March 5, 2025

By Father William Muench
NCC columnist

I frequently wander through that YouTube site on the computer. I find it interesting that there is a coverage there of the celebration of the Holy Mass each day. You can find the celebration of the Mass from several different parishes in our country – even other countries.

Today, I settled on the daily Mass from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Cardinal Dolan was the celebrant; he preached the homily. The Gospel reading at the Mass was from Mark 9. A man comes to Jesus seeking a healing for his son. The man says to Jesus, “But if you can do anything have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus responds to him, “If you can! Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief.” We are told that Jesus healed the boy.

In his homily, Cardinal Dolan says that most of us, Catholics, probably would answer in the same way as this man – “I do believe, help my unbelief.” Cardinal Dolan then reminds us that it is very common for Catholics often describe a “good Catholic” as a “practicing Catholic.

Cardinal goes on to say that following Jesus – living according to his message – is indeed about practicing. I believe that Lent is a perfect time for practicing the living out of our Catholic faith. We know that practicing is an important part of many activities – like, say, basketball. To be a good player a person has to practice and practice and practice. And, as you know, this is true of all the other sports.

Lent offers us so many opportunities for us to practice; we become practicing Catholics. Lent keeps us on the proper way to becoming saints. Each year, Lent challenges us to spend more time in prayer. It’s time to practice being with the Lord in prayer. Lent challenges us to fast – practicing exercising our will power. It’s time to exercise control over our life. Lent challenges us to give up something, usually something we really like, but now is the time to practice giving up something for Jesus. And freeing ourselves to do something, reaching out to others in need, making ourselves better Catholics, making our world better, making a gift to the Lord in gratitude for all that Jesus did for us. Lent is about practicing being a faith filled disciple of the Lord.

So, practice, but why practice? This practicing during Lent keeps us closer to the Lord, closer than ever before. Practicing during Lent keeps me closer to God than ever before, it keeps being a true follower of Jesus. Practicing during Lent draws me to be more alive in the Holy Spirit, who gives me the constant power to grow ever stronger. The reason we are practicing Catholics is gratefulness. It’s a demonstration of our gratitude to our God all that has been given us, for God’s effort to form us. So, I must keep my faith fresh and alive as I practice during Lent.
Recently, I came upon this song, “Practice makes Perfect.” Here is one verse:

Sometimes I fall,
sometimes I stray,
But I won’t give up,
I’ll kneel and pray,
Faith is a journey,
not just a race,
So, I’ll practice kindness, mercy, and grace

Practice, practice,
one step at a time,
With a little patience,
I’ll be just fine.
God is guiding,
lighting my way,
Helping me grow in love each day.