A Light of Revelation!​

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 If you grew up in the Midwest, you’ve likely heard February referred to as “the longest shortest month” of the year. In spite of February having the shortest number of days of any month, it always seemed to drag on the longest.  The last vestiges of Christmas cheer were finally gone. The love affair with gently falling snow and picturesque winter scenes had faded. Though days were getting longer, they were still often bitter cold and dark, keeping us mostly indoors.  Seasonal depression seems to peak in February, lending to the illusion that the month stretched out into eternity. At least, as a kid, it seemed a common enough perception for most of us!

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 In the Church, the start of February ends the traditional "40 days of Christmas" with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, or “Candlemas”, which can be a wonderful “festival of light” in mid-winter, when candles are blessed and solemnly processed into churches as a sign of God’s Divine Light dwelling among us. Aside from that, there are no great feasts or celebrations that mark this month, aside from secular marketing ploys to hijack the feast of the Christian martyr and bishop Saint Valentine on February 14th, of course.

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 Liturgically, February is like a short, deep breath between the end of Christmas feasting and the beginning of Lenten fasting, when we will begin our weeks of penitential preparation for the greatest feast of all – the Holy Triduum of Easter!

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 While this “liturgical breath” might bore most children, such moments of stillness are welcome experiences in life as we mature.  I encourage you to use this month to start planning for your Lenten journey toward Easter.  What are the areas of your spiritual and moral life where you most need to grow in virtue? How will you use Lent to grow in those virtues where you are most deficient? Spend the long days of this short month in extra prayer, resting in the presence of the Lord, and asking Him for guidance and wisdom as you prepare to enter into the desert on Ash Wednesday (March 5th).

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 May the Divine Light of Jesus carry you through these remaining days of winter with the joy of hope in your hearts!
 

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Oremvs Pro Invicem!

Father Albert Beltz, KHS, Pastor

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