Prayer and conversation with God is a supreme good.  It is a partnership and union with God.  As the eyes of the body are enlightened when they see light, so our spirit, when it is intent on God, is illumined by his infinite light. I do not mean the prayer of outward observance but prayer from the heart, not confined to fixed times or periods, but continuous throughout the day and night.  

(St. John Chrysostom)

Ash Wednesday (March 2): 

• Fast and abstain from meat.
• Cheerfully offer it up for your sins and people who are poor and suffer. 
• Get ashes at Mass:  6:45 AM * 12:00 PM * 7:00 PM.  
• “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis  3:19)

Wednesdays in Lent (not Ash Wednesday)

• 6:30-8:00 PM Confessions
• “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:19)
   

All Fridays in Lent (not Good Friday) : 

• No meat   
• 7:00 PM Confessions
• 7:30 PM Stations of Cross
• 8:00 PM “Digital Vespers” after Stations of the Cross (get the iBreviary mobile app, and join us!).  Fr Edlefsen will explain the “Liturgy of the Hours.”
• “Behold, I make all things new!” (Revelation 21:5)

Experience Lent:  Lent lasts 40 days, not counting Sundays.   The flood in Noah’s time lasted 40 days.   On two occasions, Moses passed 40 days on Mount Sinai.   Elijah journeyed 40 days to Mount Horeb, where he prayed.  Jesus prayed and fasted for 40 days in the desert, where he rebuked Satan. 

Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. 

 (Luke 4:1)

Penance:  Monday-Saturday, forego non-sinful pleasure such as sweets, Starbucks, snacks, ice cream, salad dressing, unnecessary social media.  Here are some suggestions:

• Be nice to disagreeable colleagues. 
• Be friendly with people you disagree with. 
• No backhandedness. 
• No backbiting.
• No gossip
• Apologize for offenses.
• Die to selfishness and grow in charity.
• Put money in the poor box.

Pray:  Make “Holy Hours” before the Blessed Sacrament and meditate on the Bible.  Say an extra daily rosary.   Say a daily Litany of Saints or a Litany of Loreto. 

Read the Bible:  Gospels, Psalms, Proverbs, Tobit, Sirach, and Wisdom.    

Read a saint’s biography:  Good for Confirmation candidates.

Give to the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal (BLA):  Make a money sacrifice for the missions of the Diocese of Arlington.

When the devil had finished tempting, he left him until an opportune occasion 

(Luke 4:13)