re-posting:
Lent is a season of prayer and
penance set apart by the Church to
prepare us for Easter and recall our
Lord’s fast in the desert
(Matt 4:1-11, Luke 4: 1-13).
During this season, the whole
Church voluntarily joins in the
purification of her body both in the
spirit and the flesh. It is a special
season to seek God.
Don’t let this time pass you by!
Lent is also the time we are obliged
to fulfill our commitments to the
Sacrament of Reconciliation. If you
have not been to the Sacrament in
a long time (say six months or
more) start to prayerfully examine
your conscience.
1. Voluntary Amendment of Life:
Give up those things that I need to give up sooner or later, namely bad habits.
My goal here is to break a bad habit for ever and Lent is a good time to
do it.
Examples: may be gossiping, watching too much TV, over eating, complaining,
using foul language, constantly wishing for circumstances other than
what God has given me, not getting out of bed promptly, etc…
In this category, I am going to do:_________________________________
2. Acts of Penance:
Perform some kind of penance. My goal here is to train myself to say “no” in
little things so that I can to “no” to big temptations when they come. I may
resume doing the things I have given up here once Lent is over.
Examples: Drinking soda, eating chocolates, watching TV, playing computer
games, etc…
In this category, I am going to do:_________________________________
3. Works of Charity:
Perform some good and holy action. My goal here is to strengthen my relationship
with Christ and His Church. Perhaps what I start here could continue
in some way even after Lent is over.
Examples: pray the Rosary every day, attend daily Mass (or at least once or
twice during the week), spend ______ additional time every day with my family,
read the life of a saint, increase my spiritual reading in place of TV or
computer time, make visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
In this category, I am going to do:_________________________________
1) Abstinence on all the Fridays of
Lent, and on Ash Wednesday and
Good Friday.
No meat may be eaten on days of
abstinence.
Catholics 14 years and older are
bound to abstain from meat. Invalids,
pregnant and nursing mothers are
exempt.
2) Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good
Friday.
Fasting means having only one full
meal to maintain one's strength. Two
smaller, meatless and penitential
meals are permitted according to
one's needs, but they should not together
equal the one full meal. Eating
solid foods between meals is not
permitted.
Catholics from age 18 through age
59 are bound to fast. Again, invalids,
pregnant and nursing mothers are
exempt.
3) Friday Abstinence Outside of Lent.
(It may be noted that Fridays
throughout the year are designated
days of penance according to Canon
Law 1251 and contrary to much
popular misunderstanding.)
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