Spiritual Reflections at, TX US - LENTEN SEASON...

"When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." -John 12:32 "Those who wish to come after me must take up their cross daily and follow Me."--Luke 9:23. Ash Wednedsday...ushers in the lenten season--the 40 days before Easter during which the Christian follows in the footsteps of Jesus and commemorates his 40 day fast in the Judean desert, his passion death and finally his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Lenten Fast/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 is observed on Ash Wednesday and good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age and under 60. They eat one full meal a day and if needed, two small meals to maintain strength. No solid food is permitted between meals. The special Paschal fast and abstinence are observed on Good Friday and, where possible, Holy Saturday. On these days Christians prepare themselves by these disciplines in anticipation of the renewal of their baptismal vows on Easter. From early Church days the baptized Christian has been urged to observe the threefold discipline of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer as a preparation for the celebration of Easter. During lent the Church encourages attendance at daily Mass, the Way of the Cross, self-imposed times of fasting, and generosity to local, national and worldwide programs of sharing. More info: Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 12/04/1963 See also the WAY OF THE CROSS for daily devotion on this website. LENT: JOURNEY OF PRAYER, PENITENCE AND CHRISTIAN ASCETICISM VATICAN CITY, FEB 25, 2004 (VIS) – Today, Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, in the Vatican Basilica the Holy Father presided at a celebration of the Word during which ashes were blessed and distributed. After the rite of introduction and the liturgy of the Word, the Holy Father gave the homily. The Pope said that Lent, “a journey of prayer, penitence and authentic Christian asceticism,” begins with the imposition of ashes, “an austere, penitential act that is highly esteemed in Christian tradition. It emphasizes the awareness of man who is a sinner before the majesty and sanctity of God. At the same time, it shows man’s willingness to embrace and translate adhesion to the Gospel into specific choices.” “External gestures of penitence,” he affirmed, “have value if they express an interior attitude, if they express the firm will to avoid evil and to take up the just path. It is here that the profound meaning of Christian asceticism lies. ‘Asceticism’: the word itself evokes an image of rising up toward higher goals. This necessarily involves sacrifice and self-denial. … In order to become authentic disciples of Christ, it is necessary to deny oneself, take up the cross every day and follow Him. It is the arduous path of holiness which every baptized person is called to take.” John Paul II recalled that the Church indicates many ways of embarking on this path: “Above all, it is the humble and docile adhesion to the will of God, accompanied by incessant prayer; these ways are the typical penitential customs of Christian tradition, such as abstinence, fasting, mortification and giving up goods that are in and of themselves legitimate; there are the specific gestures of embracing our neighbor which today’s Gospel evokes with the word ‘alms.’ All of this is proposed again with greater intensity during the period of Lent which represents an ‘intense time’ of spiritual training and generous service to our brothers and sisters.” Referring to this year’s Lenten message which speaks of “the difficult conditions in which so many children live in the world,” the Holy Father concluded: “The problems that afflict children in the world are many and complex. I hope that we, as a result of our solidarity, will dedicate necessary care to our smallest brothers and sisters who are frequently left to themselves. This is a specific way to channel our Lenten effort.” After the homily, the ashes were blessed and distributed. The Pope received ashes from Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, while the faithful present received them from a number of priests. After the prayers of the faithful and of the Lord, the liturgy concluded. VIS 040225 (460) Watch For HOLY WEEK MEDITATIONS...

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