Lenten Inspiration from St. Francis de Sales

I will have another interview with a Catholic artist for you all next month. This month, as we step into Lent, my conversation with Leon Griesbach left me thinking seriously about discipline and devotion in Lenten life. I’d like to share some of those thoughts with you here before moving into the next conversation.

Discipline is not my strong point. Consistency and the day-to-day devotion to a higher goal is, I think, a challenge for many of us; but in my life, making excuses comes easily and my pursuit of the Good is too often put off ‘til another day. Ostensibly, this procrastination comes from a desire for perfection, but my conversation with Leon reminded me that “the artist should pursue expression over perfection.” I am not an artist, but I am in the process of creating beauty in my home and in my life. My intentions for this new year are built around the image of the threshold – a doorway that leads toward a more beautiful and intentional way of living.

Much of that imagery is inspired by the loss of my mom this past summer. “Expression over perfection” could have been her motto as well. She was someone who never felt the need to pretend perfection, instead she lavished hospitality on everyone she met. Even when she had reservations about certain people, she found ways to express warmth and share her faith in a natural way.

Intentional Devotion

This Lent, I’ve picked up my brother’s favorite book, St. Francis de Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life. This book, written for all Christians in all walks of life, can be a little guide in building a life that expresses the abundance of Christ. Expression needs discipline as well as freedom. De Sales writes with so much optimism and so much kindness. Throughout his book, he is continually urging his reader to approach the spiritual life with attention, care, and charity.

“If charity be a plant, devotion is its flower,” writes de Sales, reminding us that devotion blooms through continual attention to charity: pruning, feeding, watering, tending. Neglecting the disciplines of the Christian life cause the plant of charity to struggle and fail to bloom.

This imagery is so helpful to those of us who struggle with consistency. I love thinking of my soul as a little greenhouse, with charity as a beautiful plant – maybe a hibiscus or a rose. Maybe a humble little lady slipper. When I think of my soul as a greenhouse, the virtues aren’t just “lofty goals,” they’re living creatures under my care – capable of blooming beautifully with the proper care. Of course, there will be days when I think “Oh no! I forgot to tend to the plants!” – but I can follow those days with days of care.

Lenten Practices

Lenten fasting comes at such a perfect season. In my soul-greenhouse, the days are getting longer. The plants need to be repotted, fertilized, and refreshed. The lush season of Christmas is over and the extravagant season of Easter is on its way. I’d love to have my little virtues looking their best for the Resurrection.

Thinking about virtues this way may seem a little silly, but giving personality and individuality to the virtues helps me love them and long for them in a deeper way. Stepping into Lent with an attitude of intentional care for and pursuit of the Devout Life helps inspire more than a mere “by route” approach to this season of preparation.

Lent prepares us for Easter. It’s the late winter winding down of darkness in preparation for the abundance of spring – a lean season of pruning away the scraggly branches and helping the flowers bloom.

The Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving do this in different ways, but they’re all necessary to help the flower of charity blossom. This Lent I’m focusing intensely on the Rosary and the Angelus as prayers to structure my days around. They’re prayers with a framework around them that demand a little more focus from me. I can’t just pray the Angelus whenever it springs to mind, it belongs to specific times of day – and that structure demands discipline.

In fasting, I find structure especially helpful. Generalized abstinence, like “no sweets” can lead to a multitude of caveats and addendums. We follow a specific, traditional fast that leaves very little room for interpretation – but provides a lovely rhythm within the season. It feels almost monastic and gives me an opportunity to focus on prayers and devotions without neglecting the fast.

Almsgiving can be such a challenge. Sometimes, we talk ourselves out of giving in the moment. Seeing people ask for money on street corners or city streets, we can tend to turn away and say “They’ll only misuse what I give them… instead I’ll do something else.” But almsgiving is meant to remind us, in part, that gifts are given freely. God gives us our free will, knowing that we’ll often misuse it. Sometimes, giving alms requires us to relinquish control, as He does. Giving to the needy because they need it, and entrusting it all to Christ.

Expression, Not Perfection

I am trying to “be perfect as [my] Heavenly Father is perfect,” but as I try, knowing I’ll fail, I am also trying to let the beauty of Christ’s abundant generosity express itself through my imperfections. My hope is that these intentional devotions – creating a space for virtue to bloom in my soul – will spill out into the world and make my own domestic church a place of welcome and restoration.

We all do this in different ways, but Lent is the season to sweep out the greenhouse in your soul, repot the plants, and prepare for a beautiful Easter. St. Francis de Sales, pray for us.