Lenten Resources
Lent: A Call To Conversion
Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter. Since the earliest times of the Church, there is evidence of some kind of Lenten preparation for Easter. Although the practices may have evolved over the centuries, the focus remains the same: to repent of sin, to renew our faith and to prepare to celebrate joyfully the mysteries of our salvation. Moreover, an emphasis must be placed on performing spiritual works, like attending the Stations of the Cross, attending Mass, making a weekly holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament, taking time for personal prayer and spiritual reading and most especially making a good confession and receiving sacramental absolution.
Lenten Fast and Abstinence
Abstinence from meat is observed on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent by all Catholics 14 years and older. Fasting is observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those bound by this rule may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted as necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted. From its earliest days, the Church has urged the baptized and catechumens to observe the threefold discipline of fasting, almsgiving and prayer as a preparation for the celebration of Easter. Failure to observe individual days of penance is not considered serious, but failure to observe any penitential days at all or a substantial number of such days must be considered serious.
History of Lent by Fr. William Saunders
What are the origins of Lent? Did the Church always have this time before Easter? In his article, "History of Lent", Fr. William Saunders iis pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Potomac Falls and former dean of the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College. Father has been writing his weekly "Straight Answers" column for the Arlington Catholic Herald since 1993. The above article is one of those "Straight Answers" columns. Father Saunders is the author of Straight Answers, Answers to 100 Questions about the Catholic Faith, a book based on 100 of his columns and published by Cathedral Press in Baltimore
Lent: Call To Conversion
The American Catholic feature includes a Lenten calendar, activities, readings and reflections updated daily throughout Lent, from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week and Good Friday.
Lent and Easter In The Domestic Church (Family)
The seasons of Lent and Easter are about promises. We, as God's children, promise to be repent and reform, while God, the loving, patient, merciful Father promises to love us and save us, despite our many broken promises. Lent is a time to promise ourselves, our families and our communities that we will love a ittle (or more) harder, live a little better, try a little more. At the same time, it is a time to remember Christ's sacrifice that brought us the fulfilled promise of salvation and take hope and determination from it. This season is a great time to build a Catholic culture of the home, and tell the world that your home is a domestic church, a space set apart from the world.
This website contains the text and some of the graphics of the book "Lent and Easter in the Domestic Church". So, just to answer the question that will come up "Isn't that a violation of copyright?" Well, it would be if anyone else tried to publish the content of someone else's book, but this site is owned and operated by Domestic Church Communications Ltd., and we wrote "Lent and Easter in the Domestic Church" -- so it's Ok. But that leaves the question of "Why publish your book on the web?".
That also has a very simple answer. Pope John Paul II introduces the idea of the Domestic Church in his "Letter to Christian Families"(also known as "Familiaris Consortio"). In that document he makes it very clear that families who have experience in Christian family life should share that experiences with younger families -- and so we are. We hope that you come across something here that will make the faith more real, for both you and your children.
Lenten Radio Retreat
Tune in and listen to the Lenten Radio Retreat. Experience a “Radio Retreat” this Lent, offered each week by a talented group of Catholic bishops. Listen to inspiring words and songs for Sunday Lenten reflection either online, or offline. Using either the Windows Media Player, Real Player or any MP3 player, including Apple’s iPod, take this opportunity to focus clearly on what God is saying to you this Lent. Each week our group of bishops leads you, in English or in Spanish, through the Lenten Gospels.A new retreat each week—beginning Ash Wednesday.
Use the following links to find answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) about Lent.
For the Ride Home: Sunday Readings Text and Reflection
Lent: More Than Just Giving Up Something
Lent: Knowing Who We Are Before God
Lenten Themes in the Bible: Wilderness, Temptation and Journey
Mardi Gras: Catholic Roots, Carnival and Ordinary Time
Ash Wednesday: Church Customs, Penance and Bible Readings
Lent FAQs : What Are the Rules for Fasting? Why Do We Give Things Up?
Understanding Lent Today: Penance, Baptism, Holy Week and Prayer
A Doctor's Good Friday Reflections
Triduum Rituals: Washing of the Feet, Veneration of the Cross and Baptism
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross will be prayed every Friday evening during Lent at 7:00 p.m. in the church. All are welcome to share in this traditional devotion.
We now have an entire page of resources and links devoted to The Way of the Cross.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Lenten Resources
“Christ made Himself poor for you” (2 Cor 8,9)
— Pope Benedict XVI's Lenten Message —
Lent offers us a time to prepare and reflect on the great Easter mystery, that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son." Join Catholics around the world in this holy season, using some of the resources available through this site.
Delve into some of the writings of Pope Benedict XVI, along with other material that addresses today's questions with Gospel answers.
God's love is made manifest to us in numerous ways, but most especially through the sacramental life of the church. Explore -- and celebrate -- the sacraments, especially that of penance.
Contrary to modern American culture, Jesus' message is that true happiness comes through a life of service. What does that mean to an American Catholic living in 2008?
As Pope Benedict XVI continually reminds us, nothing matters if we are not rooted in prayer. Use these audio, video and text files to help you focus on Sacred Scripture.
There are also links for the following areas:
Lenten Activities For Kids
A link to the Catholic Mom website for a variety of resources for kids.
Reconciliation: Preparing For Jesus
The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as the Sacrament of Penance, or Penance and Reconciliation) has three elements: conversion, confession and celebration. In it we find God's unconditional forgiveness, and as a result we are called to forgive others.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is held on Saturdays from 4:00-4:30 PM or any time at the rectory with an appointment.
Link to our parish web page on the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Newsletter Articles:
"How to Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation Today" by Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M.
"Ten Tips for Better Confessions: The Gift of Reconciliation" by Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M., S.T.D.
"The Sacrament of Reconciliation: Celebrating God's Forgiveness" by Sandra DeGidio, O.S.M.
"Preparing for Confession: Taking Your Spiritual Temperature" by Rev. Thomas M. Casey
"Reconciliation: An Experience of Forgiveness" by Ellen Fanizzi
Update Your Faith:
What's the difference between Confession and Reconciliation?
Why do Catholics confess their sins to a priest?
Is Confession based on the Bible?
Is Confession by e-mail allowed?
I don't feel comfortable going to Confession -- what should I do?
If I have no mortal or venial sins to confess, should I still go?
Pretzels And Lent
Pretzels had their beginning around 610 A.D. somewhere in Southern France or Northern Italy. A young monk was preparing unleavened bread for Lent, the Christian period of fasting and penitence before Easter. Christians of the day prayed with their arms folded across their chests, each hand on the opposite shoulder. It occurred to him that he could twist the leftover dough from the bread into this shape and use it as a treat for the children to recite their prayers. He named his creation 'pretiola,' Latin for 'little reward.' In the centuries following, the pretzel made its way into history books and European culture. The pretzel's form became a symbol of good luck, long life and prosperity.
Click here to find out Do pretzels really have anything to do with Lent?
Hot Cross Buns On Good Friday
Every season, in particular liturgical seasons, have their own special traditions and customs. Though Christmas and Easter traditions are most familiar, it is important to highlight and celebrate the other religious seasons of which Lent is one of them. The more common Lenten traditions are ashes on Ash Wednesday, the palms of Palm Sunday, the Rice Bowl for almsgiving, and the devotion of the Stations of the Cross, usually each Friday of Lent. Another way of teaching about Lent is Hot Cross Buns. They are only available during the Lenten season, most often on Ash Wednesday and certainly Good Friday. Hot cross buns are usually made of a sweet spicy dough, with raisins and currents in it, topped with icing shaped in the form of a cross. Thus, hot cross buns!
Like everything else in our faith, the tradition goes back to the earliest and medieval times of the Catholic Church. According to tradition, these buns originated at St Alban's Abbey in 1361, where the monks gave them to the poor people who came there. These Good Friday buns were very popular, and were sold by vendors who cried,
Hot cross buns, Hot cross buns! One a-penny two a-penny, Hot cross buns! If you have no daughters, give 'em to your sons! One a-penny two a-penny, Hot cross buns!
Click here to get a recipe to make hot cross buns and links to other kinds of Easter Breads .
Operation Rice Bowl
A small influx of resources can make a big difference. Hamsatou Tangare in Mali, a country in West Africa, couldn’t earn enough as a tailor to support her family. With a small loan form Catholic Relief Services, she expanded her business and could ultimaitely purchase school supplies for her children. CRS microfinance project work with a group dynamic – Hamsatou meets regularly with thirty other women in her village to ensure accountability and help one another during emergencies. St. Paul tells us to “bear your hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.” Hamsatou and her neighbors are bearing it together. By praying and giving with Operation Rice Bowl, you too are shouldering their burden and expressing a profound message of solidarity. Initiatives like microfinancing will someday lighten the burden of African poverty.
Please participate in Operation Rice Bowl by picking up a Home Calendar Guide, one per family, and one Rice Bowl per person or family. Place the money that you save during Lent in the Rice Bowl and you can bring this back to church during the designated time during the Holy Thursday Mass.