Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.
The spirit of the season of Lent should be maintained throughout the weeks of Lent. The obligation to observe penitential days of the Church is a very important part of our spiritual life. Individual circumstances must be taken into account, but in general, people should seek to do more rather than less, since fast and abstinence on the days prescribed should be considered a minimal response to the Lord's call to penance and conversion of life.
The Second Vatican Council observed: "Let the paschal fast be kept sacred. Let it be celebrated everywhere on Good Friday and, where possible, prolonged throughout Holy Saturday, so that the joys of the Sunday of the Resurrection may be attended with uplifted and clear mind."
With Fr. Bru's approval, in lieu of the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl, we invite you to donate to Heifer International. Heifer International is a non-profit working to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way by supporting and investing alongside local farmers and their communities.
Pick up a booklet with more information in the back of church beginning the weekend of February 18, 2024.
Donate online at heifer.org/catalog
Wish to pay by check?
Download donation form HERE and make checks payable to HEIFER INTERNATIONAL. Mail donation form and check to:
Heifer International
PO Box 8058
Little Rock, AR 72203-9412
Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age, but not yet 59. Those who are bound to fast may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to each one's needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.
Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years or older on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays of Lent. The determination of certain days as obligatory days of penance should not be understood as limiting the occasions for Christian penance.