Lent

Saint Katharine Drexel Catholic Church

Lenten Resources

Lent 2012

Resources and Information:

"In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.

While Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, all Roman Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass on this day in order to mark the beginning of the Lenten season."

Full Article - http://catholicism.about.com

More Information - EWTN

Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Day of Fasting and Abstinence

Why do we fast?

"Fasting is more than a means of developing self-control. It is often an aid to prayer, as the pangs of hunger remind us of our hunger for God...

Abstaining from meat traditionally also linked us to the poor, who could seldom afford meat for their meals."

Full Article:

Fasting & Abstinence

The 3 Pillars of Lent How will you prepare?

St. Katharine Drexel Mass Schedule During Lent

February 22, 2012 - Ash Wednesday - 7:00 am, 9:00 am, 7:00 pm

Weekdays of Lent Morning Mass at 7:00 am and 9:00 am

April 1, 2012 - Palm Sunday (**Note: 12 pm Mass moved to 12:30 this day)

April 3, 2012 - Chrism Mass - 10:30 am Epiphany Cathedral in Venice

April 5, 2012- Holy Thursday - 7:30 pm

April 6, 2012 - Good Friday Service - 7:30 pm

April 7, 2012 - Holy Saturday

9:00 am - Easter Egg Hunt

12:00 noon - Blessing of the Easter Baskets

8:00 pm - Easter Vigil Mass

April 8, 2012 - Easter Sunday -

7:00 am Sunrise Mass (outdoors-please bring a chair)

8:30 am

10:30 am

10:30 am Children's Mass (in Parish Hall)

12:30 pm

Fridays During Lent

March 2 - 3, 2012 Eucharistic Adoration

March 16 - 17, 2012 Eucharistic Adoration

March 23, 2012

Penance Service 7:30 pm

March 30, 2012

Fish Dinner 5:00 - 8:00 pm

April 6, 2012 - Good Friday - Stations of the Cross 12:00 pm

Prayer & Penance

“Prayer is the raising of the mind and heart to God.” - St. John of Damascus

"More time given to prayer during Lent should draw us closer to the Lord. We might pray especially for the grace to live out our baptismal promises more fully. We might pray for the elect who will be baptized at Easter and support their conversion journey by our prayer. We might pray for all those who will celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation with us during Lent that they will be truly renewed in their baptismal commitment."

Full Article: http://www.catholic.org/clife/lent/faq.php

Stations of the Cross

For Roman Catholics throughout the world, the Stations of the Cross are synonymous with Lent, Holy Week and, especially, Good Friday. This devotion is also known as the "Way of the Cross", the "Via Crucis", and the "Via Dolorosa." It commemorates 14 key events on day of Christ's crucifixion. The majority concern His final walk through the streets of Jerusalem, carrying the Cross.

More information see:

The Catholic Encyclopedia

EWTN

Online Stations of the Cross on EWTN

What is Fasting?

Fasting is obligatory for all who have completed their 18th year and have not yet reached their 60th year. Fasting allows a person to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may be taken, not to equal one full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids are allowed. Ash Wednesday and Holy Friday are days of Fasting.

What is Abstinence?

Abstinence means eating no meat and is obligatory for all who have reached their 14th year.

Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent are days of Abstinence.

“Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness … It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin. Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life” - Tobit 12:8-9

"The Church calls us during Lent to be especially conscious of the needs of others and to act accordingly. Giving materially to another is an act of Christian charity known as “almsgiving.” During Lent, the Church also calls us to first convert ourselves and then to transform the world for justice, so that we might serve the Kingdom which Jesus lived and preached."

Full Article