Isn’t giving up chocolate for Lent a little childish?
Giving up chocolate or other small comforts for Lent might seem simplistic, but it’s a practice grounded in spiritual wisdom. The essence of Lenten sacrifice is not the magnitude of what we give up, but the spirit of self-denial and the intention behind it. By refraining from small pleasures, like chocolate, we train ourselves in discipline, detach from material comforts and remind ourselves of our dependence on God.
This practice is an exercise in self-control. Just as an athlete trains consistently to stay fit, spiritual practices — even those that might seem small — discipline the soul. Such acts of self-denial can open our hearts more fully to God’s grace and make us more attentive to the needs of others.
This discipline of the soul enables us to be effective in our effort to add holy practices to our lives, too. Numerous times I have sought to add something spiritually constructive to my life, only to find myself giving up soon after or falling into distractions elsewhere. Ideally, we should all be making adequate time in our lives for prayer, charitable works, speaking only kind things to others, living unconditional love and mercy, etc.; but if it were that simple, then we’d all be doing that anyway. Wishful thinking can only get us so far. My sheer willingness to live a saintly life isn’t enough. Our souls need to grow deeper in faith in God and cooperate with His grace, but we can only do that effectively if they are attuned to Him. Good spiritual discipline helps us do exactly that.
Moreover, these sacrifices remind us of Christ’s sacrifice for us. By giving up something we enjoy, we enter into solidarity with His suffering and remember that our true fulfillment is found in Him, not in earthly pleasures.
Father Dan Kavanagh is pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Brentwood and director of Catholic Deaf Ministry for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
