ABSTINENCE
Abstinence from meat is observed on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent by all Catholics 14 years and older.
FASTING
Fasting is observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, by all Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59. Those bound by this rule may take only one full meal; two smaller meals are permitted as necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid food between meals is not permitted. There is a serious obligation to observe these penitential practices in a substantial way. Those whose work or health would be impaired are excused from fast and abstinence. Individual conscience should decide proper cause of excuse. A more serious excuse is required to excuse oneself from Ash Wednesday and Good Friday fast and abstinence. During Lent, the Church encourages attendance at daily Mass, self -imposed time of fasting and generosity to local, national and worldwide programs of sharing.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Every Friday during Lent, Stations of the Cross will be conducted after the 12 Noon Mass followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel. The Teen Club will conduct Living Stations of the Cross on Friday, April 3rd and Friday, April 10th at 8 PM in the Church.
Every year Catholics try to answer the age-old question: What should I do for Lent? Well, who better to pick for as your Lenten spiritual director than Pope Francis? He has some great ideas
for you! Here we selected 3 of his best tips for this week:
1. Prayer
“In the face of so many wounds that hurt us and could harden our hearts, we are called to dive into the sea of prayer, which is the sea of God’s boundless love, to taste his tenderness. Lent is a time of prayer, of more intense prayer, more prolonged, more assiduous, more able to take on the needs of the brethren; intercessory prayer, to intercede before God for the many situations of poverty and suffering.” – Homily, March 5, 2014
2. Fasting
“We must be careful not to practice a formal fast, or one which in truth ‘satisfies’ us because it makes us feel good about ourselves. Fasting makes sense if it questions our security, and if it also leads to some benefit for others, if it helps us to cultivate the style of the Good Samaritan, who bends down to his brother in need and takes care of him.” – Homily, March 5, 2014
3. Almsgiving
“Today gratuitousness is often not part of daily life where everything is bought and sold. Everything is calculated and measured. Almsgiving helps us to experience giving freely, which leads
to freedom from the obsession of possessing – from the fear of losing what we have, from the sadness of one who does not wish to share his wealth with others.” – Homily, March 5, 2014