These are all deeply spiritual and important reflections! If we all, I believe, just meditated on the above three posts, Lent would be a real spiritual Spring!
There is a restlessness in my life owing to the fact that I have relatives in Ukraine who are now refugees. I am in touch with them frequently and send them what I can. I have no idea what they are going through and can't imagine it. Intercessory prayer for them and all the victims of that senseless war of aggression is what informs my Lent. Being close to the Cross and to Christ on the Cross brings me peace, as does being near our Mother of Sorrows with the Seven Swords piercing her soul.
Meditation on the Wounds of Christ too is vital for us all. By His Stripes, we are healed.
And as was said, having a Confessor is great but, failing that, reading the wisdom of Elders past, including St Paisius Velichkovsky and the Desert Fathers can serve as our gudes.
Blessed New Hieromartyr Basil Velichkovsky, Redemptorist, who died and is enshrined in Winnipeg, Canada, was the direct descenndant of St Paisius, FYI.
