Catholic Fire

What is Lent? "Lent is a retreat that the Church gives us in order to re-focus on what should be first in our lives. The purpose of Jesus' life was to glorify the Father and save the world. ..Lent is not first a time of giving up but a time to re-choose to be the victim of Christ, the Lamb. It is a time to live the Beatitudes.” (Fr. Marie-Dominique Philippe, OP) Lenten Ideas for Adults Fasting Fast from watching TV one night a week so that you can spend time on a Lenten practice, such as praying, reading the Bible, and serving others. Fast from watching one movie during Lent and give the money and the time on service to others. Fast from using foul language and put-downs and begin affirming others with positive speech; use your speech to encourage, rather than discourage others Fast from purchasing new things like clothing, music, and magazines; instead make a donation to a charitable cause Fast from holding resentments and learn to practice forgivene...

No one should judge that he has greater perfection because he performs great penances and gives himself in excess .... Merit consists in the virtue of love alone, flavored with the light of true discretion, without which the soul is worth nothing. ~ St. Catherine of Sienna

"There is more value in a little study on humility and in a single act of it than in all the knowledge in the world." ~ St. Teresa of Avila

"Nothing, how little so ever it be, if it is suffered for God's sake, can pass without merit in the sight of God." ~ Thomas a Kempis

The more we have denied ourselves during the day, the nearer we are each evening to the heart of our Lord. ~ St. Madeleine Sophie Barat