The Joy of Sacrifice.
Lent begins very soon. Ash Wednesday is March 2nd. Lent is an invitation by the Church to draw closer to God, who is your joy. The Church challenges us to pursue Holiness and closeness to God through three distinctive practices, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Each of these Lenten practices are meant to change us, to draw us to God.
Prayer.
We are called to add additional prayer to our lives during the days of Lent. We take onto ourselves some form of daily prayer. We should not expect to have a good and close relationship to God without a significant prayer life. This Lent, what prayer are you adding to your routine? I would suggest praying with Scripture daily. A resource to help with this, should you choose is available here.
Fasting.
In Daily life, we tend to live in such a way as to provide for the things that I need, I want, I desire. The Church asks us to fast from something we enjoy each year during Lent. This practice of self denial helps us to refocus our lives again on that which is important, what is it that God wants? This Lent, give up something you enjoy, this does not include sin, as you should already be working to eradicate sin.
Almsgiving.
Lastly, the Church asks us to give Alms each Lent. Giving Alms can take many forms, it can be monetary, food, time, kindness, generous acts; get creative with what you do. We tend to focus in daily life on our own lives and responsibilities, the practice of giving alms is about recognizing someone else’s needs and working to meet them. Be generous and selfless.
Allow Lent to be the intense season of Spiritual Renewal and Earthly Desert that it is meant to be. Throughout the Season of Lent we as a Parish will have so many incredible resources for you. Every Monday there will be a Holy Hour coupled with group prayer and prayer ministry that will be the sort of practicum for the book study we will have on Thursdays. We will be reading and studying together the new book by Dr Brandt Pitre, Introduction to the Spiritual Life. This book is written for the average Catholic in the pew in order to teach how to pray and have a deeper Faith life. This book study will be in person on Thursdays at 6:30pm in the Parish Hall as well as videos posted regularly to the Lent page of the Parish Website. We still have a number of copies available in the Church at the discounted price of $20 each.
Tuesdays we will continue with RCIA, which will also have its videos continuing to be posted to the website.
We will also be holding a Fish Fry on the four Fridays of March.
Finally, available in the Church this weekend are the Lenten Gift Bags. They are similar to the Advent Gift Bags. In each bag there is a copy of the Lent Issue of Word Among Us (Daily Mass Readings and Meditations), a small booklet containing an Act of Contrition and Guide to Confession (available online here), and a postcard (pictured above). Fill out your postcard with the practices that you will hold yourself to this Lent, then post it on the refrigerator or bathroom mirror, or somewhere you will be able to see it everyday in order to hold yourself accountable. Whatever you do this Lent, pursue Jesus and answer His call,
“Come to Me.”