Lent begins this week on Ash Wednesday which is a day of fasting and abstinence. Ashes, a biblical sign of penance, signify the human condition of the sinner who expresses guilt in an exterior manner and by doing so experiences interior conversion and the hope of receiving God’s mercy. The spiritual journey of Lent leads us to the Vigil on Holy Saturday night when having completed our season of penance, we renew our baptismal promises and celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death.
During this season of prayer and penance, we recall the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness praying and fasting. The three disciplines of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Something to consider…….
Prayer – attending weekday Mass, praying the Stations of the Cross or spending an hour on Fridays in Adoration of the Eucharist (book available at the rear of the church if you wish to commit to an hour on Fridays).
Fasting – from alcohol, tobacco, chocolate, sugar, television or screen time, to make time for God and time for our family.
Almsgiving – Trocaire is the Catholic development agency whose work seeks to help people in the developing world. Our Lenten sacrifice can make a real difference to others. Please take a Trocaire Box home and use it to help people who are hungry for food and for justice. Trocaire boxes are available in all Churches.