Reconstructing Your Spiritual Life During Lent 2020
The spiritual life is the art of conducting yourself encouraged by the force of the Holy Spirit. A person can be very religious, but at the same time less spiritual. Each week we gather at many liturgical celebrations and perform devotional acts. Nevertheless, sometimes we feel as though our spiritual internal life is less profound; we feel an emptiness, as if our lives were broken.
Spiritual health is reflected in the depth and joy of everyday living. The spiritual life is an internal transformation and a way of life within, which the Holy Spirit treasures. Nowadays, many people are suffering from a spiritual dryness. Despite the fact that they attend many religious celebrations, their hearts are never at peace. They often feel angry and separate from our merciful Lord. The interruption of the spiritual life may have different causes; for example, the lack of faith formation, the stress of daily life and the lack of experience with family matters.
To be able to reestablish the connection with God, we have to repair the spiritual life. We must work at healing five soul wounds: rejection, abandonment, humiliation, betrayal and injustice.
The healing of a wound starts by accepting God in our hearts. It is very important to put ourselves in God’s hands. If our spiritual health depends on the salvation of our soul and our families’ wellbeing, being afraid of or despondent about being close to God is a serious symptom of the great need for internal healing.
The first step in rebuilding the world is healing our spiritual life.
If you are going through one of these situations, Lent is the right time to rebuild your spiritual life. Attending a Lenten retreat will be a great benefit for your spiritual life and help you to be able to better enjoy your relationship with God. Take that step forward and go to the retreats that the diocese is preparing for you and your family.
• Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 29-March 1 will be a Lenten encounter for families in Spanish, “Señor, si tu quieres puedes limpiarme” (“Sir, if you wish you can make me clean” Mark 1:40). This will be at Juan Diego Catholic High School, 300 East 11800 South, Draper. There will be a simultaneous children’s retreat and another one for youth. Guests will be Monsignor Ramón Albino Guzmán, Mayagüez Diocese (Puerto Rico) and Fr. Sébastien Sasa Nganomo Babisayone of St. George Parish.
• Saturday, March 21 will be the 2020 Diocese of Salt Lake City Lenten Retreat, “The Word of God: Celebrating, Living and Sharing.” The retreat, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1375 E. Spring Lane, Salt Lake City, will include Mass with Bishop Oscar A. Solis presiding. The retreat masters are both from the Congar Institute: Fr. Roger Keeler, JCD (English) and Fray Sergio Serrano, O.P. (Spanish). They will preach and lead reflections on our spiritual pilgrimage through Lent. All are welcome. Cost: $15; includes Lenten lunch. For information, call the Office of Faith Formation, 801-328-8641 ext. 326.
Fr. José Barrera Hernández is administrator of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish and spiritual advisor for the diocesan Charismatic Renovation.
Translated by Laura Vallejo
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