40 days, 40 reflections: Faithful around the diocese share Lenten experiences

In recognition of Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26, New Earth asked 40 people in the Diocese of Fargo to answer any one of these three questions in 50 words or fewer:

1. What word or phrase captures the meaning of Lent for you and why?
2. What is one thing you do to observe Lent and why?
3. What fruits have you seen in your life as a result of observing Lent?

These are their responses.

1. “To me, Lent is a time to reflect on the areas of our lives in which we desire change. Not for ourselves, but to further prepare our hearts for the Resurrection.” –Jason Fussy, St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, Grand Forks

2. “Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD” (Joel 2:12–13). The prophet Joel outlines the meaning of Lent as a time to return to God by changing our hearts—by truly loving God and our neighbor.” –Ben Seitz, Sts. Anne and Joachim, Fargo

3. “I strive to attend Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after Holy Thursday Mass. Spending time in prayer so intimately to Christ is unparalleled. This time helps me prepare for the Easter Triduum by allowing my heart to slow down and listen to Jesus and remember his sacrifice for us.” –Angie Waletzko, St. Aloysius, Lisbon

4. “As Lent begins each year I think of a phrase from Psalm 51, ‘Create in me a clean heart,’ which our pastor sang one year. I pray that God will cleanse my heart daily during the Lenten season and lead me to the great joy of Resurrection at Easter.” Carol Crissler, St. John’s, Wahpeton

5. “During this time of renewal, our family will find a local penance service and take that day for prayerful reflection on what the sacrament of conversion means to us this Lent.” –Lance Keller, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Reynolds

6. “I picture my soul as a kettle that has been somewhat neglected. There is a little tarnish here and there. Lent is the scouring agent. With 40 days and a little elbow grease, my soul can get cleaned and ready to shine on Easter morning.” –Annette Schumacher, St. Philip Neri, Napoleon “‘Hope in weakness.’

7. I'm terrible at making Lenten observations. I want to be perfect! However, Lent isn't about being perfect. Through our struggle in embracing prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we realize how weak we are. In our weakness, we must embrace Christ—who, in becoming weak, saved all of humanity.” –Angela Schmaltz, St. Michael’s, Grand Forks

8. “Lent is a time for me to reflect on weak areas of my spiritual life, to make a good confession, and start again. I always try to watch the Passion film with my wife, and ponder Christ’s words, ‘today you will be with me in paradise.’” –Daniel Malott, St. Timothy's, Manvel

9. “Am I not enough for you?” Words that came through prayer one Lenten season. We yearn for earthly human, material desires/affections. When we don’t get them, we feel empty. But the Lord is asking us, ‘Am I not enough for you?’ Help us Lord to say yes, you are enough.” –Tanya Schneider, St. Philip Neri, Napoleon

10. “This year I am joining my husband in observing some of the things he is doing in his Exodus 90 men’s group some of which are: adding a weekly daily Mass, cold showers, no sweets or television or unnecessary smart phone use, and having a scheduled prayer time.” –Tonia Clark, Cathedral of St. Mary, Fargo

11. “Lent is a penitential time of remembrance, to reflect and pray. In the movie City Slickers, a character trying to console his friend tells him this is his chance for a ‘d,’ to start fresh. Lent is a time to cast off my sins and have a ‘do over.'" -St. Rose of Lima, Hillsboro

12. “The word I think of is ‘sacrifice.’ Jesus made a sacrifice for all, so during Lent I make a sacrifice. It’s not as simple as giving up something I like. During Lent I like to add good deeds that help others. It’s just as important as giving up a bad habit.” –Nikki Acosta, St. Michael the Archangel, Dunseith

13. “When I think of Lent, I’m reminded of Our Lord’s words to his disciples in the garden, hours before his passion, ‘Stay and keep watch with me.’ Stay and keep watch with Jesus this Lent, and ask him to guide you on the right path.” –Leo Devick, St. Anthony of Padua, Fargo

14. “Every time I pray the rosary I feel my dad praying with me. I started praying the rosary after my Dad died and starting at Lent that year, I made a commitment to go to daily mas whenever possible. That Lenten practice is now my daily practice when possible.” –Francis Bauer, St. Mary’s, Park River

15. “I prepare a Lenten centerpiece on my dining room table to represent the season with a purple cloth, cross, cactus, candle, lavender, and my Gregorian chant CDs. There are so many distractions in this world, so having Lenten ‘distractions’ can help to offset the secular world that we live in.” –Mary Freund-Braun, Holy Cross, West Fargo

16. “‘Abandonment.’ To abandon myself more completely to the will of God. Abandonment also reminds me of how completely our Lord Jesus Christ handed himself over to the Father’s plan of salvation. Jesus’ agony in the garden is a great meditation when I feel the temptation of being abandoned and alone.” –Father Jason Asselin, St. Helena’s, Ellendale and St. Patrick’s, Fullerton

17. “I heard Father Matt Kraemer once suggest praying each day with the entrance antiphon and communion antiphon for the daily mass. I did this for Advent, and it was a great and prayerful way to enter into the season and its mysteries. I’m excited to experience this for Lent!” –Kristi Bartholomew, Cathedral of St. Mary, Fargo

18. “During the first Lent I participated in after my baptism in 2017, I tried to prove my faith by giving up dairy. Sometimes I consumed dairy accidentally, and it shook my faith in myself. While I failed at that task, I realized I was never lost in God’s eyes." –Kaden Campbell, St. Helena's, Ellendale
 
19. “I did the Exodus 90 challenge. It’s life-changing for guys, restoring relationships with wives and children and others changing jobs. By giving up many comforts and distractions, we grew in faith and self-discipline. I’m in another group this year, and also appreciate Matthew Kelly’s Best Lent Ever free daily videos.” –Chad Prososki, St. Anthony of Padua, Fargo

20. “‘Beauty in dying.’ During the fall season the greatest beauty is seen when the leaves are dying and changing color. Just like fall, the truest beauty in our life is revealed when we die to ourselves, whether through giving up some pleasure or taking up further devotion to Christ.” –Shane Hendrickson, St. James, Jamestown

21. “‘A deeper dive into love.’ Lent shouldn’t be approached with dread. It’s meant to draw us further into the Father’s heart! As we remove distractions keeping us from experiencing that relationship fully, we can rest in his merciful presence. Lent should enrich us to receive the glorious gift of resurrection.” –Roxane B. Salonen, Sts. Anne and Joachim, Fargo

22. “One thing I do to observe Lent each year is getting rid of one item I own on each day of Lent. It calls me to return to simplicity—simplicity in what I consume, simplicity in what I own, and simplicity in how I approach material goods.” –Jessica Kuznia, St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, Grand Forks

23. “We do a lot of family sacrifices during Lent. We have a sacrifice jar and an idea jar with kid-friendly corporal/spiritual works of mercy. Throughout Lent, dry beans fill the sacrifice jar, and then on Easter Jesus makes all of our sacrifices sweet when the kids find jelly beans instead!” –Teresa Fewell, St. Mary’s, Dazey

24. “In thinking about Lent, the word ‘sacrifice’ comes to mind. Yes, we take on small sacrifices, but that’s not all. Let the small sacrifices we undertake remind us of what we’re anxiously waiting to celebrate, his ultimate sacrifice and his rising from the dead to make a way for us.” –Dusty Njaa, Holy Spirit, Fargo

25. “Lent is our journey to Jesus on the cross and an opportunity to turn from sin and unite ourselves with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As a family, we do prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This year we will especially pray for God to transform us to grow closer to him.” –Beth Slag, St. Boniface, Wimbledon

26. “The phrase that has meaning for me in Lent is, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ It allows me to detach myself from worldly distractions such as electronic devices, negativity, and worry so God can love me and speak to me in the silence.” –Pat Breen, Sts. Anne and Joachim, Fargo
 
27. “‘Spiritual renewal’ captures the meaning of Lent for me. Lent is a call to repentance and spiritual discipline. ‘Even now says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning: Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD your God.’” (Joel 2:12-13) –Gigi Artz, St. Mark, Bottineau
 
28. “Observing Lent always helps me refocus, not only in my faith, but in life as well. It’s a time of introspection, sacrifice, and gratitude—things that help bring clarity and focus. Lent, if observed with conviction in our faith, comes with opportunities of personal and collective growth.” –Kellen Dobmeier, St. Mary’s, Park River
 
29. “‘Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert.’ Lent is a time to follow Jesus into the desert. With him, we pray and fast, learning to hope in heaven and break free of our earthly attachments.” –Deacon Eric Seitz, St. Alphonsus, Langdon

30. “In 2015 I was given the book Rediscover Jesus, by Matthew Kelly. I use this book to guide my Lenten journey. At the end of each chapter I journal a few reflections so that I can integrate what I read into my life. It works well for me!” –Connie Brandt, St. John’s, Wahpeton

31. “One way that I observe Lent is to pray for the catechumens preparing for Baptism. I also prepare to renew my own Baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil.” –Sister Veronica, O. Carm.

32. “The one word that captures the meaning of Lent for me is ‘conversion.’ We’re all called to conversion, and Lent is a special time to turn myself back to the Lord and away from whatever keeps me from him. It’s a challenging and beautiful time of the year!” –Bishop John Folda, Diocese of Fargo

33. “Focusing on the three pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving deepens my relationships and enriches my life. Prayer moves me closer to God and family. Fasting and penance helps me identify and make improvements, and giving time, talent, and treasure improves relationships in my diaconal ministries. All leading to Easter.” –Deacon Les Noehre, Holy Family, Grand Forks

34. “‘Shoulder my yoke / and learn from me.’ Matt 11:29 comes to mind in prayer. Lent is a time to learn about you and God, a time to reflect in prayer and listen, and to love all that is of you and him in his likeness.” –Sandra Poitra, St. Michael the Archangel, Dunseith

35. “Lent. A small word packed with powerful meaning and tradition. Growing up in the Catholic faith, we discussed as a family what we were going to ‘give up’ and ‘ we chose to give up that action or thing.’ These discussions allowed us to reflect and grow in our faith.” –Marlys Fix, St. James, Jamestown

36. “During Lent, whenever my brothers or me do an act of charity or pray for someone, we put a bean into a special bowl. At Easter, the beans get exchanged with jelly beans, and any time we do an act of charity or pray, we get a jelly bean!” –Peter Gow, St. Catherine’s Valley City

37. “‘Behold the wood of the cross…’ Throughout Lent, I recall these words whenever I look upon a crucifix. These words remind me that just as Christ embraced the wood of his cross in spite of fear and doubt, I am called to imitate him and embrace my own suffering.” –Joshua Bartholomew, Cathedral of St. Mary, Fargo
 
38. “The practices of observing Lent growing up are still important; they are the same Lenten practices we continue today: daily Mass, almsgiving, fasting, praying for those in need of food, shelter, clothing, cure from illness, natural disasters, and hope in the love of Jesus through his death and Resurrection.” –Deacon Emery Mears, St. Joachim’s Church, Rolla

39. “It takes time and personal growth to look beyond yourself. I find Lent is the time when the Lord shows me those who are suffering so I can make myself more available to them. The person in front of you is Christ in disguise, and each new person is beautiful.” –Monica Karas, Sts. Peter and Paul, Bechyne

40. “My family has a movie and popcorn night every Friday but during Lent we give up popcorn. This small sacrifice still allows us to spend time together but also helps remind us all to think of Jesus in his struggle during the 40 days in the desert that Lent signifies.” – Grace Burrell, St. Patrick's, Crystal

 
Lenten regulations
By United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
 
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. The norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members from age 14 onwards.

As always, fasting that would seriously hinder one's health or the health of others would be contrary to the will of God. Those who are frail, pregnant, or manual laborers are excused from these obligations. The Church understands that certain people are not able to commit to the Lenten fast.

Catholics are also encouraged to undertake some sort of personal penance or abstinence. Examples include giving up sweets, a favorite TV show, or not listening to the radio in the car. Giving up these things isn't some sort of endurance test, but these acts are done to unite our sufferings with Christ and draw us closer to him.

For example, a person may give up his favorite TV show, but if he simply turns the television to another channel, the Lenten penance really does not mean much. Instead, the person should consider devoting the spare time to prayer or perhaps his family.