Friday's Challenge: Stations of the Cross

Today's challenge is to do the Stations of the Cross for vocations. 

God is calling us all to help Him, but there are those who sacrifice all in service in a full time capacity.  They need our prayers as well as those who are discerning God's call.  God wants us 100%, and although we are not all called to full time service, we should support those who take on the challenge.  Let us pray for those men and women who step up to the challenge for the field is ripe, but the laborers are few.

Wednesdays Challenge: Almsgivng

Today's challenge is to write a letter of appreciation and support to a seminarian or someone training for the service of God.

Tuesday's Challenge: Fasting

Today's challenge is to fast from your ego.  Lovingly do for others today.

Who would have guessed that months ago when we put this calendar together, we would have chosen exactly what I need to hear each day this Lent.  The Holy Spirit was guiding us and He knew what rough spots would be showing this Lent. 

Monday's Challenge: Pray

I am sorry that I have been absent for the last week.  My crazy schedule has taken over and has severely cut into my computer time.  I hope that everyone has been following along on the calendar. 

Lent is almost over, and our challenges are soon to end.  Have you had a fruitful Lent?  It is not to late.  The culmination of the season happens next week and as that is spring break for our kids it will be an interesting week for Holy Week.

The challenge for today is to say the St. Michael Prayer for peace and the eradication of evil.  The prayer is as follows:

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle;
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray:
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen


This is my most favorite prayer and one that I find myself saying throughout the day.  I love the though of St. Michael watching over us and doing battle for us.

Have a happy Monday!

Monday's Challenge: Pray

Today's challenge is to say the prayer of St. Joseph for the sanctity of marriage and family life. 

There are many prayers to St. Joseph, but I will be praying this one today:

O glorious St. Joseph, you were chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus, the most pure spouse of Mary ever Virgin, and the head of the holy family. You have been chosen by Christ's Vicar as the heavenly patron and protector of the Church founded by Christ. Therefore it is with great confidence that I implore your powerful assistance for the whole Church on earth. Protect in a special manner, with true fatherly love, the Pope and all bishops and priests in communion with the See of Peter. Be the protector of all who labor for souls amid the trials and tribulations of this life, and grant that all peoples of the world may follow Christ and the Church He founded.

Dear St. Joseph, accept the offering of myself which I now make to you. I dedicate myself to your service, that you may ever be my father, my protector, and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me great purity of heart and a fervent love for the spiritual life. May all my actions, after your example, be directed to the greater glory of God, in union with the divine Heart of Jesus, the immaculate heart of Mary, and your own paternal heart. 

Finally, pray for me that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death.

I wanted to add some information about the Catholic teaching on marriage because I feel in this secular society the understanding of what God's view of marriage is has become twisted in the name of tolerance and political correctness. Since I am not talented enough to tackle this important topic myself, I will post some of my favorite articles here.  Please add to the list any resources you might know of.

http://www.catholic-pages.com/marriage/sacrament.asp

http://www.catholic.net/index.php?option=dedestaca&id=172

http://www.micatholicconference.org/assets/files/focus/focus_20040401-OnTheSanctityofMarriage.pdf

Sunday's Challenge: Read it!

Today's challenge it to read the crucifixtion story in both Matthew and Mark's Gospels.  Compare the stories.  What did the writers focus on?

I hope everyon had a great family day yesterday.  Share what you did with your family.

Friday's Challenge: Stations of the Cross

Today's Stations are for Social Justice.  I am copying information from a college student friend of mine.  She is involved with the program Invisible Children.

Hi all! Friday’s Lenten challenge is to do the Stations for Social Justice. I don’t know how many, if any of you have heard of Invisible Children, but it’s an organization that I’ve been involved with for the last couple years. Its goal is to stop Africa’s longest running war (25 years). It started as a civil war between the Ugandan government and a rebel group called the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), led by Joseph Kony. Kony is responsible for the kidnapping and murder of hundreds of thousands of children to fight in his rebel army. The Ugandan government has tried to relocate close to 2 million of its people to camps in an attempt to protect them from the LRA. However, this has left millions of people living in extreme poverty and not much safer than they would have been in their villages. Invisible Children has been organizing programs in the US to provide funding to Uganda to rebuild, bring families back together, provide a safe place for children to be educated, etc. Because of this group’s humanitarian efforts and its widespread international support, Congress has recently signed a bill that recognizes the threat Kony poses and a plan to help catch him and rebuild Northern Uganda. However, since the signing of this bill the LRA has spread into southern Sudan, D.R. Congo, and the Central Africa Republic. So in response to the LRA’s movement, Invisible Children has a plan to help set up radio towers to connect remote villages so they have advance warning of LRA movements, the rehabilitation of child soldiers into community life and search and rescue teams to find and help people who have escaped the LRA. I know this is a long explanation, but bear with me. Helping this organization is something I am passionate about, so I am joining its current movement to raise money and awareness, called 25. On April 25th, we will be silent for 25 hours, one hour for every year this war has been going on. Everyone participating is asked to raise a minimum of $25, 100% of which will go towards the plan I have outlined above. I am asking for any help whatsoever that any of you is willing to give, or at the very least to pass this on.

 If you want more information about Invisible Children the website is: http://www.invisiblechildren.com/split_screen

 and here is the link to my fundraising page:

 http://ic.stayclassy.org/member/ic-fundraising?fcid=58759

If you have any other questions, I am more than happy to try and answer them and I know that this isn’t a social justice issue that is close to home, but it is one that I feel needs to be addressed. Thank you!

Thank you Rachel for sending this information to me.  I have heard about the IC program but never had any details.  We will be doing our Stations for this cause and will be donating some money.

Thursday's Challenge: Google it!

Today's challenge: look up references to Jesus outside of the Bible. There are historical accounts of Jesus throughout other historical writings.  What do they say about our saviour? Do they corespond to what the bible teaches us?  Do you feel it is it even important to have these other sources?

Wednesday's Challenge: Almsgiving

Today's challenge is easy.  Send a thank you not to someone. 

No brainer right?  But if you are up to it, try to challenge yourself.  Think back, yesterday, last week, last year, five years ago.  Is there a moment that sticks out in your mind where you were moved by someone? 

How about thanking that person who has always been there for you and your family?  A friend that always helps when you need it and knows you love them but could use an extra show of appreciation.

What about those in your life that silently go about their jobs while all the time helping you or making your life better....the mailman, the bus driver, the cashier at your favorite store.

You can thank someone you don't even know.  Thank an elected official for a job well done, thank a soldier for serving his country, thank a doctor, thank a priest, thank a librarian, thank a secretary.

Last, but most important, thank your Heavenly Father for all the people in your life that you have to thank.

(For those in Powhatan the best chance to thank your God will be this Fridaynight during First Friday Adoration at St. John Neumann Catholic Church.  Make plans to spend some time with your Lord and Saviour)

Tuesday's Challenge: Fasting

I was running late today.  My oldest didn't get up in time to take the other kids to school so I had to run them there.  I still have dishes and pans in the sink from dinner last night, softball and baseball uniforms that need to be washed, menu's and grocery lists to be made and tons of phone calls to make.  On top of that my husband has decided to work from home today (which usually I enjoy) but that puts a monkey wrench in the morning and disrupts the whole routine.  I tell you all this not for sympathy but because of today's challenge.  Usually I try to prepare the night before by looking at the calendar to see what is on tap for the next day but didn't get to look until now.

Fast from negativity.  I almost broke into tears when I read it.  I have spent the whole morning growling, scowling and complaining.  Things aren't going as I planned.  Sound familiar?  I sent my kids to school with a frown, my husband has asked me several time this morning what was wrong and all I have done is whine. 

Fast from negativity.  This is the message I needed to hear today. 

Fast from negativity.

Sunday's Challenge: Read it!

I hope every one enjoyed the Saturday and did something special with their families. 

Today's challenge is to read the Story of Moses and the Passover Supper.  Meditate on the Bible's story of salvation and how the passover fits into that story.

Share your insights with us!

Friday's Challenge: Stations of the Cross

Today's stations are for the end to conflict and war.  I have added a link for a beatiful Stations program put out by the Episcopal Church,.  It is a downloadable PDF file.

http://episcopal.grassroots.com/resources/EPPN_stations_of_the_cross_booklet.pdf

Thursday's Challenge: Google It!

Today's challenge is to look up and reflect on  the names of Mary.  My two personal favorites, The Immaculate Conception and The Arc of the Covenant.

What are your favorites?  Come back and post what you found.

Wednesdays Challenge: Almsgiving

Do something for your Priest/Pastor or Spiritual Leader

Those who dedicate their lives to others to the work of God by helping to lead his flock need not only our prayers but recognition of the job that they do and the sacrifices they make.  Today, not only pray for your spiritual leaders, but do something to show them a sign of appreciation.

Tuesday's Challenge: Fast from the Media

Fast from the media: no TV, no newspaper, no Internet via computer or home.  Take this time to listen for God in the silence of your heart.  He is there, wanting to speak to you.  Will you turn down the noise of the world and listen?

We live in a world where media is 24/7, where there are hundreds of channels to with airtime to fill, with stories from across the globe available at our keyboards and sent to the phones in our pockets.  It becomes very over whelming and causes you to tune out everything.  It also allows society to micro-focus on people and events that really don't need to be stories.  Really...,.if the world spent half the time praying that it did reading/reporting/talking about Charlie Sheen the last few weeks, how better off would the world be?

Satan wants the noise to interrupt your time with God.  He knows that the more he distracts you and keeps you from hearing God's voice the farther he can pull you away from God.  Today, don't give him the pleasure.  Take those moments in the car that you would be listening to the radio, to pray.  Give up that lunch hour surfing the Internet to ask God to show you his plan in your life.  Instead of watching the evening news, get on your knees and thank God for giving you this day and reflect on how that day went.  Did you serve God?  Ask God for forgiveness for all the times you failed to be his disciple.

A Lenten article for you...

Can Lent be happy? 

http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2011/03/happy-lent/

Friday's Challenge: Stations of the Cross

As all Friday's in Lent, today's challenge is to do Stations of the Cross for the intention of life issues. 

The death penalty and abortion are just a part of life issues today.  With all the health care hoopla, end of life issues are gaining attention as well as embryonic stem cell research, in-vetro fertilization, and genetic testing.

You don't have to understand all the issues and be able to argue all the points just pray.  Pray that we will come to a time where all human life is treated a sacred, from conception to natural death.  And that God creates not us.

Don't forget to plan ahead for Saturday's challenge.  What will YOU do with your family?

Have a great weekend.

Thursdays Challenge: Google it

Today's challenge is to google up and reflect on the many names of Jesus.  For example He is called "The Lamb of God" "Prince of Peace".

There are many places on line that have list and reasons for the different names of Jesus.  Which is your favorite?

I hope everyone is having a spirit filled week.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wednesday's Challenge: Almsgiving

Today's challenge is to donate items, money, time or talent to a local pregnancy center.


Here is a link to an article calling for God's workers to help those in a challenging position who might be open to having an abortion.  http://www.biblicalrecorder.org/post/2011/01/17/God-at-work-in-pregnancy-centers.aspx




I wanted to add this because it is very upsetting to me.  I do realize that others do not share my passion for life. I accept that and do not have a problem discussing my views with others who disagree with me.  I know people on both sides of the arena a passionate about what they believe and I try to not let my passion get carried away in my discussions.   I try not to take the affront personally.

I was looking up some reference information on pregnancy resource centers for today.  What I found was site after site slamming on the work that they do, challenging the need and the effect they have and spread more false information about Planned Parenthood and their agenda. 

As someone who was adopted and who spent a semester volunteering with a pregnancy center, and who also has had more friends then she cares to count who have had abortions and has listened to the pain and torment from people who are still dealing with the affects of abortions even 20 ears later....I am totally miffed by the the attitudes that I see.  I am only posting one article, but for that one, I probably read 20 others like it.  And the only positive one was the one I posted above.  I was shocked by the blatant twisting of information, but I was devastated by the comments that people wrote afterward.  http://www2.orlandoweekly.com/news/story.asp?id=12977

I realize that not all pregnancy centers are the same, and that there are most likely some that are overbearing and more pressuring than they should.  I also believe that there are most likely some people that work at Planned Parenthood that do care about women and are interested in helping them make the best decisions for themselves.  I just wonder how we get through all the false information and heated feelings and anger and malice and get back to helping the women and babies who need it?

Tuesday's Challenge: Fast

Today's challenge is two part.  Part one: Fast is from commercialism.  No unnecessary shopping today. 

Think of all those who are influenced by what they see on commercials and what they see others wearing and doing.  Those who feel that they need to buy a certain brand, look a certain way or dress in a fashion to feel that they will be accepted and liked. 

Or what about the people who use buying as therapy, as a way to try and make themselves feel more important, to heal pain or to distract themselves from problems or pain in their lives. 

Think also about those who's possessions have become like a god to them.  They care more about what they own then who they are or those around them that need them. 

There are also those who can never get rid of anything.  They hold on to their possessions as if their identity is somehow wrapped up in what they own.  They hide behind the clutter and stuff in order to keep from dealing with life.

Do you see yourself in any of those people?

The second part of the challenge: Give something away.  Or even more than one something.  It could be a box of unused items to Goodwill....or some clothes that no longer fit to someone who can use them.  There are always people who can use what you don't need anymore.  As Flylady says, use your stuff to bless someone else!

Have a great day!

Monday's Challenge

I just realalized that Sunday's challenge did not post.  I apologize for the error and I will make sure that everything works from now on.


As far as today goes, Monday's challenge is to Pray! 

For today, pray for the intentions of family and friends. 

We will be praying the prayer of St. Ephrim the Syrian, (I have included the prayer below).  This prayer is used during Lent by the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches tht use the Byzantine Rite.  In the Byzantine tradition, this prayer is considered to be the most succinct summation of the spirit of Lent There are historically two versions of the prayer - the Greek and the Slavonic, with modern English translations taken either from the Greek, the Slavonic, or attempting to combine the two.

O Lord and Master of my life,
Grant not unto me a spirit of idleness,
of discouragement,
of lust for power,
and of vain speaking.

But bestow upon me, Thy servant,
the spirit of chastity,
of meekness,
of patience,
and of love.

Yea, O Lord and King,
grant that I may perceive
my own transgressions,
and judge not my brother,
for blessed art Thou
unto ages of ages.
Amen.

This is a wonderful prayer for Lent!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Friday's Challenge: Stations of the Cross

If you are new to Stations of the Cross, they are a Christian devotion that commemorates the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday. It is custom to pray the Stations of the Cross every Friday (since Friday was the day of Jesus's death) during Lent.  Most Catholic churches have some type of representation of the 12 stations hanging on the walls.  The traditional form of the devotion, the priest leads the people from one station to the next with prayers and responses, pslams, and chants.  Each station represents a different moment in the Passion of Jesus. 

There are many different forms of the devotion, some of them correspond to a certain social issue, a certain group and some are just general prayers. 

Today's challenge is to do the stations for Operation Rice Bowl.  Operation Rice Bowl is a Lenten program sposored by Catholic Relief Services.  Their goal is to educate people on the lives and social issues of third world countries and the people that live there.  They also raise money to help those countries. 

Here is a link to a special Stations specifically written for Operation Rice Bowl.  http://orb.crs.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/ORB-2011-Stations-of-the-Cross-English1.pdf

If you don't have access to a place to do the Stations here is a link to a power point presentation of the Stations for ORB: http://orb.crs.org/resources/interactive-resources/

Here is the link to Catholic Relief Services.  Check out their website and all the good work that they do. http://orb.crs.org/

The In's and Out's of Lent

In my searching for Lenten information I came across an amazing article.  I am going to copy and paste parts of it I want you to see, but I will put the link at the end so you can read the whole thing.

First:

St. Basil, St. John Chrysostom, St. Jerome, and St. Gregory the
Great, make the remark, that the commandment put upon our first
parents in the earthly paradise was one of abstinence; and that it
was by their not exercising this virtue, that they brought every
kind of evil upon themselves and upon us their children. The life
of privation, which the king of creation had thenceforward to lead
on the earth (for the earth was to yield him nothing of its own
natural growth, save thorns and thistles), was the clearest
possible exemplification of the law of penance imposed by the
anger of God on rebellious man. During the two thousand and more
years, which preceded the deluge, men had no other food than the
fruits of the earth, and these were obtained only by the toil of
hard labour. But when God, as we have already observed, mercifully
shortened man's life that so he might have less time and power for
sin, He permitted him to eat the flesh of animals, as an
additional nourishment in that state of deteriorated strength.

We think of Adam and Eve in the garden....but I never looked at God's telling them not to eat of the tree of Knowlede being an act of abstinence.   They couldn't follow that  virtue and thus brought sin into the world.  What a powerful thought. 

Fasting, then, is abstinence from such
nourishments as these, which were permitted for the support of
bodily strength. And firstly, it consists in abstinence from
flesh-meat, because this food was given to man by God out of
condescension to his weakness, and not as one absolutely essential
for the maintenance of life. Its privation, greater or less
according to the regulations of the Church, is essential to the
very notion of fasting. For many centuries eggs and milk-meats
were not allowed, because they come under the class of animal
food; even to this day they are forbidden in the eastern
Churches.


http://www.ewtn.com/library/liturgy/histlent.txt

Here is a list of questions about Lent and Lenten practices:

http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/quickquestions/keyword/Lent/page3



Some other great links:

http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0527.html

http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/holycom/histlent.htm


And of course New Advent always has the meatiest information of all:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09152a.htm



What great reasources did you find?  Did you learn anything new?  Please share!

Thursday's Challenge

Good thursday Morning everyone!  I hope you had a great first day of Lent and started the season with fasting, abstinence and a spirit filled Ash Wednesday service.

Thursday's challenge:  Google it!

Look up who, what, when, where, how and why of Lent. 

Think about what Lent has been for you in the past and what you want this Lent to be for you. 



When we were at Mass on Sunday my children read the blurb in the bulletin about the fasting and abstinence rules and how they don't apply until you turn 14 years old.  Now in my family the rules have always applied, no matter how old you are.  When Zach questioned me again after Mass on Ash Wednesday about why he should follow the rules, my response was....."Do you eat mac and cheese?"  "Then you can give up meat on Friday's". 

I have often though of going back to the old rule of not eating meat at all on Friday's through out the year.  We eat enough seafood and vegitarian meals that we could do it.  What do you think?

Is your God too small....

Last Sunday I attended Mass at another parish and there was a visiting priest who's homily was very moving and still has me thinking 3 days later.  He started with a story of a women that he met at a bible study in the new parish he had been assigned to.  He learned that she had lost her husband some time ago, then more recently lost her son.  Not too long ago she had been diagnosed with cancer and just recently had lost her job.  He questioned her on how she could remain so happy, peaceful and strong and still be such a servant to others.  He couldn't imagine having the strength to get out of bed and facing the world after all she has gone through. 

Her response was suprising. "Your God is too small."

What the priest went on to talk about was how we try to limit God.  You see, a small God doesn't expect much.  A small God allows us to feel sorry for ourselves.  A small God let's us take the easy pasth.  We can comfortably go on about our lifes with out much challenge to our comfort.  We can keep our small God in a box and pull Him out on Sunday as we go to church and feel righteous that we have done our Christian duty.  We then come home and put that box away until next week and then go about trying not to cause a ripple in the stream of life.

The problem is that our God is not a small God, He is a BIG God.  And a Big God makes BIG demands.  He expects radical transformations in our hearts and in our lives.  He is large enough to freely give us the grace that we need to make those transformations, a grace that heals us, makes us stronger and allows us to serve him here on earth in the way that He expects. 

A small God would not have been able to be crucified and give us salvation.  A small God can not heal our wounded hearts.  A small God can not carry us through our trials and comfort the pain that this world can give us.  A small God can not to battle with the evil that this world holds. 

Our challenge this Lent is to allow God to get bigger.  To take a bigger place in our hearts and in our lives.  To radically sacrifice and step out  of our comfort zones.  To turn over our lives to God and to allow Him to do with us His will. 

Are you up for the challenge?

How big is your God?






Here is another resource that has a great article on fasting, and raises a very good question.
http://applecidermama.blogspot.com/2011/02/great-fast.html

Ash Wednesday

Good morning group! Today is Ash Wednesday is the first day of the penitential season of Lent, in which ashes are placed on the head or forehead of the faithful. It is a fast day of fasting and abstinance, and the start of our Lenten challenges.

Challenge today: As you fast, think of all those in the world who do not have enough food. As today is an almsgiving day, donate money or food to your local food bank and help those in your area to have a healthy dinner tonight.

 

For more information on Ash Wednesday, including its's history see the following: http://www.churchyear.net/ashwednesday.html

Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras or whatever you call it....

I always knew that Mardi Gras was French for "Fat Tuesday" and was the day before Ash Wednesday.  It was a day to get rid of all the items that were abstained from in the past (milk, eggs, oil in particular) that would not keep until Easter.  That is why pancakes are a traditional food of Fat Tuesday.  Thinking about that list makes me wonder if I could fast from all those items.  I have a hard time fasting from meat on Fridays......but I am getting off topic.  The following two resources taught me a lot and were a great way to start this season.

 

 

A great podcast from Fr. Z about Lent....did you know that Shrove Tuesday in the past was about going to confession? Neither did I. MaKe sure we put that on NEXT yeaers calendar. I am also putting an article in a document about Fat Tuesday, read it to find out what "Carnival" season is really supposed to be.

 

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/lentcazt-00-shrove-tuesday/

 

 

 

 

So what does Shrove Tuesday really mean?  Make sure you notice what they say about Carnival....

 

 From the New Advent website:

 

Shrovetide is the English equivalent of what is known in the greater part of Southern Europe as the "Carnival", a word which, in spite of wild suggestions to the contrary, is undoubtedly to be derived from the "taking away of flesh" (carne levare) which marked the beginning of Lent. The English term "shrovetide" (from "to shrive", or hear confessions) is sufficiently explained by a sentence in the Anglo-Saxon "Ecclesiastical Institutes" translated from Theodulphus by Abbot Aelfric about A.D. 1000: "In the week immediately before Lent everyone shall go to his confessor and confess his deeds and the confessor shall so shrive him as he then may hear by his deeds what he is to do [in the way of penance]". In this name shrovetide the religious idea is uppermost, and the same is true of the German Fastnacht (the eve of the fast). It is intelligible enough that before a long period of deprivations human nature should allow itself some exceptional licence in the way of frolic and good cheer. No appeal to vague and often inconsistent traces of earlier pagan customs seems needed to explain the general observance of a carnival celebration. The only clear fact which does not seem to be adequately accounted for is the widespread tendency to include the preceding Thursday (called in French Jeudi gras and in German fetter Donnerstag — just as Shrove Tuesday is respectively called Mardi gras and fetter Dienstag) with the Monday and Tuesday which follow Quinquagesima. The English custom of eating pancakes was undoubtedly suggested by the need of using up the eggs and fat which were, originally at least, prohibited articles of diet during the forty days of Lent. The same prohibition is, of course, mainly responsible for the association of eggs with the Easter festival at the other end of Lent. Although the observance of Shrovetide in England never ran to the wild excesses which often marked this period of licence in southern climes, still various sports and especially games of football were common in almost all parts of the country, and in the households of the great it was customary to celebrate the evening of Shrove Tuesday by the performance of plays and masques. One form of cruel sport peculiarly prevalent at this season was the throwing at cocks, neither does it seem to have been confined to England. The festive observance of Shrovetide had become far too much a part of the life of the people to be summarily discarded at the Reformation. In Dekker's "Seven Deadly Sins of London", 1606, we read: "they presently, like prentices upon Shrove-Tuesday, take the game into their own hands and do what they list"; and we learn from contemporary writers that the day was almost everywhere kept as a holiday, while many kinds of horseplay seem to have been tolerated or winked at in the universities and public schools.

The Church repeatedly made efforts to check the excesses of the carnival, especially in Italy. During the sixteenth century in particular a special form of the Forty Hours Prayer was instituted in many places on the Monday and Tuesday of Shrovetide, partly to draw the people away from these dangerous occasions of sin, partly to make expiation for the excesses committed. By a special constitution addressed by Benedict XIV to the archbishops and bishops of the Papal States, and headed "Super Bacchanalibus", a plenary indulgence was granted in 1747 to those who took part in the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament which was to be carried out daily for three days during the carnival season.

Daily Calendars for Lent 2011

Notice each day of the week has a different theme. 

Sunday: Read This...read a bible passage

Monday: Pray...A different prayer and prayer intention

Tuesday: Fast...a different thing to fast from for that day

Wednesday:  Alsmgiving...charitable work

Thursday:  Google it...Something to look up and learn

Friday:  Stations of the Cross...a different intention each day

Saturday:  Family time...you choose a family activity, either something non-commercial and   entertaining, or something spiritual.



Welcome

Welcome--this blog coordinates with the lenten program, Journey to Easter 2011. Along with the daily challenge, we will post background information and resources to aid in your journey. Please join us on our Facebook page and comment on the challenges and your jouney.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_203303849696402&ap=1