March 6

Ash Wednesday

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Take inspiration for your Lenten journey from prayer and the reading of Scripture, from fasting and from giving alms. 

Prayer – Lent is essentially an act of prayer spread out over 40 days. As we pray, we are brought closer to Christ and are changed by the encounter with him. 

Fasting – The fasting that we all do together on Fridays is but a sign of the daily Lenten discipline of individuals and households: fasting for certain periods of time, fasting from certain foods, but also fasting from other things and activities.

 

Almsgiving – The giving of alms is an effort to share this world equally—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents.

 

Reflect

“Even now, says the LORD, 
return to me with your whole heart, 
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning” (Joel 2:12, Lectionary)

Pray

As we begin Lent, we pray for the strength to commit ourselves to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving so that we may grow to love God more each day.

Act

Have you picked up your Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl for Lent this year? Make a commitment to dropping in spare change every day.  Another way to give alms today is by giving to the National Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe.