Lent Tomorrow...

I'm sure you don't need a reminder... but I thought I'd offer some encouragement.

Lent is a time of renewal, and a time during which many graces are poured out upon those souls who are open to them. The sacrifices and 'giving up' of something are not to be understood in a negative light—rather, you are giving praise to God and showing him that you are His. Lent is a time for humility and prayer.

Try to spend a few minutes in prayer in your day that you would normally waste doing something insignificant. Say a decade of the rosary for the unborn or for another worthy cause. In all that you do, remember that Christ has died for us, and that we should strive to deepen our faith in Him through acts of charity, penance and prayer.

Lastly, remember these Lenten regulations for Catholics:

  • Abstinence from meats is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years old and older on Ash Wednesday and on all the Fridays of Lent.
  • Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound by this may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.
  • The special paschal fast and abstinence are prescribed for Good Friday and encouraged for Holy Saturday.
  • In the spirit of Lent, the faithful will not lightly excuse themselves from these obligations.