He offered the story of a nonreligious man who was experiencing a rather difficult time in his life. One of the gentleman’s friends was a woman strong in her Catholic faith. Knowing that his friend practiced the faith she espoused, he called and asked the simple question, “How do you pray?”

While such an elementary question could be easily dismissed, the bishop said such questions exemplify formation. Through his inquiry, the man was taking the first step of his faith journey.

Naturally, we are all at different points along our journey to Heaven, but we must honestly ask ourselves, “Am I open to taking the next step?”

Realizing that the Holy Spirit is the “principal agent” of formation, this Lent may be an opportune time to open our hearts to Him and seek the courage to take that “next step.”

That step may be looking to the parish for the next class or simply calling up a friend to ask a question. No matter what method we choose to employ this Lent, remember to have an openness to the grace in your life. As Bishop Raica noted in his article for this issue, “Lent has always been a grace-filled moment in our liturgical calendar to take stock of our relationship with the Lord and with each other.” May we all get a little further down the figurative spiritual road this Lenten season and come to rejoice in His resurrection with a renewed and deepened fervor.