As we begin the second week of Lent, the Church reminds us to embrace fasting and abstinence as essential spiritual practices during this time of penance and conversion. We know that the purposes of fasting and abstinence include divesting ourselves from unhealthy attachments to our possessions, deepening our spiritual hunger for Christ and to seek repentance for our sins.
As a child, I remember being taught by the Dominican sisters that fasting had another worthy purpose. The sisters asked us to remind our parents to set aside whatever money was saved by what we chose to eat on days of abstinence and fasting for donation to the poor. This allowed the spiritual work of fasting or abstinence to have a direct charitable effect.
Given the continued suffering endured by the people of the Ukraine, allow me to suggest that we donate whatever we “save” from our fasting and abstinence to help feed our brothers and sisters in the Ukraine. I can think of no better way to show our solidarity with the people of that war-torn country, as well as help us to grow in our spirit of gratitude for the blessings we sometimes take for granted. Such donations can be sent directly to CRS, the USCCB or any other worthy charitable organization.
The previous reflection originally appeared on Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Facebook page. Follow the Bishop for daily reflections and weekly homilies. To learn more about how Catholic Relief Services is helping our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, please click here.
