Lent and the Lost Art of Commonsense
Last year, I decided to “do something meaningful” for Lent. I gave up red meat—simple enough, I thought. A small sacrifice, a gesture of discipline, and certainly nothing dramatic.
Except it was dramatic.
Red meat also happens to be the most absorbable form of iron, something my 75‑year‑old body apparently relies on more than I realized. My iron levels had been excellent—very excellent—just a few weeks earlier at my annual checkup. Then Lent arrived, I dutifully avoided red meat, and by Easter I was seriously anemic.
It took six months of iron pills to climb back to normal.
When I told my doctor what I had done, he didn’t prescribe a new medication or order a battery of tests. He simply said, with the kind of dry understatement only a seasoned physician can deliver:
“Try commonsense.”
And honestly, that may be the best Lenten advice I’ve ever received.
Lent isn’t supposed to break us. It isn’t a contest in self‑punishment or a test of how cleverly we can deprive ourselves. It’s meant to clear space—spiritually, emotionally, physically—for what matters. Sometimes that means giving something up. Sometimes it means adding something in. And sometimes it means recognizing that the holiest choice is the one that keeps you upright, nourished, and able to care for the people who depend on you.
This year, I’m observing Lent with a new rule:
No sacrifices that require six months of medical repair.
I’m choosing practices that deepen my awareness, not deplete my hemoglobin.
I’m choosing gentleness over grand gestures.
And yes—I’m choosing commonsense.
It turns out that’s a spiritual discipline too.
post inspired by Easter at the Mission by Sula, parish cat at Old Mission.
Description
Discover Easter Through the Eyes of a Church Cat!
Join Sula, the now-famous church cat, on a fascinating journey through the meaning and traditions of Easter in her fifth book! With her signature mix of history, Catholic dogma, and humor, Sula explores questions like:
🐾 What is Easter, and why is it called the Paschal Mystery?
🐾 Why do Catholics observe Lent, Ash Wednesday, and Holy Week?
🐾 What are the traditions behind Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday?
🐾 How do these events lead to the Easter Vigil and Easter Morning?
Beautifully illustrated by Uliana Yanovich, this engaging book is filled with people-cat pictures, making it a delightful read for cat lovers, history buffs, and anyone curious about Easter’s deeper meaning.
🐱📖 Whether you're a lifelong Catholic or just learning about Easter, let Sula be your guide through the traditions, symbols, and spiritual significance of this sacred season!
🔹 Perfect for readers of all ages
🔹 A must-have for Easter book collections
🔹 A fun and insightful gift for cat lovers & faith seekers
Keywords: Easter book for Catholics, What is Easter?, Catholic Easter traditions, Lent and Holy Week explained, Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, Why is it called the Paschal Mystery?, Easter books for cat lovers, Sula the Church Cat books, history of Easter in Catholicism
5-Star Review on Readers' Favorite by Rebecca Winer
Easter at the Mission: A Cat's Observation of the Paschal Mystery by Sula Parish Cat at Old Mission is told in the voice of the cat who lives at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista in California. This is the fifth book about the Mission written by Sula. She roams the chapel, the grounds, the cemetery, and the mission gift shop. Sula is fed and loved by many who come to the Mission and are frequently greeted by her. Sula calls God 'the Boss.' This book concentrates on what Catholics believe about the time from Ash Wednesday through Resurrection Sunday. The Stations of the Cross are explained. The structure of the Mass changes during the time from Palm Sunday through Resurrection Sunday.
My favorite part of Easter at the Mission by Sula Parish Cat at Old Mission is the humor. I learned some things about history, such as St. Francis trying to peacefully end the Crusades. I found it interesting that for Ash Wednesday the ashes are made by burning the past year’s Palm Sunday branches. I appreciated that people can learn how Easter and Lent are determined on the calendar, which explains why Easter is on a different day each year. The pictures of Sula roaming around the Mission help us understand that it is a real cat, not just a fictional one. I have learned things about the Catholic faith. I especially liked the part where the cat explains to readers about the Stations of the Cross. I think this book would be great for Protestants to read to better understand what Catholics believe.
To listen to the trailer for Easter at the Mission, click HERE.
Listen to the story on KSBW television about Sula HERE.
Watch Sula at home at Old Mission SJB HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Read an interview: Mudpie Interviews Sula
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