Deacon Hilderbrand Discusses Lent
Coraggio met on March 13 at Holy Trinity Parish in Evansville. After beginning the evening with a Holy Hour featuring Vespers and the rosary, the group listened to a presentation from Deacon Dennis Hilderbrand on Lent. Deacon Hildebrand serves as the deacon for Our Lady of Hope parish in Washington, Ind. He also works as the chaplain for the Evansville State Hospital.
Deacon Hilderbrand mentioned that while he looks forward to Lent every year, as soon as the season starts, he feels ready for it to end and the Easter season to begin. He noted that he misses some of the religious practices like singing the Gloria and Alleluia at Mass during Lent, as well as the physical pleasures like eating hamburgers on Friday.
Deacon Hilderbrand also told the group that he tries to use the season of Lent as a time to practice more fasting, prayer and almsgiving. “I give up pizza every year for Lent,” he said, adding that he spends more time reading the Bible and tries to show greater respect to other people during Lent.
Deacon Hilderbrand also spoke about the history of Lent. “Lent has been around since the 4th century,” he explained, adding that the roots of Lent reach back to the life of Christ. He also mentioned that in spite of the long tradition of Lent, it took some time for the season to fully form into what Catholics recognize today.
St. Leo the Great standardized the 40-day season of Lent during his reign as pope. This comes from the 40-day fast of Christ in the desert before beginning His public ministry. “That would have been the ultimate silent retreat,” Deacon Hildebrand joked. The aspects of fasting and abstaining began in the Middle Ages.
Deacon Hilderbrand pointed out that Lent should prepare the faithful for Holy Week. This usually involves celebrating the Chrism Mass on Tuesday with a large number of priests, although the bishop can also choose to celebrate it on Holy Thursday during the day. In addition to the bishop consecrating the sacred oils at the Chrism Mass, the priests of the diocese in attendance also renew their vows at the Mass.
This is followed by Spy Wednesday, named because it marks the day when Judas Iscariot agreed to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Holy Thursday signals the beginning of the Triduum, followed by the service on Good Friday and the Easter Vigil Mass, which Deacon Hilderbrand called “the Super Bowl of Masses” since it is the most important liturgy in the Church year.
Coraggio usually meets the second Friday of each month at Holy Trinity Parish. It is open to all Catholics in the Evansville area ages 18-35. The next meeting is on April 17 and will feature Deacon Charlie Koressel as the speaker. For more information, email coraggioevansville@gmail.com or visit the group’s Facebook page at facebook.com/coraggioevansville.
