With Ash Wednesday approaching, it is good for us to reflect a little on the reality of Lent, and what it should mean for us.

As I have been stressing over the last few weeks, all we do as Catholics must have its final goal in the growth of virtue so we may grow in the love of God. Virtue is the fulfillment of human existence and the path that liberates us to live as the children of God. In order to practice virtue we must be able to listen and follow the Voice of God. Only in hearing are we able to arrive at freedom. And this is what our Lenten observance has its end, namely the ability to allow the voice of God to penetrate our hardened hearts.

It is good for us to recall that our Lenten discipline should consist of three parts:

1. Corporal or External Fast - including the abstinence from certain foods, drinks and amusements, i.e. music and parties during Lent. These points of fast should be stressed today especially with the mania of entertainment besetting our society.

2. Spiritual or Internal Fast - which consists of abstinence from "all evil" - sin. Saint John Chrysostom taught that the "value of fasting consists not so much in abstinence from food but rather in withdrawal from sinful practices." And Saint Basil the Great explains: "Turning away from all wickedness means keeping our tongue in check, restraining our anger, suppressing evil desires, and avoiding all gossip, lying and swearing. To abstain from these things - herein lies the true value of fast!".

3. Spiritual Change - the practice of virtues and good works must be the main objective of our fasting. The Fathers of the Church insisted that during Lent the faithful attend the Lenten church services and daily Mass.

Since today the observance of the Lent is but mere formalism, reduced to abstinence on certain days and without any stress on one's spiritual growth or the amending of one's life style, it is urgent that we return to the pristine spirit of the Great Fast which is so badly needed in our materialistic world.