Lent 4.5 “Christian Simplicity”

Earth Day is this week and as many of us take some time to observe our ecological responsibilities the Passionist Earth and Spirit Center would like to offer you a religious program for you parish. Lent is a very appropriate time to adopt the values of Christian Simple Living. Lent 4.5 is an entire Lenten program that will have parishes take a more holistic approach to following in the Christian lifestyle of Jesus and the early Christian community, an approach that will call us to live in harmony with the integrity of all creation. The following article and promotion is from Fr. Joe Mitchell of the Passionist Earth and Spirit Center and his contact information is below.    

Calling Catholics to Care for Creation

I invite all believers to raise a fervent prayer to God, the all-powerful Creator and the Father of mercies, so that all men and women may take to heart the urgent appeal: If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation.”

– Pope Benedict XVI, 2010 World Day of Peace

Over 5000 people in five Catholic churches and a Catholic High School in Louisville, KY broadened their scope of sacrifice this past Lent. They took part in Lent 4.5 – Christian Simplicity, a program offered by the Passionist Earth & Spirit Center that asks participants to change the way they relate God’s creation.

One of the major causes of environmental degradation and social injustice is the pattern of human consumption. If the Earth were divided equally, each person now alive would be entitled to 4.5 acres. If all was equitable, from those 4.5 acres each person would be required to find everything needed to support their life – food, energy, home, transportation, clothing, appliances, and gadgets. But according to Global Footprint data, it takes a stag­gering 22.3 acres to support the average American lifestyle.

For a long time, many believed that justice would be accomplished by lifting others up to the American standard of living. We now know that is impossible, given the spatial restrictions and limited resources of the Earth. Es­timates suggest that it would take four or five planets to accomplish that elevation in lifestyles. And of course, there is only one.

We have a huge global problem. We Christians in the affluent United States have a faith problem. Anyone who follows in the footsteps of Jesus Christ cannot remain distant or indifferent to the consumption habits of our country. Our patterns of consuming must change if we are going to bring forth a world that is both sustainable and just. How can we share this planet with the other 6.5 billion human beings in a way that enables all of us to live with dignity?

Eight Segments

Lent 4.5: Christian Simplicity is an eight week program of conversion which educates Catholic communities on issues of sustainability and social justice, inspiring them to take prac­tical steps to live more simply and care for God’s creation by using only their fair share of the Earth’s resources. It is struc­tured around weekly themes which focus on various areas of consumption.

1. Week before Ash Wednesday – Introducing Lent 4.5: A New Way of Observing Lent

2. Ash Wednesday Week – Christian Simplicity: A Compassionate Life

3. 1st Week of Lent – Food: Buying and Eating are Moral Acts

4. 2nd Week of Lent – Consumption: Buying Less and Wasting Less

5. 3rd Week of Lent – Water: Conserving and Protecting

6. 4th Week of Lent – Energy: Efficient and Clean

7. 5th Week of Lent – Transportation: Getting Around

8. Holy Week – Getting Involved: Gratitude and Generosity

Six Components

1. Taking Action: Bulletin Inserts – Weekly bulletin inserts include: (1) an essay explaining the issue of consumption, (2) highlights of what the Church is saying about the subject, (3) a menu of practical suggestions for abstaining from over-consuming in that area, (4) a reflective prayer, and (5) links to additional online resources. The intention is to educate partici­pants and help them understand how to reduce their consumptive patterns and embrace values of simplicity.

2. Going Deeper: Online Resources and Blog – Information from the bulletin inserts and additional materials are available online at www.Lent45.org. There par­ticipants can find hot links connecting them to online video instructions and more resources on how to implement the lifestyle changes which interest them. The Lent 4.5 blog enables parishioners to form an online community supporting substantive change in lifestyles and sharing creative alternatives.

3. Learning More: Study Groups – Optional discussion courses offer an opportunity for those parishioners who want a more in depth experience. Lent 4.5 provides course books for small group faith-sharing. These self-facilitating discussion courses are de­signed for 8-12 people to meet weekly for 1½ hours to pray, reflect and discuss readings based on the weekly themes. The course books contain a diverse collection of short essays, articles, book excerpts, prayer services and discussion questions to create a lively interchange.

4. Exploring Together: Large Group Activities – Parishes are provided resources to organize group activities which bring parishioners together to support their intentions to simplify their lives. These events, which are structured around the weekly theme, can include inspi­rational speakers, pertinent movies and practical presentations on how to live more sustainably.

5. Catholic School Curriculum – The school component of the Lent 4.5 helps teachers and parents address consumerism through age-appropri­ate curriculum so young people can begin to understand the impact of their purchasing habits, the problem with the consumer mentality, and the perilous impact which consumerism has on the planet and our spiritual wellbe­ing.

6. Changing Systems: Church Procedures and Policies – The staff of the Earth & Spirit Center works with church leadership, parish staffs and parish councils to explore ways for the church to reduce consumption, become more energy efficient, purchase sustainable fair trade prod­ucts and set policies which will uphold values of sustainability and justice.

Consider Lent 4.5 for Your Parish in 2011

For more information go to www.lent45.org. To inquire about how your parish can participate in Lent 4.5 in 2011, contact the Passionist Earth and Spirit Center by calling 502.452.2749 or email earthandspirit@passionist.org.

Do more than give up chocolate for Lent. Try living simply, so that others may simply live.

4 Responses to “Lent 4.5 “Christian Simplicity””

1. Jill McDonald says:

   January 16, 2011 at 9:12 pm

   I am looking for more information about this lenten project. I would like to use some of the information with my religious education class. Please let me know if that is possible.
   Thank you, Jill
2. Linda Delgado, OP says:

   March 13, 2011 at 12:06 pm

   I like the mission of this program that could be considered as an ongoing formation process for the whole parish community. But you have limited your materials to “church or school” on your order form. Please consider that parish communities are looking for on going processes outside the box of “church or school.” Such as, Family Faith Formation program that is inter-generational: how will they use this material?
3. Earth & Spirit Center says:

   March 15, 2011 at 11:20 am

   http://www.earthandspiritcenter.org/lent45/
   This is the Website for the Lent 4.5 program.
   You can order the Christian Simplicity books for formation programs. The Bulletin inserts have also been used for formation groups. If you have any question contact the Lent 4.5 coordinator: Mary Mattingly: mary@earthandspiritcenter.org
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