Typically Ash Wednesday draws many individuals and families to the traditional Mass with the distribution of Ashes. However, Mother Nature proved to be a stickler, bringing forth freezing rain and conditions that caused anxiety and cautious driving and pedestrian conditions. Nonetheless, our Lenten journey has begun, and hopefully amidst other distractions and personal responsibilities we each take time to reflect on our resolutions, what we will ‘fast’ from, our purposeful efforts to renew our prayer life, and unselfishly offering our time and ‘blessings’ to those in need, those struggling find their own sense of dignity. Never too late to take on a personal resolution these days of Lent, allowing a renewal of faith and inspiration to find our footing as a Christian in our everyday life. Following are some suggestions; tailor your Lenten resolutions to what is possible, and what allows Christ to possibly enter your heart and soul.
-Go to Mass an extra time or two a week.
Give up some unhealthy food of snack or drink.
-Fast from all fast food.
-Dedicate a period of time each day to do the ‘Ten Minute guided prayer from Sacred Space on
your computer (a free daily spiritual program offered by the Irish Jesuits).
-Pause and go to Adoration each week for an hour/half hour/a visit. (St. Malachy: Tuesday,
afternoon to 9pm; Sacred Heart: Thursday, 8:30am to 7pm)
-Sign up to be a reader or usher or altar server or Eucharistic Minister at your church.
-Write a letter/card/note to a friend, relative family member each week—or more often.
-Do a regular ‘prayer walk’ each week, slowly and quietly offering up the distance and time and
thoughts to Jesus your companion (as he was on the Road to Emmaus)
-Abstain from a favorite activity like Facebook or twitter... or a certain game on one’s phone.
-Make a commitment to fast from insensitive, cruel comments about others. So, no gossiping or
sharing indiscretions on email.
-Offer up the most unpleasant chore you have, performing it with a cheerful heart. -Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation; adopt a daily examination of conscience (ie. The
Jesuit mantra: “When did I walk with Christ this day;
when did I not walk with Christ this day”). -Match all extra spending in charity giving.
-Abstain from television for the forty days, or a certain time or day each week.
portion each day and offer up the silence as a prayer.
-Prayerfully seek Christ’s compassion to forgive and ‘let go’ of a hurt caused by another person. -Take part in the “Rice Bowl” program (available at entrances), by offering a certain amount each week or day to support the outreach to Catholic Relief Services overseas in stricken countries. -Visit a different neighbor each week.
-Purposely turn off your car radio/blue tooth for some
-Purposely come early to church for a time of quiet prayer, and to read the gospel of the day15. -Think about a habit that has kept you from being whom God is calling you to be. Consciously give up that habit for Lent, and longer.
-As a part of your Lenten almsgiving, learn more about a particular social issue. Give money to an organization related to your chosen issue that supports the dignity of the human person (Such as Dismas Outreach to prisoners; Birthright or Mary’s Choice outreach to struggling mothers.)
-Visit a relative, former neighbor or community member who is in a care center on a regular basis during Lent; and share a prayer together.
Whatever our fasting, prayers, almsgiving these forty days of Lent, may St. John Chrysostom’s words give our efforts credence: “No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great.”
Please check our bulletin and parish website for additional opportunities this Lenten Season to inspire a renewal in our relationship with God, and within our day to day Catholic faith.
Next weekend Fr. Pascal will be with us, sharing the outreach and ministry of Cross Catholic Ministries. An international program reaching out to individuals and families who have been forgotten because of the violence of war, poverty, natural disasters, drought, or injustices. His message will bring meaning to our Lenten observance, providing an inconvenient truth about the conditions people suffer and how, by the grace of our faith and blessings, we can be the ‘face of Christ’ to others. Please welcome him at all four of our Masses next weekend. Thank you.
One last footnote: For the past several years the dioceses throughout the United States have sponsored a night call “Leave The Light On,” providing an opportunity for individuals to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) at an opportune time.
On Tuesday, February 28th, I will offer confession at St. Malachy from 5:00pm to 7:00pm with Mass offered at 5:30. Adoration is taking place on that evening. A good opportunity for anyone to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist as well as a quiet time of prayer.
God Bless, Fr. Tim
FYI: “One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.” (Joan of Arc)