Friday, February 22nd is a day of abstinence

It's the part of the Mass we've been waiting for, the Communion Rite. this week we'll concentrate on the prayers which prepare us for reception of the Eucharist. (Learn more)

Pretzels, the holy little treat!

If you need a little snack during this Lenten season, why not try some pretzels? Early Christians not only abstained from meat, but also from all fat, eggs, and milk. Inventive cooks combined flour, salt and water, rolled the dough into the shape of praying arms, and voila, the pretzel was born. These Lenten snacks only became a year-round treat in the 19th century.

In case you have not yet decided what to do for Lent, please consider completing the Family Lenten Inventory,
then check out the prayer, fasting, and almsgiving you can practice throughout Lent.
 

Use your violet candle Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
for the season of  Lent.

• Friday, February 22 use a white candle for the feast of the Chair of St. Peter. No, we are not celebrating a piece of furniture. Rather, this special day celebrates the authority of St. Peter, the Rock of the Church, the man to whom Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom. He founded the Church of Antioch, then the Church of Rome. His failings, which are told so forthrightly in the Gospels, help us realize that we, too, despite our own failings, can serve Christ and evangelize the Good News. We have thoroughly enjoyed the writings and videos of contemporary Catholic convert Stephen Ray, especially Upon This Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church (Modern Apologetics Library)
   
• Friday, February 22 is also a day of abstinence, so don't eat meat!

Learn the Liturgy of the Hours with us - and get a helping hand online!

We're learning to pray the morning and evening prayers of Liturgy of the Hours during Lent this year. We've been doing fine incorporating morning prayer into our routine, but have not been doing as well with evening prayer. Universalis has helped out. It is an online source for the prayers, all just one click away. It makes prayer very easy!

Daily prayers for the Liturgy of the Hours are found in these sources:
 Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours
 Saint Joseph Guide for the Liturgy of the Hours (St. Joseph Liturgy Guides)

Lent: Our Personal Transfiguration!

This Sunday's readings let us share in the joy of people who knew God personally. God walked with them, cared for them, and loved them. They, in turn, responded to His call by living holier lives. We, too, are called to respond in the same way.

First we hear the story of Abram and the covenant God made with him. God promised Abram the seemingly impossible, but God blessed him and made it possible.

Paul reminds us in his letter to Timothy to keep focusing on God. As Paul knew very well, there are hardships in trying to be holy in a world that often does not cherish holiness, but God will give us the strength to go on.

In the Gospel we hear the the story of the Transfiguration. Three of Jesus' followers witnessed His divine glory. Not surprisingly, they did not understand the apparition at first. It was not until after they also witnessed His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and  His ultimate glory in the Resurrection that the meaning of the experience became clear.

All three readings relay conversion experiences. Many of us have had our own conversion moments. What was it like the day after this great experience? The next week? The next year? Often our initial exuberance wanes into an everyday vague memory. The readings this weekend reassure us. The same waning happened to Abram, Paul, Peter, James, John and almost every Christian who ever lived. Many conversion experiences last for a brief moment. It is during times like Lent that we get to reflect back on these moments, relive them, and re-energize our faith. Every day we have another opportunity to progress toward the ultimate goal, salvation of our souls.

Lectionary readings for the 2nd Week of Lent: