Lent 2005, Prayer, Reflection, Action for All

EWTN.com ^ | 02-09-04 | EWTN

[Salvation]

Click here for each day's prayers, reflections and proposed action steps.

[Salvation]

Prayer, Reflection, Action for All

[Salvation]

ASH WEDNESDAY

" Dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return."
                                                 Gn. 3:19

Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. (Joel 2:13)

Reflection.
The liturgical use of ashes originated in the Old Testament times. Ashes symbolized mourning, mortality and penance. In the Book of Esther, Mordecai put on sackcloth and ashes when he heard of the decree of King Ahasuerus to kill all of the Jewish people in the Persian Empire (Esther 4:1). Job repented in sackcloth and ashes (Job 42:6). Prophesying the Babylonian captivity of Jerusalem, Daniel wrote, "I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes" (Daniel 9:3).
Jesus  made reference to ashes, "If the miracles worked in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have reformed in sackcloth and ashes long ago" (Matthew 11:21).
In the Middle Ages, the priest would bless the dying person with holy water, saying, "Remember that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return."
The Church adapted the use of ashes to mark the beginning of the penitential season of Lent, when we remember our mortality and mourn for our sins. In our present liturgy for Ash Wednesday, we use ashes made from the burned palm branches distributed on the Palm Sunday of the previous year. The priest blesses the ashes and imposes them on the foreheads of the faithful, making the sign of the cross and saying, "Remember, man you are dust and to dust you shall return," or "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel." As we begin this holy season of Lent in preparation for Easter, we must remember the significance of the ashes we have received: We mourn and do penance for our sins. We again convert our hearts to the Lord, who suffered, died, and rose for our salvation. We renew the promises made at our baptism, when we died to an old life and rose to a new life with Christ. Finally, mindful that the kingdom of this world passes away, we strive to live the kingdom of God now and look forward to its fulfillment in heaven.

Lenten Question
Q: What is Lent?
A: Lent is the forty day period before Easter, excluding Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter Sunday). [This traditional ennumeration does not precisely coincide with the calendar according to the liturgical reform. In order to give special prominence to the Sacred Triduum (Mass of the Lord's Supper, Good Friday, Easter Vigil) the current calendar counts Lent as only from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday, up to the Mass of the Lord's Supper. Even so, Lenten practices are properly maintained up to the Easter Vigil, excluding Sundays, as before.]

Lenten Action.
Invite a non-practicing friend to Mass with you.

Prayer
Almighty and everlasting God, you despise nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent.
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our brokenness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Ash Wednesday is a day of both fasting and abstinence.

[Pajamajan]

Nice site. BUMP

[Salvation]

Lenten Prayer Ping!

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and

Catholic Discussion Ping!

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[Salvation]

Reflections for Lent: February 6 -- March 27, 2005

[franky]

We are entering a very difficult period ahead. Our prayer lives must improve everyday. Let us ask the Lord to have mercy on our country.

A very strong chastisement is just over the hill except many are not concerned with it.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the people and kindle in them the fire of Your Love. Sent forth Your Truth and You shall renew the face of the earth. Amen

[Pajamajan]

Good suggestions for Lent at the link you posted- Thanks :-)

[crushelits]

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are still days of fasting and abstinence, as specified in the Code of Canon Law (cc. 1250 to 1253). On these two solemn days Roman Catholics are enjoined to both fast (reduce the size of their daily meals) and to abstain (to completely avoid the consumption of meat in those meals).

The current regulations concerning Lenten fasting and abstinence for Catholics in the United States generally are as follows,

• Abstinence from meats is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years old and older on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent.
• Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound by this may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.

[Salvation]

**Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the people and kindle in them the fire of Your Love. Sent forth Your Truth and You shall renew the face of the earth. Amen**

This prayer bears repeating!

[Salvation]

Thank you for those links.

[lightman]

From the Maronite liturgy:

O God, full of tenderness, you granted to your Church this Lent, time of blessing. Christ, friend of men, you taught us to fast by your fast and your privations. You wanted to make us understand the essential goal of life, the meaning of the world and of its existence, and the grandeur of your love and of your goodness.

Pour out then your mercy upon all men so that they may repent; soften the hearts of your children, and they will come back to you. Weeping with penitence and brokenhearted, they will know you, and they will love you...

Fasting and prayer purify the soul and render the body chaste.

Fasting and prayer shed a marvelous light,the light of Christ, upon those who fast and who pray.

Fasting and prayer raise the spirit, control passions, and the mercy from on high is poured out.

Fasting and prayer chase away evil spirits,and the Holy Spirit settles in the soul created to be the dwelling of God.

And now. O God, grant that we may praise you with pure lips and, through angelic hymns singing from chaste hearts, meditate upon your fasting and follow your voice in order to come to you.

Praise, glory and honor to the Merciful One who waits for sinners to come back and who watches for the return of contrite hearts,

To the Lenient One who rejoices when a lost sheep returns,

To the loving Father who stoops toward the repentant son and who embraces him,

To Him,the Good One to whom come glory and honor today, all the days of our lives, and for ever and ever, AMEN.

[NYer]

From the ASH MONDAY Maronite Liturgy - Blessing of the Ashes

Psalms
Chapter 51

9

³ Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, make me whiter than snow.

[Pippin]

Thank You for the ping, Sal!

[OpusatFR]

Oh thanks! I really enjoyed last year's post!

[Salvation]

You're welcome! Great to see you!

[Salvation]

Did you know that……..?

 

Fire and water are symbols of Lent?

 

Lent is the only season of the liturgical year that begins on a weekday?

 

“Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday?

 

The Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold stand for kingship, justice and power?

 

Some people celebrate “Shrove Tuesday” by eating pancakes?

 

The three practices of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving/serving?

 

Our family can fast on television and feast on reading the Bible during Lent?

 

Early Christians fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays?

 

Ashes are a symbol of mortality, sorrow and penance?

 

Pretzels have been used in Lent for over 1500 years because they resemble arms crossed in prayer?

 

The word, Lent, means “lengthening of days” or the “coming of springtime?”

 

Lent is a time for repentance and forgiveness?

 

The process we now know as RCIA started in the third century?

 

The Council of Nicea set the length of Lent at forty days?

 

The color of Lent is purple, reflecting on a time of penance?

 

The fourth Sunday of Lent uses the color rose to mark the halfway point of the season?  It is called “Laetate Sunday” because it sets a joyful tone for anticipating Easter? (Isaiah 66:10)

 

Our family can feast on praying and fast on snacking during Lent?

 

[Rosary]

Your time and effort on these posts are appreciated!

[Ciexyz]

Lenten prayer ping.

Excitement is in the air! The countdown to Easter begins.

[Salvation]

Thank you!

[Ciexyz]

Prayers offered up for the health and comfort of Pope John Paul II.