Man has a natural desire to atone for his sins, and Lent is an opportunity from Our Lord to make up for the sins we have committed against Him, said Brother Bernardo Ross, an ambassador for Ascension Press’ new Lenten program, Crux. The program invites its participants to offer up one dietary fast, choose one daily physical exercise, pray a daily Examen, and read one Bible reading each day.
In a Feb. 13 interview with Zeale News, Br. Ross, a seminarian with the Legionaries of Christ who shares his faith on social media, said that penance puts man back in a proper relationship with God. He also spoke about how Catholics can embrace the spirit of penance joyfully, and how to discern what to offer up for Lent.
“The entire point of Crux is to bring you to that point of encounter with God,” Br. Ross said. “It's to bring you to the edge, not over the edge, but it's to walk with you and bring you to that place where you realize your strength isn't enough and you depend on Him. And once you're there, you realize that His grace is sufficient.”
To discern a specific Lenten fast, Br. Ross recommended spending time in silent prayer and allowing God to speak.
He added that Lent is not merely a time for physical self-improvement, and so Catholics should not only focus on eating less or exercising more.
He then reflected on Christ’s admonition in Matthew 6:16: “And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men.”
To embrace penance joyfully, Br. Ross said, Catholics should remember that not only is penance good for them, but it’s how they can follow in Christ’s footsteps.
“Whenever we lift our sufferings up to Christ and unite them with Him on the cross,” he added, “we find an interior peace and interior joy because we realize that the strength doesn't come from us.”
For those who are already suffering significantly in their life, whether with a chronic illness, mental health condition, or other struggle, it can be overwhelming to try to add a Lenten penance. Br. Ross said that instead of choosing an additional Lenten penance, Christ is inviting these souls to joyfully offer up their suffering.
“God understands us perfectly,” he said. “So maybe God just wants you to be Simon of Cyrene and help Him carry His cross.”