Week of February 19, 2017

Week of February 19, 2017

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Dear Parishioners,

In my previous bulletin article, I gave general advice on how to pick good and meaningful Lenten penances.

In this article, I’m going to list some concrete suggestions. Again, you should pick something that is appropriate and will help your relationship with God. By no means should anyone try to do everything on this list.

At a bare minimum all Catholics should, if possible:

  • Come to Mass every Sunday (and Holy Days of Obligation)
  • Go to confession at least once a year
  • Abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent (and Lent is a great time to do that)
  • Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
  • Pray daily

Here are some other penances you may want to take on during Lent:

  • Coming to Mass on time and not leaving early
  • Praying the Rosary every day
  • Reading the Bible (a chapter a day of the Gospels or letters)
  • Spiritual Reading (If you haven’t read De Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life or a Kempis’ Imitation of Christ,
    you really should)
  • Getting out of bed early
  • Fasting on days you are not required
  • Cold Showers
  • Abstaining from Television or social media
  • Purposefully trying to spend quality time with family or friends
  • Doing unexpected favors for others with no personal gain
  • Giving up all dessert or other food you enjoy
  • Come to adoration for an hour every week (this opportunity is available here at Holy Innocents every Thursday)
  • Give extra alms to charity

Lent is a time when the whole Church goes on a spiritual retreat. Throughout the year, we can fill our lives with noise and comfort and whatever we like to do. During Lent, we give things up because they can be a distraction from what is most important: loving God. I hope you can all try to do something you find challenging this Lent because when you do, you will appreciate Easter even more.

God bless,

Fr. Carter