Tag Archive for ‘Lent’
Monks and Lenten Pretzels
Do pretzels really have anything to do with Lent? Fr. Williams Saunders The pretzel indeed has its origins as an official food of Lent. However, much of the information available is based on tradition that has been handed down through the ages. Nevertheless, the Vatican library actually has a manuscript illustrating one of the earliest [...]
Saint Benedict’s Advice for Lent
The Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 9 March 2011. Saint Benedict offers his thinking about the observance of Lent in chapter 49 of his Rule. Besides abstinence from vice, food, and drink, Benedict recommends reading, especially Sacred Scripture. The right kind of Lectio Divina can lead to that “compunction of heart” that is [...]
As Lent Begins…
Begin to recognize yourself, to love and possess yourself, to be kind to yourself, and you will be happy. If you desire to know yourself and to possess yourself, go into yourself, and do not search for yourself outside. Distinguish between what is around you, what belongs to you, and your self. The world surrounds [...]
Ashes (Ash Wednesday)
To think of ash, is to enter into the reality of endings, absurdity and temporality; bringing to mind that everything in life that we often work and strive for, is in reality a dead end, a waste of time and even if truth be told, if actually thought about, not worth the effort. I think [...]
Your Cross
A young man was at the end of his rope, seeing no way out, dropped to his knees in prayer. “Lord, I can’t go on,” he said. “I have too heavy of a cross to bear.” The Lord replied, “My son, if you can’t bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then, [...]
A Walk into the Dark
The spiritual life does not come cheap. It is not a stroll down a Mary Poppins path with a candy-store God who gives sweets and miracles. It is a walk into the dark with the God who is the light that leads us through darkness. Darkness, I have discovered, is the way we come to [...]
I Hate Lent
I hate Lent. Or at least I hate the culture of Lent. After all, it really is a silly season, isn’t it? What is all the talk among Catholics these days? What did you give up for Lent? And of course the answer is many things like, smoking, or candy, or using foul language. For [...]
Ways to Get the Most out of the Season of Lent (Part 3)
22. Pray for an end to capital punishment. Pray for those on death row, and for the families of murder victims. 23. Find a form of fasting that is appropriate for you, given your age, state of health, and state of life. Some fast on bread and water on Wednesdays and Fridays. Some fast from [...]
Ways to Get the Most out of the Season of Lent (Part 2)
11. If you’ve never done a family rosary, begin doing it. If starting with once a week, try Friday or Sunday. If it’s tough to start with a full five decades, try starting with one. 12. Make it a habit to stop at least five times a day, raise your heart and mind to God, [...]
Ways to Get the Most out of the Season of Lent (Part 1)
1. Take 30 minutes to pray, ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance, look over this activities list for the Season of Lent, and make a few practical Lenten resolutions. Be careful. If you try to do too much, you may not succeed in anything. If you need to get up early or stay up late to [...]
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