There are times in our lives when we are invited to examine ourselves and heal and restore: body, mind, and spirit. Lent is a beautiful opportunity in our Church year that allows us to restore and heal our relationship with Christ and in so doing, restore and heal ourselves and in who we were created to be. Pietra classes also allow us to restore and heal our bodies and souls and draw us closer to Christ.
Stretch and strengthen to restore and heal our bodies, the Pietra exercise routine. With time in prayer, meditation, and resolution during Pietra, we also become deeply strengthened and aware of God’s presence, love, and direction for us.
Stretch and strengthen to restore and heal our relationship with God, the Lent routine. With fasting and almsgiving, we stretch ourselves away from our damaging habits and sin. With increased prayer and time in spiritual habits, we strengthen ourselves. Fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, all of these Lenten practices lead to a restored and strengthened relationship with God.
These practices and benefits of Lent and Pietra are grounded in Jesus’ life in Scripture. Throughout Scripture, Jesus heals the body and mind, and in so doing, heals the spirit/soul. Each time this occurs, that person draws closer to Christ and becomes a new creation in Christ.
Many of the Gospels leading up to Lent and during Lent recall these happenings (healing of the blind man, woman touching the cloak of Jesus, raising of Lazarus).
Our Church is showing us and Lent invites us: our entire being (body, mind, and spirit) needs to be involved in healing our spirit, in strengthening our soul. Pietra understands this truth, as well: for deeper healing, restoration, and renewal, body, mind, and spirit work provides the way.
During Lent, we engage in activities to heal our relationship with God and restore ourselves to the person that He created us to be. We pull away, stretch ourselves away from sinful habits, practice virtues, and draw closer to Christ. These elements of stretch, strengthen, and closeness with Christ are what Pietra is grounded in as well. Lent and Pietra invite us to this healing in 3 ways: simplicity, humility, awareness.
Simplicity: Lenten practices encourage us to simplify our lives – lives that can often feel out of control with media, commitments, challenging relationships. Pietra also invites us to simplify, to calm, to focus on the moment that we are in. Because, if we allow ourselves, we often meet and hear God in those simple moments, in the quiet and calm moments.
Humility. Lent encourages us to be humble, to examine ourselves, to listen to God instead of pushing our own way through. Pietra encourages us to be gentle, to be humble, to listen to our bodies (temples of the Holy Spirit), instead of pushing through our own agenda, plan, and ideas. When we do listen to our bodies, we somehow are then able to breathe new energy and strength into our bodies and lives.
Awareness. Both Lent and Pietra invite us to be aware: Aware of God’s constant presence. Awareness of our ourselves and our conscience. We are invited to go back to the core of who we are, examining the blind spots and trouble spots that are keeping us from God, from who God wants us to be. With this awareness, both body and mind become free to change those trouble spots and then to love, serve, and know God. Awareness of His presence allows us to live and act in that presence. Opening ourselves to God strengthens us body, mind, spirit.
Simplicity, humility, and awareness allow us to get back to our core: being created in the image and likeness of God out of Divine Love. Pietra Fitness was created as a way to renew both soul and body by building each on a strong foundation of love and truth. Pietra’s principle: to develop core strength, providing a solid foundation for the rest of the body. To nourish the soul, Pietra incorporates scripture and meditations. This powerful combination truly benefits the whole human person - body and soul, in unity and integrity. Lent also helps us to go back to our core, so as to heal, renew, and restore our true selves and then nourish and strengthen ourselves as we spend time with God.
Lent and Pietra offer us an amazing opportunity in our year and our lives to heal and draw closer to God. How does Pietra lead to restoration and healing? Stretching and strengthening ourselves while grounding ourselves in deep prayer and meditation, we become stronger in body, mind, and spirit, arising closer to Christ who creates all.
How does Lent lead to restoration and healing? Accompanying him into the Tomb, we arise with Him on Easter morning, a new creation. During Lent, as we focus on our body and soul (through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, and perhaps even some Pietra) we remember our dignity in light of His Passion, in light of His Divine Love for us. We can be changed and are reminded of God’s call to know, love, and serve Him in body, mind, and soul. Pietra provides a way for us to restore harmony and wholeness to the body and soul and Lent invites us to examine ourselves and realign ourselves towards Christ, so that we can be whole-ly and holy in His presence when Easter comes.
Prayer to St. Raphael the Archangel, Patron of Healing
O Glorious St. Raphael, heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body and provide the great grace to purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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