Lent is the most beautiful time of the Church year. It carries us along to the celebration of the greatest mysteries of life: the ultimate victory over death and the stupendous triumph of the Resurrection. It is no less than the consummation of God's life on earth. The warm glow of the Christmas manger has been left behind. Our Lord has left the stable as a Child and now, grown "in wisdom and age and grace" unto full manhood. He undertakes the great work He has come to accomplish: the Redemption of mankind and the establishment of His Church on earth. Christ has now set about the public life of teaching and miracles which will lead Him to Calvary. He earnestly invites us to walk the way with Him. We do this by lovingly embracing fasting and abstinence—mere inconveniences in light of the enormous weight of suffering which He endures on our behalf. 

Love and sacrifice are inseparable. As a time of greater sacrifice, Lent is thus a time of greater love. If we reluctantly and begrudgingly submit to the observance of Lent out of mere sad duty, it will be for us a sterile irritant. If we unite ourselves with Our Lord carrying the Cross out of love, we will find that His yoke is indeed sweet and His burden light.

In the intense darkness of a deep cave, even a single candle burns brightly. A single burning match momentarily illuminates the cathedral-like vault of a vast cavern. It is in adversity that the virtues in a soul are most apparent, shining brilliantly and giving light to all around. During Lent, we are called to be those lights in a darkened and disoriented world. What more productive spiritual exercise could any Catholic undertake for Lent than this: to pray and meditate every day upon St. Paul's magnificent discourse on charity! It comprises the 13th chapter of his First Epistle to the Corinthians. Please read it, pray it - and take it to heart.