knows us better than we know ourselves. Thank you for your continued support of our apostolate and please consider our work in your extra almsgiving this Lent. You could register as a supporter on our Locals channel to help sponsor Catholic media and receive access to exclusive content. You could also consider a gift subscription to our monthly paper for someone who could benefit from this content. Finally, we would be happy to receive a donation which can be made on our website.

In Christ the King,

Brian M. McCall