Confession. Sin. Reconciliation. Do those words strike fear in you? We may know that we are supposed to go to the Sacrament of Confession at least
I never have been a big fan of winter. Give me 90-degree temperatures with a chance to wear shorts and a T-shirt rather than 20
“Remember, man, you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.” The priest uttered these words on Ash Wednesday as he traced the black cross
We cannot possibly truly imagine what Jesus Christ went through during His Passion and Death. Suffering the horrible, excruciating, ignominious scourging and crucifixion, carrying the
“Put Out into the Deep” In the missionary community of which I am a part, one of our charisms is receptivity. Why is that? At the
It’s coming up on that time of year again: the time that our whole Church calendar centers upon – Lent and Easter. As Christians and
For much of my adult life I have lived in areas that really offered only three of the four seasons. In the Deep South summer
“We had the experience but missed the meaning, / And approach to the meaning restores the experience / In a different form, beyond any meaning
Jesus’ last words on the Cross contain a burning question: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). Now that the Triduum
I have never much enjoyed Lent; of course the purpose of Lent is not enjoyment. Repentance, mortification, fasting casts for me a gray pallor over
“Yet even now – oracle of the Lord – return to me with your whole heart… For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger,
This year I was so ready for Lent, and that was something different for me. Many other years Lent has crept up on me, and
“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of
One perfect Word, and a world full of noise; one perfect proof of love, yet millions of lonely-hearted souls; one perfect God, and a bewildering
The Eastern Orthodox Church designates Lent as a time of prayer for those who have gone before us. I think this observance is an appropriate gesture,
Lent is a time of spiritual self-discovery, renewal, and an invitation to find God’s will for us. Through sacrifice, prayer, and alms-giving we are looking
Every year I make plans for my Lenten practices and spiritual reading, but I know to be flexible because every year an unanticipated thrust emerges
We know that Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Each year, I try to find creative ways to make Lent a memorable
The Outward Sign Many years ago on Ash Wednesday, I took my children to Sam’s Club to do some shopping. We hadn’t been to Mass
On this holy and sad day known as Good Friday, we will have many opportunities to reflect on the suffering of Christ. While this is
\”Easter changes everything for us, too. We know that life is stronger than death. Love is stronger than hatred. Hope stronger than despair. We know
Lent, what a season! For some it brings dread, for others it is a time to strengthen their walk with God, and still others it
