Lent: Time to get a (New) Life:

The Battle between Carnival & Lent. Image via Wikipedia

Tribulation Times

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/march.asp?version=63&startmmdd=0101

 March 8, 2011  

(Mat 6:16-18) And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee. 

CHIESA: The Next Lent Is on the Road to Damascus

OP-ED: Lent: time to get a (new) life
 
EXCERPT INTERMOUNTAIN CATHOLIC: Lenten fasting challenges us to focus on God

In a culture that wants everything now, it is hard for us to slow down, stop and not indulge in things whenever we want to. Our Christian heritage invites us to prepare ourselves to renew our baptismal vows during the season of Lent, but also look deep within ourselves, discover our sinfulness, and offer it to God for healing. Fasting or giving up something is a discipline that helps us turn from our selfish desires and move to a deeper relationship with Christ.

Lent provides us with a 40-day retreat, a time to slow down and really examine our brokenness, our sinfulness. During these 40 days we, hopefully, renew and deepen our practice of prayer; we challenge ourselves to be more charitable, and we fast. What we must remember is that this is a communal effort. Fasting is a discipline that helps turn our focus back to God. The hunger pangs we feel or the cravings we must resist are reminders that we must completely empty ourselves and turn away from the things that keep us from loving God and knowing God more intimately. Fasting is not a punishment, but an act that reminds us of God’s love for us and hopefully our love for God, our desire to be drawn deeper into God's life.

The Ladder of Divine Ascent. Image via Wikipedia

FROM THE MAILBAG
VIA BHLA2: CHAPTER SIXTY CONCERNING THE EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE 

 

IN THE EXAMINATION of conscience, consider three things:

1. The faults committed on the particular day.
2. The occasions of these faults.
3. Your need of alacrity in amending those faults and acquiring the contrary virtues.

With regard to the faults committed each day, recall the recommendations of Chapter Twenty-Six, which treats of the mode of behavior to be adopted by one who has fallen into sin. It goes without saying that you must strive with the greatest caution and circumspection to avoid the occasions of these faults. And as to the amendment of these faults and the acquisition of the requisite virtues, you must fortify your will by a firm confidence in God, Who will aid you in remedying the evil habits.

If, however, you find that you have triumphed in the struggle over self or excelled in the performance of a good work, beware of vainglory. Even the memory of such victories should not be too much in your thoughts, lest presumption and vanity steal quietly and insidiously into your heart. Leave, therefore, your good works, whatever they may be, to the mercy of God and, forgetting the triumphs of the past, fortify yourself for the struggles of the future.

As to your thanksgiving for the gifts and favors which the Lord has bestowed upon you in the course of the day, humbly acknowledge Him to be the author of all good, and your protector against myriad unseen foes. Thank Him for having inspired you with good thoughts and for having given you the opportunities of practicing virtue. And finally, thank Him for all His unknown gifts of which you will never know.

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 28- "On holy and blessed prayer"

16. Until we have acquired genuine prayer, we are like people teaching children to begin to walk.

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This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.

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