How difficult it becomes when the first week of Lent ends our Sacrifice

How difficult it becomes when the first week of Lent ends our Sacrifice

As unbelievable as it appears there are many who once they receive ashes on Ash Wednesday, they go on living their lives without one thought of what this sign means.  On Ash Wednesday, the feast of St. Blaze, or even on Good Friday, scores of people will flock to Church for Ashes, throats blessed, and even the three hours of the Passion.  But in the aftermath everything settles back to a ho-hum existence

This is not to put anyone in this scenario down since their attitude is to be part of something they’ve grown up with without a good catechesis regarding God, his Son Jesus Christ, and the very Church most of them were baptized and confirmed in.  Who is to blame for this fall-away from instructions as to why we do what we do at particular times of the year?  

Evangelizing is not always for people of foreign countries.  A large portion of our populace who need a good catechetical lesson may be the person sitting next to you in Church.  And, a large number may be living in your own home, eating dinner with you, and watching old movies on TV and eating pop-corn with you.  Yes, many of our children are growing up without the requirement of attending Mass after they are confirmed.  Praying together as a family is a far-gone episode that too many families have pushed aside since the sports activities or other secular events have taken first place in the modern atmosphere in suburbia.  

Does it appear I am picking on the modern style of living where a lot of parents have replaced the thought of their faith with the reality of golf, children’s place of being top in their games, and the quiet atmosphere about what the grand-parents may think.  The answer is yes.  As a parent we took our daughter to Marionette practices and watched as she along with others marched in special parades.  However, Wendy read a lot, became a cantor at Mass, and eventually a teacher.  All of her children went to Catholic grade school and were pretty much catechised in their Catholic faith.  

Looking at the status of today’s youth has made an understandable premise difficult as we wonder what has just happened to family life and the rights of others who have become subject to the many youths who lacked that very adherence between right and wrong.  

Can we blame the modern media that has attracted too many to Facebook, X, Tic-Toc, Instagram, and perhaps other means of silent communications that contain an awful lot of ill-gotten temptations to sway many away from God and our Constitution?

Sure, we are living in a period of history where changes in lifestyle and persuasive attitudes have climbed to the top of priorities.  With that in mind, we, as parents or public officials must take the reins of the galloping horses of evil and guide the very progeny we call sons and daughters.  

Standing before Christ at our judgment the wrongs our children may have acquired could become a crucible for our own souls.  

Ralph B. Hathaway