Gathering on Thursday night for a Lenten Lecture, students enjoyed a talk given by Rev. Fr. Volney DeRosia to help begin this year’s Lenten season. During the talk, Fr. DeRosia called on students to enter the desert willingly through fasting, almsgiving, and prayer.
Delving into the topics of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, Fr. DeRosia explained small practical ways people can implement these three things in daily life. Although when it came to fasting, he touched on fasting from food, he pointed out that another way of fasting is taking time in silence, which is something that our world lacks today. Regarding almsgiving, Fr. DeRosia encouraged students to expand their perspective to include non-financial ways of giving. He noted that even a simple smile at those people who really annoy you can be a great way of giving alms. Touching on prayer, he quoted Mark Hart stressing, “Prayer is your relationship with God.” Fr. DeRosia continued to explain that contemplation of the crucifix is a wonderful way to pray during Lent whether in the rosary, the stations of the cross, or just merely gazing on the cross.
In addition to practical implications of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, Fr. DeRosia also spoke on the meaning and spirit of Lent, reminding his listeners that Lent is “about getting into the heart of Jesus.” Among those attending the talk, Aaron Beecher ’21, found Fr. DeRosia’s talk a helpful way to begin Lent. Indeed, he referred to the talk as an “opportunity to wake you up to Lent as a retreat.” As Fr. DeRosia would say, “a retreat into the heart of Jesus.”
Contributed by Adriana Smith ’22.