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How peeling a pomegranate led me to the Passion of Christ
… of those who cry out, how will we journey with them to the promise of new life? That's what Lent is for. A time to pause and reflect, to be in solidarity with others through prayer, fasting and giving what we can of ourselves and our resources. Lent is a time to wake up from the comfort that has lulled us to sleep. I need Lent. I need to … away? Will we turn back? What will we do if we turn around to find a world crying out in pain? Lent's invitation is to stay connected, to remember what matters and to give what we can. We're …
Second Sunday of Lent: A test with no fixed answers
What do you feel when someone says "God is testing you"? Really, doesn't it seem unfair for God to call us into a contest of wits? Knowing we'd never win, Jesus taught us to pray, "Do not put us to the test." But still, we hear stories that sound like God's testing. In an interesting combination of Scripture passages, the story of Abraham's test prepares us for contemplating Jesus'…
Get back to the basics of Lent with Anglican theologian Esau McCaulley
… Daniel P. Horan … While most years the season of Lent feels as though it crept up on me, this year's unusually early arrival of Ash Wednesday and … launch of this liturgical time of penance and prayer has truly felt like a shock. This year, Lent began barely seven weeks after Christmas, which makes it one of the earliest starts to the … year, when I feel as though there's a little more breathing room between Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter, when we have a few extra weeks of ordinary time before diving back into a special …
March 17, 2024: Fifth Sunday of Lent
March 10, 2024: Fourth Sunday of Lent
New York Archdiocese denounces transgender activist's funeral held at St. Patrick's Cathedral
… we need the prayer, reparation, repentance, grace, and mercy to which this holy season (of Lent) invites us." In a statement, Gentili's family denied that the church had been deceived and …
First Sunday of Lent: Leisure, a Lenten discipline
… on Jesus' lips as he wondered in the desert. This prayer could lead us through our 40 days of Lent. When we are sincere in praying, "Make your ways known to me," we open ourselves, like … he took the time to know with God and understand what he was called to be and do. As we begin Lent, rather than choose something to give up, a more radical approach could be to commit to …
Faith, confidence and the Black struggle in America
… and almost never getting the recognition that they deserve. This year, as is often the case, Lent began right in the middle of Black History Month. I have always thought this is a beautiful … resurrection, mixed in with recognition of the outstanding accomplishments of Black people. Lent has also been a time to devote an extensive amount of time to my relationship with God. Lent asks us two main questions: What is in the way of your relationship with God? And how can I …
The Francis Effect podcast: Super Bowl ads; Sr. Joyce Rupp talks Lent
… celibacy. Later, Heidi interviews author Servants of Mary Sr. Joyce Rupp about approaching Lent with fresh eyes. … How do I listen? … Click the "play" button at the top of the page to …
In Kansas City, Catholics recall how celebration turned to unimaginable loss
… Bishop James Johnston said in a message on Facebook Wednesday night. "On this first day of Lent, we turn to God for mercy and healing for our broken world." … Kansas City joins a sad list … NCR pondered this confluence of Ash Wednesday with a sports parade, and said that the start of Lent reminded them that, even amid the joy, larger issues and challenges loomed in the world. "I …
Lenten cease-fire campaign includes Ash Wednesday Mass outside White House
… for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual. The coalition's leaders said they anticipate more actions in Lent to push for a cease-fire, as well as their other calls to Biden and members of Congress …
Pope: During Lent, leave appearances aside and listen to God
… an age when even one's most intimate thoughts and feelings can become fodder for social media, Lent is a time to cast aside appearances and to find God at work in the depths of the heart, Pope … said while celebrating Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome to mark the beginning of Lent Feb. 14. Today, "even the most tragic and painful experiences risk not having a quiet place … mill of the moment." Dressed in purple vestments to mark the Lenten season, Francis said Lent is a chance for Christians to ensure their relationship with God "is not reduced to mere …
Local bishops offer prayers for victims in Kansas City shooting, Catholic mother killed
… Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, wrote in a message shared on Facebook. "On this first day of Lent, we turn to God for mercy and healing for our broken world." Archbishop Joseph Naumann of …
Laziness is a symptom of 'acedia,' a dangerous vice, pope says
… never abandons us in temptation." The pope ended the audience encouraging Catholics to live Lent "as an opportunity for conversion and inner renewal in listening to the Word of God and in …
Fasting from carbon for Lent
… Thomas Reese … Religion News Service … Lent has traditionally been a time of fasting and abstinence, and there is no better way for a contemporary Christian to celebrate Lent than by fasting from carbon to save the world from global warming. In the pre-Vatican II church, we took Lent very seriously with mandatory fasting and abstinence. Under the fasting rules, you could not …
This Ash Wednesday, let's try softer — not harder
… cold and heavy as stone. I haven't made a New Year's resolution since. Today, the season of Lent is upon us. To my stone heart, Lent often feels like "New Year's Resolutions: Part II." It's a sequel released too soon, another …
More than a Hail Mary pass: Prayer app's ad aims to bring devotion to Super Bowl
… a prayer led by Catholic actors Jonathan Roumie and Mark Wahlberg and will remind fans that Lent begins just days after the big game. The commercial is for Hallow , a Chicago-based company … from the game and enjoy a moment of prayer on the Lord's day — and will promote the app's Lent prayer challenge, which begins Ash Wednesday, on Feb. 14. "Our hope is that it reaches out … are brought back into their faith for the first time." The two actors will help lead Hallow's "Lent Pray40 Challenge" this year. Other Lenten guides include Fr. Mike Schmitz of the "Bible in a …
March 3, 2024: Third Sunday of Lent
Feb. 25, 2024: Second Sunday of Lent
Pope: Christians must rekindle hope in fighting today's forms of slavery
… Carol Glatz … Catholic News Service … Lent is a time to free oneself from slavery and take action to free others suffering from the … of familiar things, to the detriment of our freedom," the pope said in his message for Lent, which begins Feb. 14 for Latin-rite Catholics. Echoing the tragedy of the ancient … even to certain individuals," all of which only paralyzes people and creates conflict. "Lent is a season of conversion, a time of freedom" during which Christians seek to rediscover …