Preparing for Lent - Part 2

Show Notes:

Fasting - What are the spiritual benefits continued…

• Appetites - the insatiable nature of our appetites - never can find true satisfaction
• True satisfaction is only found in relationship with God
• Jesus modeled the practice of fasting
• Desire to love God through self sacrifice
• John of the Cross
  • Soul is finite and can’t love God and creation simultaneously
  • Attachments limit our spiritual growth
  • Illustrations of the impact of attachments - bird and hot air balloon
  • The contemplative life requires that we abandon attachments
  • Necessity of shedding habitual venial and mortal sin
  • We can be free of habitual sin and attachments - it really is possible
  • Attachment is an inordinate desire for pleasure
  • Faster way through dark night and into the illuminative way - rules for detachment (from Ascent of Mount Carmel)
• Authentic Spiritual disciplines
  • Set us free rather than constrain us
  • Give us true and lasting joy
• Melissa’s example of the wrong way to prepare for lent - Sunkist!
• Spiritual self-evaluation using Navigating the Interior Life
  • The goal of all spiritual discipline is to know and love God in this life and beyond
  • Evaluate sacramental participation (confession, adoration, reconciliation)
  • Can we increase our participation in Mass for lent?
    • John of the Cross - every negation is also an affirmation
  • Can we increase participation in Adoration?
    • Melissa’s experience of the impact of Adoration
• Other practices of self-evaluation from Navigating the Interior Life

Next Show:

• More on Preparing for Lent - the goal is to conclude this series with simple and clear steps to lenten planning.

Resources:

• Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen - Published by Baronius Press
  • http://spiritualdirection.com/DivineIntimacy
• Navigating the Interior Life - Spiritual Direction and the Journey to God
  • http://spiritualdirection.com/Navigating
• Guide for Examination of Conscience Download
  • Avila Institute Daily Examen Prayer Guide