Begins on Wednesday, 18th February, so we should be thinking and praying about what to do during this penitential season, both for our own conversion, to conform ourselves more readily to the person of Christ Jesus, but also for the conversion of the world. Perhaps rather than giving things up we should take things on!
Should we be giving things up for Lent, we should not make our abstinence someone else’s penance! This means that if giving something up is going to make us miserable and unbearable for others, then we should do something else. Of course, in our modern era, we might give up 'social media', computer gaming or 'window shopping' on the internet and give that time to the Lord in prayer or the corporeal works of mercy! If we are giving things up, food, drink, the commercial coffee, the bought sandwich,(which could be made at home) the money saved should be given to charity, and thereby become 'a more pleasing offering to the Lord'. Remember, our Lenten self-denial is not about losing weight or improving our lung or liver function, but it is about uniting ourselves with the Passion of our Lord and making an effort to conform ourselves more fully to His person. Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence, i.e. no meat or indulgent food, simply enough for the day.
During Lent there will be
Stations of the Cross on Friday evening at 7.00 pm. The Lent CAFOD family fast day is on February 27th.