Wow, can you believe it?  It’s almost Lent!  This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday.  Lent is a particularly important season for us Catholics.  The attendance of the faithful at Ash Wednesday rivals Easter and Christmas.  That’s good, very good!

     I would like you to give some thought in advance of how you will express your devotion.  If your “techy”, you can download any number of helps from places like Dynamic Catholic or the Catholic Company and others.  These will provide you with daily meditation and small penances for each day.  We will also have the Magnificat devotionals available for you to pick up this next weekend and on Ash Wednesday.

     And, there is always the Lenten fast, no meat on Fridays and anything you would like to voluntarily add.  I should remind you that what you volunteer to give up is not to be something bad or not good for you.  It’s not the time to break a bad habit.  Rather it is to be something good that you enjoy, favorite food, music, tv, social media, etc., etc. It is by being strengthened by willingly giving up a “good” that we enjoy, that empowers us to overcome the “bad” in our lives.  Another way to think of it is as a sacrifice to the Lord, denying yourself a good and giving it as a sacrifice to the Lord.  You could also consider how you might give that “good” to the poor or disadvantaged.

     Finally, and very important, go to confession. The Lord be with you.  Fr. Sid.