What's keeping you from the cross this Lent?
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Some Italian bishops have asked their flocks to give up cell-phone texting or drinking bottled water during Lent. The archbishop who called for a "fast" on text messages - at least on the Fridays of Lent - wants his flock to focus on fewer words and less food, drink and games so they can instead strengthen their relationship with God and those around them.
According to Catholic News Service, studies have shown that Italy ranks third in per capita text message use. The people known for talking with their hands also apparently do a lot of talking with their thumbs: A February study of teens in Italy's Lombard region showed Italians aged 13-16 send an average of 47 text messages a day. And that's nothing: as reported by the Orlando Sentinel, a teen in Clermont racked up 35,000 text messages in a month.
Research released last fall by Nielsen Mobile showed that a typical U.S. mobile phone user gets more text messages than phone calls, averaging 357 texts a month (11.5 per day) versus 204 calls a month; we ranked sixth in global per-capita texting. U.S. teens in the 13-17 age group averaged more than 56 texts per day.
The idea behind asking for fasting from texting, as the archbishop of Modena-Nonantola, Italy, asked, or abstaining from bottled water, as the archbishop of Venice, Italy, urged, are rooted in self-denial but they have a social justice aspect as well. In fact, Archbishop Benito Cocchi of Modena-Nonantola said, the mineral ore columbite-tantalite is used to manufacture cellular phones.
Some 80 percent of the world's supply comes from Congo and many human rights organizations believe that the sale of the mineral has helped finance civil violence in the country, CNS reports. "This year we want to remember that the use of our fingers on our cellular phones has contributed to writing the story of millions of lives in Congo," he said. Italian initiatives to reduce the consumption of bottled water have focused on the fact that it is unnecessary (because their tap water is clean and pure), expensive and creates garbage.
If your first reaction to the idea of giving up text messaging or bottled water - or Facebook or the Internet or any of a myriad of modern "necessities" - was "I could never do without that," then maybe that's the very thing you need to give up for Lent. The idea of fasting, abstention and almsgiving is to change our hearts and change our lives. The penitential practices we use - such as fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstaining from meat on Fridays in Lent - are tools by which we practice self-correction, self-denial and self-discipline. For many people, giving up cookies (why do the Girl Scouts sell their treats during Lent when so many people are denying themselves this pleasure?) or French fries or some other typical sacrifice provides the kind of cleansing they need for the season. Others may need something new.
The idea of giving up texting or computer games or bottled water shows the Church can remain fresh in its approach to this penitential season. While the discipline is ancient, we can always find new ways to challenge ourselves. And it doesn't have to be technology - it can be anything to which you devote too much time or resources - whatever has become your "idol," be it gossiping or watching "American Idol." We can also turn this into a proactive effort: Use that newfound time in service to others.
All these things hold us back on our journey to the cross, to spend time with Jesus in his Passion. So what's holding you back? I'd ask you to text me and let me know, but that might ruin your new Lenten commitment.
