Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the traditional disciplines of Lent, but we as men religious often do these practices either individually or communally at various times throughout the year. In some ways, they are built into the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. What can we do in the coming Lenten season that moves us to an even greater embrace of community life?
Maybe it can be a time for us as leaders to consider the quality of our life in community? We often are engaged in many details of administration. Some of us may have to travel great distances to make visitations. We address problems, issues, and concerns. Lent offers us a time to consider the depth of our personal life in the community. Do we engage with others in community or withdraw because we are focused on communal concerns? Sometimes, we can mask disconnection in community through service to the community.
One of the gifts of leadership in a religious community is that our service at some point comes to an end and we live again not as a leader, but as one of the brothers. Even our monastic brothers have tended not to stay in office until they depart this side of life. If we live somewhat disconnected from communal life, we risk carrying this into the time beyond our service as a leader. That would be quite unfortunate, given the choice that we made when we first professed the evangelical counsels. Our call to service as a leader should deepen our engagement and our love for the way of communal life that we have chosen. The Lenten season offers us an opportunity to live even more fully the choice for community life that we have made.
In prayerful solidarity,
Frank Donio, SAC
Executive Director
This is an excerpt from the January 2026 Items of Note. Items of Note is a monthly email for CMSM members and partners. If you are not receiving Items of Note once a month via email, please email contact@cmsm.org.