My Dear Parishioners,
In two weeks, we will begin the beautiful season of Lent. I think that now is a good time to begin to prepare for Lent. What are we going to do? How will this Lent be different from others? How will we be changed when we emerge at Easter?
We often think of Lent as a time to give up something and certainly, this aspect of a penitential season is praiseworthy, but there should be something deeper. Lent should be a time to grow in our spiritual life and we would hopefully find ourselves closer to Christ at Easter. I am not sure that giving up chocolate or soda and then resuming their consumption after Easter accomplishes this. Here are 10 suggestions for your consideration. I invite you to pick one or two for this Lent.
1. Pray the rosary daily during Lent
2. Spend one hour each week in the Adoration Chapel
3. Attend daily Mass
4. Fast (only one meal) once or twice each week
5. Read a good spiritual book
a. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
b. Lent and Easter Wisdom by Fulton J. Sheen
c. Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska - Divine Mercy in My Soul
d. Meditations for Lent by Thomas Aquinas
e. Daily Lenten Meditations: Prayerful Reflections from John Paul II
6. Get involved in Living the Eucharist (LE)
7. Volunteer at the Marian House soup kitchen
8. Participate each Friday in the Stations of the Cross and soup supper
9. Go to weekly Confession
10. Give up TV. Use the time to pray, read or spend time with family
Alexander Graham Bell said, “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” May this Lent be successful for you as you continue to grow in the spiritual life.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. John
In two weeks, we will begin the beautiful season of Lent. I think that now is a good time to begin to prepare for Lent. What are we going to do? How will this Lent be different from others? How will we be changed when we emerge at Easter?
We often think of Lent as a time to give up something and certainly, this aspect of a penitential season is praiseworthy, but there should be something deeper. Lent should be a time to grow in our spiritual life and we would hopefully find ourselves closer to Christ at Easter. I am not sure that giving up chocolate or soda and then resuming their consumption after Easter accomplishes this. Here are 10 suggestions for your consideration. I invite you to pick one or two for this Lent.
1. Pray the rosary daily during Lent
2. Spend one hour each week in the Adoration Chapel
3. Attend daily Mass
4. Fast (only one meal) once or twice each week
5. Read a good spiritual book
a. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
b. Lent and Easter Wisdom by Fulton J. Sheen
c. Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska - Divine Mercy in My Soul
d. Meditations for Lent by Thomas Aquinas
e. Daily Lenten Meditations: Prayerful Reflections from John Paul II
6. Get involved in Living the Eucharist (LE)
7. Volunteer at the Marian House soup kitchen
8. Participate each Friday in the Stations of the Cross and soup supper
9. Go to weekly Confession
10. Give up TV. Use the time to pray, read or spend time with family
Alexander Graham Bell said, “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” May this Lent be successful for you as you continue to grow in the spiritual life.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. John
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