Ash Wednesday - Lent Begins

A reminder to the youth of Amigos de Jesus - Today (Feb 17) is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Lent is the 40 day season of intense prayer and penance in preparation for the celebration of Easter. Easter is the joyful celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead. If you are able to participate in Mass this evening - and I hope you all are - you will receive ashes on your forehead. As the ashes are traced in the sign of the cross, the priests will say one of two phrases: "Remember, you are dust and to dust you shall return" or "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel." Both statements help us to understand the meaning and spirituality of Lent. Time is passing and our life on this earth is short. Therefore, we should live today so as to be prepared for eternity. This means turning away from anything and everything which leads us away from God and turning to Christ, the way, the truth, and the life.

The Church especially recommends three practices during the season of Lent: prayers, fasting, and almsgiving.

Prayer is essential to the Christian life. If you are not spending at least some period of your day in prayer, how can you be in relationship with God? Make a commitment this Lent to set some time aside each day for prayer. It could be as little as 15 minutes.

Fasting is the practice of self-denial from food. The Church requires that all Catholics 14 years and older are to abstain from (not eat) meat on Ash Wednesday (Feb 17), Good Friday (Apr 2), and all the Fridays of Lent (Feb 19, 26 and March 5, 12, 26). In addition to abstinence from meat, Catholics who have reached their 18th year are to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting, according to the Church, is eating two small meals and one regular sized meal.

Almsgiving can be defined as doing works of charity. The word "alm" comes from the Latin alma meaning love. Therefore, during Lent we should especially focus on performing acts of love for our neighbor. Remember that Christian love is a giving of self for the other. How can you give of yourself for your neighbor this Lent? For the members of your family? For your friends and classmates? For the poor and homeless? For those who do not believe in God?\

We will have our regular meeting this Friday, February 19. If you have any questions regarding Lent, please bring them with you. God bless you!

Br. Joseph

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