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. Dominique, OSJ) “Each year, Lent offers us a providential opportunity to deepen the meaning and value of our Christian lives, and it stimulates us to rediscover the mercy of God so that we, in turn, become more merciful toward our brothers and sisters. In the Lenten period, the Church makes it her duty to propose some specific tasks that accompany the faithful concretely in this process of interior renewal: these are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.”( Pope Benedict XVI from MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI FOR LENT 2008.) Lenten Ideas for Adults Fasting Fast from watching TV one night a week so that you can spend time on a Lenten practice, such ...

Fasting Give up one TV show or the radio or music for 30 minutes and spend that time helping a family member. Give up something you enjoy doing today (like dessert or snacks) and spend 10 minutes praying for the needs of others. Give up something you enjoy today (like dessert or snacks) and donate 25 cents to your Operation Rice Bowl box. Give up buying something new (clothes, CD, magazine, jewlery) and donate 50 cents to your Operation Rice Bowl box. Give up going to a movie or other fun activity and donate the money from this activity to your Operation Rice Bowl box or other people in need in your community. Think about a bad habit you would like to change, like telling a lie, yelling at others, getting angry, putting people down, and choose to avoid that habit and do something positive instead. Think about how often you fail to listen to your parents when they ask you do something. Resolve to listen to them and to obey them the first time they ask you to do something rather than m...