Almighty and ever living God, you invite us deeper into your world, your people, your Lent. May this time be one of outward focus; seeking you in those we often ignore. Help us live a Lent focused on freedom, generosity, and encounter. Give us hearts hungry to serve you and those who need what we have to give. Amen.
(Jesuitresource.org)
Reminder: You can give something up for lent or you can work on changing something within you. Some examples are: work on patience or anger, spend more time with the people you love or spend more time taking care of yourself (especially you the caregiver). At the bottom I will provide you with a few PDF that will help you with all this.
What is Lent?
United States Conference of Bishops explains Lent as...
Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.
Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season. Contemplate the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradition in this reflection. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God's gifts—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us: "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446).
In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.
Our Guest speaker - Deacon Tom created a PowerPoint to help explain Lent
- Below is his PowerPoint in PDF form.
Lent is like a desert
Like the ancient Iraelites who wandered for 40 years and Our Lord himself who spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness before starting his public ministry, you and I are called by the Holy Ghost into the wilderness of our lives during Lent to renounce ourselves in order to follow Christ.
What fruits are you looking to gather this Lent?
In a world filled with distraction, noise, and comfort; it is far easier to grow numb to the voice of the Lord Jesus calling out to us, offering His grace and mercy in the midst of our busy and inundated lives. What or how will you grow closer
Busted Halo:
Looking for a way to “do” Lent a little differently this year? We’re inviting you into the desert: a quiet place with less of us and more of God. The desert offers solitude as well as temptation. And it means something a little different to everyone. Watch this short, meditative video that will help you wander into your own desert this Lent.
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