Drawing on theological virtues to live out prayer, fasting, almsgiving of Lent

A message for Lent 2025 from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025.  Christians make this Jubilee Lenten “journey to Jerusalem” with our Lord Jesus Christ as “pilgrims of hope,” renewing our faith, hope and love.  Such Lenten renewal invites us to “fasting, prayer and almsgiving,” three traditional Lenten paths to spiritual conversion of mind and heart.  

As your Shepherd, I humbly offer you some simple thoughts for Lent.

On faith, hope and love.

FAITH. The Letter to the Hebrews gives us a profound description of faith: “confident assurance concerning what we hope for and conviction about things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1).”  Confidence and hope! Let’s make that disposition of faith and hope our own this Lent, especially as we celebrate the 2025 Jubilee Year.

HOPE. St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people (Ephesians 1:18).” Let’s open the “eyes of our heart” this Lent through hope to see beyond the limits of this world to the glories that are ours in Christ and share that vision with one another.   “Hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:5).”

LOVE.  Our Lord’s greatest command was/is that we “love one another.”  This Lent, let’s remind ourselves “greater love than this no one has, than to lay down one’s life for his/her friends (John 15:13).”  Let’s be willing to sacrifice for others.

On fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

FASTING. 800 years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed, “fasting will lose the bonds of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free and break every yoke (Isaiah 58:6).”  This Lent, let our fasting create the empty space in our lives that only Christ can fill.

PRAYER. No moments in my life are as important as those I spend with the Lord. Whether alone before the Lord ever-present in the Blessed Sacrament in the silence of my little chapel or in a parish church; whether quietly enjoying the beauties of nature and God’s creation; whether reciting the Rosary or reading the Word of God; whether celebrating Mass or praying with others, my prayer is fundamentally an act of faith in and thanksgiving for the presence of God in my life and in my world.  This Lent let’s give God more time to speak to us and give ourselves more time to listen, as the recent Synod has encouraged us.

ALMSGIVING. The old saying rings true: “don’t tell me that you love me, show me.” This Lent let’s make a real, concerted effort to show our love for God by sharing our love for others. Give up something. Give something. Put your faith and hope into loving action for others, especially those most in need.

Spiritual writer, Catholic social worker and foundress of “Madonna House,” Catherine de Hueck Doherty (1896-1985) wrote, “Lent is a time of going very deeply into ourselves... What is it that stands between us and God? Between us and our brothers and sisters? Between us and life, the life of the Spirit? Whatever it is, let us relentlessly tear it out, without a moment’s hesitation.”

As Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, permit me to suggest three things for you to consider this Lent:

First, pray more and pray more deeply. Don’t make excuses. You can do it, anytime, anywhere … every time everywhere. Start by calling to mind God’s presence.

Second, sacrifice. Lent is a season of penance. Let it hurt a little in reparation and amendment for sin. As Archbishop Fulton Sheen used to say, “If there is no Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday!”

Third, care. Let someone else know they matter. Show genuine kindness as part of your Lenten resolutions.

Let me conclude with a prayer of Catholic spiritual writer Henri Nouwen (1932-1996): “O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen.”