The Lenten Season is first and foremost for the Catechumens/Elect who are entering the final stage of their journey to full initiation into the Church at the Easter Vigil. It is also for ALL OF US to grow and advance in the Lord and His ways, and to be prepared to fully appreciate and participate in the JOY of Easter and the Easter Season.
Since many of us think firstly of "giving something up" for Lent (which is one way to heed the call of Lent to prayer, FASTING, and almsgiving), I would offer a broader notion of "giving something up" that, if followed, can bring in the other two aspects of this season of "growth" in our lives. While fasting is usually thought of as giving up a certain food or amount of food that is eaten, I would encourage "giving up" or at least decreasing some activities or habits and replacing them with activities and developing new habits that we will hopefully carry on long after Lent (and even Easter) are over. Anything that we give up or reduce that is "of this world" and replace it with "something of God," will be a blessing to us and to others that we serve.
I encourage EVERYONE to take and use a Rice Bowl throughout Lent to help feed the hungry and hurting throughout the world through CRS (Catholic Relief Services). Backing off from time spent watching television or other social media opportunities can be replaced with private prayer time at home (or at our Adoration Chapel) or public prayer (i.e., Daily Mass, Stations of the Cross) and religious activities like our discussion sessions based on the book, "The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity," and/or our Wednesday evening Soup/Salad and parts of Bishop Robert Barron's series on "The Mass." (Please see the bulletin for full information on the listed activites.)
The list of possibilities of growing in the Lord and becoming more like the Lord in thought, word and deed, are endless. The important thing is to choose less of the things of this world and more of the things of heaven -- and make this the BEST LENT EVER and a fitting preparation for the Easter Triduum and Easter Season.
Since many of us think firstly of "giving something up" for Lent (which is one way to heed the call of Lent to prayer, FASTING, and almsgiving), I would offer a broader notion of "giving something up" that, if followed, can bring in the other two aspects of this season of "growth" in our lives. While fasting is usually thought of as giving up a certain food or amount of food that is eaten, I would encourage "giving up" or at least decreasing some activities or habits and replacing them with activities and developing new habits that we will hopefully carry on long after Lent (and even Easter) are over. Anything that we give up or reduce that is "of this world" and replace it with "something of God," will be a blessing to us and to others that we serve.
I encourage EVERYONE to take and use a Rice Bowl throughout Lent to help feed the hungry and hurting throughout the world through CRS (Catholic Relief Services). Backing off from time spent watching television or other social media opportunities can be replaced with private prayer time at home (or at our Adoration Chapel) or public prayer (i.e., Daily Mass, Stations of the Cross) and religious activities like our discussion sessions based on the book, "The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity," and/or our Wednesday evening Soup/Salad and parts of Bishop Robert Barron's series on "The Mass." (Please see the bulletin for full information on the listed activites.)
The list of possibilities of growing in the Lord and becoming more like the Lord in thought, word and deed, are endless. The important thing is to choose less of the things of this world and more of the things of heaven -- and make this the BEST LENT EVER and a fitting preparation for the Easter Triduum and Easter Season.