Prepare for Lent Now
Jesus Christ: yesterday, today and forever!
Lent is a special penitential season of the year, when disciples of Jesus Christ offer Him some sort of sacrifice for His Glory, our salvation, and to atone for our sins and the sins of the whole world. Some people do big things, and some people just one small thing, but we should all do something for the One who did everything for us. Lent will begin this Wednesday with ashes, please prepare now for the season if you haven’t already.
One of the things you could do that is actually enjoyable is to watch The Search. If you’ve been reading these pastor columns for the past two weeks you know what I’m referring to. If you haven’t signed up for an on-line small faith sharing group please do so now by clicking on this link:
Sign Up For A Small Group Here!
If you don’t already have a FORMED account, click here to get one:
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Now is the time to start making a Lenten resolution or two. Great things, even little things, don’t happen without a commitment and a plan: marriage, parenting, career, good health, etc., all take great commitments and a plan. So does our faith. Martyrs have died for it, and saints have given their whole lives for the Lord. This Lent please join me in making a commitment, with God’s grace, to make a plan to better yourself in Christ.
Here are some things you might consider doing this Lent, in addition to fasting on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday, and abstaining from meat on those days as well:
Join a small faith sharing group during Lent. See above.
Faithfully attend Stations of the Cross at 5:30pm on Fridays.
Go to Confession at least once during Lent (twice or more even better).
Fast on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent.
Tithe 10% of your income during Lent: 5% to the parish and 5% to other Catholic charities.
In addition to your normal Sunday Mass: attend a weekday Mass once a week.
Pray the rosary with the parishioners before Mass, with your family, or on your own.
Pray for five minutes in the morning and five minutes at night.
Pray a nine day novena (or longer). There are lots to choose from, just internet search “novenas”.
Daily spiritual reading.
Share your faith with a family member, neighbor, or co-worker once a week.
Make a weekly Holy Hour in the church (preferably during 24 hour exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from Friday morning to Saturday morning).
Visit someone who is lonely. Best in person but easy to do on the phone.
Exercise regularly.
Think up your own spiritual improvement.
Put on a smile every day.
Here are some ideas for you to consider giving up during Lent.
Vices of the tongue: complaining, gossip, slander, swearing, using the Lord’s name in vain, etc.
Cut in half or more, screen time: TV screens, internet screens, movie screens, video game screen, smart phone screen [average American teenager looks at their phone 80 times a day – are you any better?].
Cut in half or more: radio time or electronic music (this includes talk radio and news).
Cut in half or more: nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, sweets.
Think up your own.
Remember these two things as you work through your Lenten resolutions: 1) with God’s grace all good things are possible, and 2) setbacks aren’t failures, they are opportunities to grow.
May Jesus Bless You,
Fr. Thomas Nathe
