Lent Begins!

Lord, help to live this day, quietly, easily.

To lean upon Thy great strength, trustfully, restfully.

To wait for the unfolding of Thy will, patiently, serenely.

To meet others peacefully, joyously.

To face tomorrow, confidently, courageously.

– St. Francis of Assisi

Lent begins on Wednesday, February 18 and lasts a little over 40 days (exactly 40 days if you don’t include Sundays) until the Holy Thursday Mass depicting Jesus’ Last Supper on April 2.  This is a time for all Catholics to reflect on Jesus’ Paschal mystery which is the heart of our salvation through His Passion, death, and Resurrection.  During Lent, we spiritually prepare ourselves by deepening our relationship with Jesus through prayerful reflection, we examine ourselves and seek forgiveness for all our sins, and we do penance of self-denial for the reparation of all sinners.  

Fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for those 18 years+ until age 59 and not eating meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays in Lent for those 14 years+ are mandatory during Lent. 

Although Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, it is a time we receive blessed ashes formed as a cross on our forehead to “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”  

This Lent, let’s remember to Whom we truly belong and reorder our priorities to reflect this!

Why is Easter early this year on April 5?

This is because Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday of the Paschal Full Moon which is the first full moon on or after March 21, the Church’s fixed date of the spring equinox.