By Bishop Bernt I. Eidsvig
Bishop of Oslo
Apostolic Administrator of Trondheim
Dear faithful,
Shortly we enter into Lent, a time that in a special way constitutes a period of grace. We walk with Christ up to Jerusalem to hear what he says, and he speaks very earnestly to us about the greatest of mysteries. There, in Jerusalem, we become witnesses to his final wonders; we shall see him before Pilate, on the cross, and finally at the resurrection. We cannot do this without it affecting our lives. Christ gave everything for us, and this raises a profound question: What do we give as a result of his example?
Lent is devoted to answering this question. What we give by means of prayer. What we give by being good examples or by displaying good will towards others. It is devoted to showing us how our generosity can be elevated to a higher level, even if it is only slightly closer to that of Jesus, or even if the only thing that actually increases is our desire to be generous. These are matters that ought to mold our personalities through this period. But we are also to make material sacrifices – in two ways:
First of all – based on the tried and true pedagogy of the Fathers of the Church and of our own time – we are to renounce something we don’t enjoy giving up. It could be simple things, like sugar in our tee or our daily chocolate, but it can also be a more demanding sacrifice than this.
Our material sacrifice must also benefit others. Therefore we ought to give up money we would otherwise spend on ourselves and our own amusement throughout Lent. This is because there are so many people whose lives can be saved or improved through what we can spare.
I recommend, as I always have, the Lenten campaign of Caritas Norway. This year the money will go to projects in Colombia, Honduras, Uganda and Zambia. When we give through Caritas, we know that only a very small portion of the money is used for administration. Caritas provides aid where it belongs, namely with the needy. Therefore: be a bit systematic when saving money, and save enough for it to make a difference. You can find more information about this year's projects, and on how to give your donation, at the Norwegian Caritas website.
As in previous years, I’d like to remind you that Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. Fasting involves a significant reduction of what we eat each day, while abstinence on these days means giving up meat and meat products, or some other special form of food, drink or amusement. The most common thing to do is at least to avoid meat those days. Everyone aged between 18 and 60 are bound by the obligation to fast, while everyone aged between 14 and 60 are to keep the obligation to abstain. Those who are sick, or for other reasons cannot fast or abstain in accordance with the obligations, are of course exempt from them.
Every Friday is a reminder to us of Jesus' crucifixion and death: therefore this day is a special day of penance all year through, in which we are encouraged to fast. For those of us who sometimes forget this custom, Lent affords us a good opportunity to take it up again. The Nordic bishops have previously given us suggestions for how this fasting can be practiced. They write that the Friday fast can be fulfilled in one or more of the following ways:
1. By abstaining from meat or other forms of food.
2. By refraining from drinking alcohol, using tobacco –or giving up other pleasures.
3. By being especially diligent in family prayer, participation in Church liturgy, prayer before the Blessed Sacrament or following the Stations of the Cross.
4. By fasting more than usual, and perhaps give what money is saved to someone who needs it – either inside or outside our home.
5. By giving help directly to someone who is sick, old or lonely.
6. The kind of Friday penance we choose is a personal choice, and it does not have to be the same penance every Friday. It is not a sin not to perform Friday penance. However, penance is an integral part of the life of every Christian, and the good intent of doing penance on Fridays is an obligation.
At the Lenten masses and throughout Holy Week I will attempt to guide you in prayer up to Jerusalem. And so we will, together, be witnesses of Christ’s infinite love, and to his – and our – victory over death.
I wish you all a blessed Lent.
