Second day of Lent and stuff just got real...w/ Update

after being startled last night by the black mark on my forehead.

Really! I wandered in the wash my face last night and was taken aback when I spied a weird black mark on my forehead.  "What the hell is that on my forehead?", sayeth I to my reflection.

You know, it's not necessary to be Catholic to wallow in the repentance rituals of Lent.  Anyone can join in the fun, and I understand more and more Christian churches are doing just that.

Every year I make sure to have a plan for the Lenten season which includes a theme and inspiring reading materiel.  This year I chose 40 Days for Life as my theme, and for reading I bought a signed copy of "To the Heart of the Matter", by Shawn Carney - founder of 40 Days for Life.

From their website:

YOUR DAILY LIFE HAS THE POWER TO END ABORTION!

Yes, we live in a culture of death with almost daily attacks on life and the family. But we are also busy. We have work, families, house repairs, and sick in-laws. We want to join this important work for life but how do we begin? Where do we start?

It is easy to feel overwhelmed or have difficulty discerning where to focus our efforts to fight off the onslaught of attacks in our culture. Bestselling author, Shawn Carney, takes us through a 40-day journey, each day containing hard-won wisdom from his years fighting for life, as well as a prayer and daily intention.

Each passing year I find the specter of women shrieking about their "right" to kill their own children more repugnant and revolting. And when I consider the numbers of murdered babies it makes me shudder.

Wearing a pink pussy hat is not going to fix the damage to their souls and darkening of their intellect. The hat just adds a bit of the macabre. So I will spend Lent praying for the light of God and knowledge to enter their lives and will also pray for the hundreds of millions of babies who never got to live.



Update:

Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2020
Presidential Message on Ash Wednesday, 2020

Melania and I wish everyone observing Ash Wednesday a peaceful and prayerful day.

For Catholics and many other Christians, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season that concludes with the joyful celebration of Easter Sunday. Today, millions of Christians will be marked on their foreheads with the sign of the cross. The imposition of ashes is an invitation to spend time during Lent fasting, praying, and engaging in acts of charity. This powerful and sacred tradition reminds us of our shared mortality, Christ’s saving love, and the need to repent and accept the Gospel more fully.

We join in prayer with everyone observing this holy day and wish you a prayerful Lenten journey. May you grow closer to God in your faith during this blessed season.

Beautiful!!  Thank you President Trump!

From the Combox...

 

Justin said... 

Being a "Low Church" Protestant, I've never really practiced Lent. I did not realize that the average Catholic parishioner went to the extent of having planned out readings for Lent. If you don't mind sharing, what have you read in the past? Do you focus on classics like Augustine's Confessions...or do you read contemporary religious literature?

 Good question, Justin.  I really have no idea of what the "average" Catholic does for Lent, but my guess is most of them have something special picked out for Lent.

 

As for me, it varies year to year.  I think it was two years ago I re-did the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life which is the Ignatian retreat.  It's available in an easy-to-use format at Creighton University and is intended to done over a period of 34 weeks.  I had already done a year-long form of the retreat at Gonzaga University a number of years earlier and so I repeated the entire retreat in 40 days.  The Spiritual Exercises are wonderful for all Christians so you may want to take a gander. There is really nothing in  "Low Church" Protestantism that proscribes not observing some Lenten practices in anticipation of Easter and more and more Protestants are doing so. 

Last year I used Father Longenecker's book The Gargoyle Code, written in the style of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, as well as The Fulfillment of all Desire, by Ralph Martin.  

 

As I was typing this post my inspiration for this year hit.  I am now planning on re-reading  Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and returning to The Fulfillment of all Desire.

Thanks for the question because it jogged my tiny little brain into picking something. 

Good idea from Abbey...

of Abbey's Road (not to be confused with Terry from Abbey Roads): Adjust Your Attitude

 

For the rest of today I'm skipping political outrage.  Lent is primarily about hope and nothing I've read the past few days gives me much hope.  Despair is a sin against the virtue of hope and so I'm headed to the library and then grabbing a fab cup of coffee at one of local grocery stores that has a cafe in order to replenish my "hope chest."  (OK - that hope chest thingy is really stupid, but I couldn't resist.)

Fat Tuesday

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday which begins the season of Lent.  I have always loved Lent and look forward to it each year.  But today is Fat Tuesday, a day of final celebration before the fasting and abstaining.   I'm headed to Costco to buy some gooshy sweet rolls for tonight.

Have you gathered together your reading and made a list of things you may want to accomplish during Lent?  Patty over at St. Monica's Tears, has a great list if you need ideas.  Nunly (Mary Ellen) has a great meditation to get you in the right frame of mind.  And Sherry, over at Chocolate for Your Brain, is already having problems and Lent hasn't even started.  Oy vey!  Tracy, A Catholic Mom in Minnesota, has posted a wonderful prayer for Fat Tuesday.

And from last year:

Lenten Journey
Super Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

I posted this link last year.  Well worth a read:

 

What Can I Do Before Lent Begins?   Anything worth doing is worth preparing for..

 Just imagine that this Lent is going to be different from every other Lent we've experienced.  Imagine that there will be many graces offered me this year.  Let's even imagine that God is going to help transform our lives, with greater freedom, greater joy, deeper desires for love and service. read the rest

 And it's not too late to acquire this fabulous book which is part of my Lenten reading list for this year:

Super Bowl Weekend Edition w/ Awards

If you think I'm going to talk about the Super Bowl, you would be wrong. I could care less about a bunch of guys beating each others brains out at an over-priced sporting event.  I will not, however, criticize those that do enter into the Super Bowl Sunday festivities.  An elitist attitude of "I don't watch much TV" or "I hate spectator sports"  is not something that I will ever do.  For those of you that do indulge - have fun and save some chips and dip for me...

Or...if you're planning heartier fare,  now would be the perfect time to throw together some of my famous (in my own mind) chicken roll-ups.  Head over to Adrienne dePitera for the complete instructions. You could even cut them up smaller and serve as an appetizer.

The "Creepy" Award

Am I the only person that found Obama's reference to the lady wanting to be buried in an Obama t-shirt creepy?  What was creepiest of all was the laughter from the audience when he related this story. Gateway Pundit has a video - warning: don't eat before watching.  The Washington Examiner thought is was strange so maybe I'm not alone.

The "How to Raise a Really Stupid Kid" Award

The educational system in this country is broken.  It is broken because of government interference.  Privatize the schools and let the cream rise to the top.  There is a reason homeschooled kids do better than kids locked up in our government schools.  Take a gander at what  Robert Weissberg has to say in Obama and Education: Pork You Can Believe In.  The Blog Prof adds more with Fourth Grader Punished for 2 inch Lego Gun  That's your tax dollars at work...

The "It's Not Dead Until I See a Stake Through It's Heart" Award

Do not believe for one itty bitty moment that ObamaCare is gone.  It's just creeping around under the dark of night where you'll find the rest of the vampires.  Karl wrote a fine piece (promoted from the Green Room to Hot Air main page), and also seems to think we need silver bullets and stakes. 

The "What Exactly is the Problem" Award

An obviously deranged millionaire mother, Gigi Jordan,  fed her 8 year old enough pills to kill him.  She failed in her attempt to kill herself.  Here's the question for all you pro-choice folks out there.  Why is it ok to kill a baby in the womb but not ok to kill him when he's 8 years old?  Really! Why?? That poor child...pray for him.

The "World Doesn't Revolve Around Me" Award

Those were words I heard often while growing up.  It ranked right up there with, "life isn't fair."  Dr. Sanity receives this award for her fine piece The 21st Century PC Entitlement Philosophy.  

The "Chutzpah" Award

Good Lord in Heaven - what will Obama think of next?  Doug Ross brings us Won't You Please Help Us Grow Our Federal Bureaucracies? Obama wants you to receive your tax refunds in Savings Bonds. My advice?  Bwaaaaahaaaaahaaaaa...

I would really like to see my buddy DaTechGuy attend CPAC.  Mainly 'cause I'm hoping for some timely phone calls. I've had the pleasure of speaking with him several times and I can testify to the fact that he is the real deal.  

 Plus, he will be keeping us all up to date on what's going on.  So here's the deal - he needs a bit more money.  So even if you only have a dollar or two, head over and help him reach his goal. He only has 9 days to raise the needed funds.  It's folks like DaTechGuy and Stacy McCain, who are willing to get in the trenches and bring us the news, and we should support them.   Let's help them do their job.

The "You're Doing a Super Great Job" Award

PJTV is live streaming the Tea Party Convention plus has tons of videos of key interviews.  Registration is required but it's FREE!  What more can I say...

The On the Lighter Side" Award

1. We bought the Hyundai Sonata and are very pleased!  Very!
2. We've made it to the gym on all our scheduled days
3. It's not snowing here and for that we are very grateful
4. Acts of Apostasy has posted his State of the Blog Address. It's waaaaaaaay better than Obama flapping his jaws.
5. Addiction alert.  Sarah has had a close encounter with Bunko and it's not looking good!
6. Lent starts on February 17th.  I love Lent. My entire year revolves around Lent and I start early with preparations, including special reading material.  

This year one of the books I will be using is The Gargoyle Code by Father Dwight Longenecker.  I purchased it as soon as it was released last year and have been very pleased.  Written similar to C.S. Lewis' The Screw Tape Letters, this book will give you plenty to pray and think about over Lent.  Just click on that wonderful picture and it will take you right to where you can purchase the book. 

Disclaimer: I received a special prayer from Father L. for posting this even though I was going to post it anyway. What a deal!!!

And finally (for now)...

Today would have been Ronald Reagan's 99 birthday.  

In his own words:

"A number of Americans from time to time have suggested the need for a national purpose as if somehow we are drifting aimlessly without purpose."

"Perhaps their very suggestion is a measure of how far we've drifted from what has been our national purpose for 200 years.  Their suggestion creates an image of a determined people marching in ranks dedicated to the completion of some program or project.  But wasn't and isn't our national purpose the original cause which created us a nation? We brought forth a social structure to guarantee for the first time to each individual his right to control his own destiny.  Our nation exists for one purpose only - to assure each one of us the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order.  God meant America to be free because God intended each man to have the dignity of freedom."   Letter to Dr. Kenneth Wells, president of the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge. 1967 or 68

Happy Birthday Mr. President

  We miss you...

When Did We Become Such a Nation of Whiners?

*****Within two days, the news carried stories that were guaranteed to set your teeth on edge. They appear to have little to do with each other, as one is about a home foreclosure, and the other is about a Little League field slated for spring construction in Spokane. However, both stories carried a message of what so many of our citizens have become - whiners.

*****Many of you may have seen the interview with the nice Hispanic lady who was "in danger of losing her house". Her job consists of driving a bus and as she said, "the bank made it so easy", so she purchased an 800 thousand dollar home. Yes, you heard me correctly - 800 thousand.

*****The interviewer asked what the house was worth now and her response was "about 675 thousand and she was in danger of losing it all." There must be a major chunk left out of this story because common sense tells me that if she could afford to make payments on a house worth 800 thousand, she could afford to make payments on a house worth 675 thousand. Assuming the payment had not changed, what she was really saying was, "the value of my house decreased and the government needs to step in and do something about it." Sorry honey, life doesn't work like that.

*****Which brings me to the Little League field proposal for the south side of Spokane. It appears the developers, in their usual way, snuck the proposal and paperwork right past the residents of the area where this sports complex is to be built. I don't have a dog in this fight, and really have no idea of how this will affect traffic or the many other things with which residents are showing concern.

*****No, what struck me was the young boy they talked to in an obvious attempt to pull at our heartstrings. This rather chubby boy was whining that the new field was necessary because, "sometimes the fields where they played had grass that was not cut and sand areas that had not been raked." Did the possibility of teams showing up a few minutes early and raking their own field not occur to the parents of this boy? Or how about the fathers getting together and mowing the grass on the weekend? Of course not! They are all waiting for "someone else" to provide what it is they think they are entitled to have.

*****Forgive me for stating the obvious, but that over-weight kid would benefit from a little work before standing in the outfield for an hour or so, and before the team heads out to the after game pizza party. And the bus driver should quit sniveling, pay her "stupid tax", as Dave Ramsey calls it, and move into an apartment she can afford.

*****These are the people who are driving the possibility of a 3.55 trillion dollar budget for this country. This on top of the billions being pumped into special interest projects that will do nothing but expand government to the point of no return. The only way this country will survive beyond the current administration will be by voting these self-serving loons out of office in two years.

Bobby Jindal

*****I was pretty excited to hear that Bobby Jindal was to be doing the "rebuttal" speech after our current President spent 50 minutes saying the same things he's said for a minimum of two years. I must have been the last conservative in the country who had not heard Governor Jindal speak .

*****I was a bit underwhelmed, but shrugged it off as jitters on his part, and figured since no one pays any attention to rebuttal speeches, it was not a big deal. Imagine my surprise when, within minutes of his speech, conservatives lashed out at him, even going so far as to bemoan the "setting" of the speech which just happened to be the Governor's mansion.

*****The next morning, Governor Jindal seemed to quiet the rumbling by his brilliant performance on the Today show. What became apparent to me was that a tele-prompter is not his friend. What we have, then, is a President who is incapable of uttering a complete and coherent sentence without a tele-prompter, and Governor Jindal who would rather rely on his brain. Sure would like to see those two debate.

This will be some of my Lenten reading this year. I have read the first half and it is excellent.

From Patrick Madrid:

*****"As you all know, we're living through some very difficult, even perilous, times. Many people are moving beyond nervous to scared. The next step for some will be a deep discouragement that could lead to a lack of trust in God that He will see us through the troubles and trials ahead. Whether you are tending toward discouragement yourself, or you know someone who is, please take a moment right now and read this free, new Envoy Institute of Belmont Abbey College special report that I've prepared for you called “Don't Be Discouraged.”


I have spoken about this before, and so it came as no surprise to see this today:

Boxer seeks to Ratify U.N. Treaty That May Erode U.S. Rights

Sen. Barbara Boxer is pushing the Obama administration to move forward with ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, a controversial treaty that has never gained much support in the U.S.

Sen. Barbara Boxer is urging the U.S. to ratify a United Nations measure meant to expand the rights of children, a move critics are calling a gross assault on parental rights that could rob the U.S. of sovereignty. read more

from our wonderful Father V. over at Adam's Ale comes the excellent post:

WELL, WELL, WELL, -DEEP SUBJECT

*****"There is an old saying, which I will rephrase aware that they are young readers under the age of 50, that states, “You don’t relieve yourself in your own well.” I would imagine that there are few people who are willing to dispute this. I would take it a step further. I would argue that it should also be a truism that one should not allow others to relieve themselves in your well either for the exact same reason." READ MORE


Now here's a woman who knows how to do Lent the right way....

Belinda decided that plain 'ol fasting and almsgiving was not good enough. Go wish her a speedy recovery

I will be offline for Ash Wednesday and will only be posting three times per week during Lent. Please, please - no gnashing of teeth and renting of clothes - you'll survive, but I doubt I will. Can you say addicted??

Tomorrow I will be starting my Ignatian retreat. All my old notebooks and prayer journal are out and ready to go. I have new pens (in different colors), new stickers (I use stickers just like a little kid), and several good spiritual books to read. All my books and supplies are crammed into a ridiculously expensive Longaberger basket (nothing but the best for Lent) and my Bible awaits me on the dining room table.

If you need to read something before beddy bye time, Tim over at Old World Swine has a wonderful post on Lent.

Father Mark at Vultis Christi has a wonderful post entitled Lent 2009:Pierce Thou My Heart, Love Crucified

Little Lenten Desert Scenes by Fr. Dwight Longenecker is well worth a read (and you really, really want to see the sweet camel picture).

My favorite Aussie priest, Fr. John Speekman has a wonderful Ash Wednesday reflection.

A People in the Wilderness
by Cathy of Alex

When I was a dissenting Catholic, I'd often hear and agree with those Catholics around me who would have difficulty with "the God of the Old Testament". The God of the Old Testament was too scary. He's not as loving as the God of the New Testament who gave us The Christ. Consequently, they felt the Old Testament had "nothing to say to them" and did not care to read from the Old Testament. They would call themselves "New Testament Catholics read more
*

Jean, over at Catholic Fire has posted her reading list and a list of recommended books. Take a peek....

The Liturgy of the Hours is available online at Universalis , and Fr. Scott Bailey has his wonderful site called Evening Devotions.

It is impossible for a person who prays regularly to remain in serious sin; because the two are incompatible, one or the other will have to be given up

-- St. Teresa of Avila

Here are some things others are doing for Lent:

Mark in Spokane said...

I'm cutting back on posting as well -- three times a week max. (Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, I think). It will be difficult, but necessary, I think, to keep away from getting too wrapped up in what's going on in the world instead of focusing on what's going on in terms of Lent.

MightyMom said...

you'll have to stop by my place tomorrow to find out!!

actually I'll have to stop by my place tomorrow to find out too!!!

I have plans...but then I had doubts...so I've consulted my Favorite Friar on the subject and am awaiting a response...what I decide to do will ultimately depend on his advice....

ashley said...

I plan to post on my Lenten plans on my blog tomorrow. They involve meatless Wednesday in addition to Friday and the Liturgy of the Hours. (she has a wonderful post up on her Lenten plans)

Emily/Randomability said... Okay. I've made my intentions. No playing on the Internets M-Sat. No blogging, no facebook, no forums. no news reading.

Kathleen Miller said... I will be making a retreat at a nearby Opus Dei center( haven't made one in nine years), and am still formulating my other Lenten plans.

Dan Determann - Battle Creek MI

I would hope that I wasn't the first comment to approach Lent,but, it appears I am. Surfing the net I found your blog and will tell you my plans for Lent 2009. I will be journalling and reading Thomas Merton for Lent.The journal will include a prayer a day and what I have gleaned from Brother Merton. I am working toward teaching RCIA in the fall, and becoming a Knight of Columbus. That and weekly Stations of the Cross are part of my resolve for Lent.

Good for you, Dan!!

From Deb at Ukok's Place

Many bloggers give up blogging for their Lenten penance but it has been my way for a few years now, to continue to blog throughout Lent though beginning each blogging day by posting from the Morning Office. I do hope that some of you, my dear friends, will participate in praying the morning prayer with me, which i shall post here daily, throughout Lent. I pray that you will be very much blessed by doing so. read more

What are Your Lenten Plans??

Ok, me first (well, it is my blog).

*****I've finally decided to do the Ignatian retreat during Lent. I participated in the SEEL (Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life) at Gonzaga University, and the benefits were great. Of course, I won't be taking a year to complete the Exercises. All my SEEL notebooks are intact and ready to go.

Creighton University has a wonderful online source for the Exercises if you are interested. I still need to pick out some Lenten reading, but since I own a gazillion wonderful books, including the letters of St. Ignatius, it won't be a difficult task.

*****I have also decided to cut back my posts to three per week. Now that will be hard!! I'm sure cyber-space will survive just dandy without my continual presence (my survival is up for grabs).

What are your plans?

Saving Money Saturday

Get a Foodsaver

*****I've had a Foodsaver for well over fifteen years and there is no doubt in my mind it paid for itself within the first few months of use.

*****Even if you only have two people in your family it a time and money saver. We buy all our meat at Costco and by vacuum sealing we can keep vast amounts of meat fresh in the freezer for long periods of time.

*****Both hubby and I really like tri-tip steaks and they have gotten very expensive by the pound. I purchase an entire tri-tip at Costco and cut it into steaks myself saving almost half on the per pound cost. I slap them on cookie sheets, pop in the freezer, and vacuum them after they are frozen in packages ranging from 2 to 6 steaks. That will supply us with steaks for an entire year, and the steak I take out in 12 months will be just a fresh as the first one.

*****The other attachments that gets a real workout at our house is the jar sealer. It makes it possible to buy expensive items like spices in bulk. I keep out only what I will use in a few months and the rest is put in a mason jar and vacuumed using an ordinary mason jar lid. I actually have spices that I've used for up to three or four years with no loss in flavor.

*****I re-use the bags until there is no bag left to use, and while looking about the internet I've learned there are generic bags available at places like WalMart which I plan to investigate. I only have the few canisters that came with my Foodsaver, but I can see that they would be a good thing for some folks to have extras.

*****The new models of the Foodsaver take up very little room on the counter and are quite lovely compared with my much older version. I'm jealous!! I suggest you take a look at their website and check out all the uses. There is also an active Yahoo Group for sharing hints and uses for a Foodsaver.

Vinegar vs Fabric Softener

*****It's been a week of using nothing but vinegar as my fabric softener and I couldn't possibly be anymore pleased with the results than I am. While putting towels away a few days ago the ones rinsed with vinegar were many, many inches fluffier than the ones rinsed in fabric softener. I picked up more vinegar at Costco and it cost $3.59 for two gallons. Sure beats the cost of fabric softener.

30 Easy Ways to Save Money (and No, you are not doing them all!)

*****Let’s keep this one simple and clean - just a bunch of relatively easy ways to save money. As you incorporate more and more of these tips into your life, the savings add up and it wouldn’t surprise me if you could save thousands over the course of a year. read more

Lent

The season of Lent is fast approaching. Use this weekend to get together your plan, reading materials, website links, et al. Wednesday will be here before you know it.

Let us all know what you have planned for Lent. It would be fun and informative for me to be able to put them all up together in one post.

Ash Wednesday Prayers

Jesus, you place on my forehead
the sign of my sister Death:
“Remember you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.”

How not hear her wise advice?
One day my life on earth will end;
the limits on my years are set,
though I know not the day or hour.
Shall I be ready to go to meet you?
Let this holy season be a time of grace
for me and all this world.

“Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.”

O Jesus, you place on my forehead
the sign of your saving Cross:
“Turn from sin and be faithful
to the gospel.”

How can I turn from sin
unless I turn to you?

You speak, you raise your hand,
you touch my mind and call my name,
“Turn to the Lord your God again.”

These days of your favor
leave a blessing as you pass
on me and all your people.
Turn to us, Lord God,
and we shall turn to you.

Another IVF Tragedy Illustrates How "Assisted Reproduction" Increasingly Epitomizes an "Entitlement Culture"

More on Lent

I am beyond impressed with the posting on Aggie Catholics about Lent. Marcel put a tremendous amount of work into the post. Included are FAQ about Lent, Lenten suggestions, and great links. There is also two short, but very informative, videos on Lent - one by Father Barron and the other by Cardianl Rigali.

Another IVF Tragedy Illustrates How "Assisted Reproduction" Increasingly Epitomizes an "Entitlement Culture"

*****In Japan, a woman underwent IVF and was implanted, seemingly a happy pregnancy. Then, things proved to be terribly wrong. read more

Crisis? What Crisis?

H/T to JammieWearingFool

What Can I Do Before Lent Begins?

Just imagine that this Lent is going to be different from every other Lent we've experienced. Imagine that there will be many graces offered me this year. Let's even imagine that God is going to help transform our lives, with greater freedom, greater joy, deeper desires for love and service. read more

*****Ash Wednesday is just one week away. Start now to prepare your Lenten practices for the year. I really love this liturgical season and some years I am completely caught unawares. Not this year!

Pelosi and the Pope

*****Following the General Audience the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage. His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church’s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development.

Do you think Madame Speaker understood what Our Holy Father was saying?? We can only hope.


Check out LarryD's Diseases of Dissent over at Acts of Apostasy. We need more laughter right now!

A New Friend

******Second only to receiving strange made up awards from my blogger buddies, I love acquiring new friends. It seems Pauli over at Est Quod Est was having a very, very slow morning and wandered this way (and even left a comment). To avoid heading off to the gym, I wandered about his home on the web and discovered he is one funny fellow. Pauli manages to say some very serious stuff with a wonderful edge.

Under Construction

Some of my regular readers have emailed wondering if I was ok since I have been absent for nearly a week. I thank you for your concern and want to reassure you that things at chez Adrienne are just fine.

About a month before Christmas, we started to redecorate our bedroom. This was not a simple project, as it required taking down old wallpaper and replacing it with textured wallpaper to hide the drastically imperfect walls. Next would come the painting and rearrangement of furnishings and decorative accents.

My friend's illness prevented this project from going forward, leaving the bedroom in a state of true ugliness. Over the past week, we have managed to play catch up, and it will be done by Easter. Yesterday, we completed the wallpapering and have started to paint.

I believe in what Scripture teaches us through the Holy Catholic Church, so I have managed to not go completely crazy over the state of the bedroom. If we are to believe “all things work for good”, then somewhere in this mess there may be a message.

It occurred to me this morning that during Lent, we are trying to shed ourselves of some of the ugliness in our lives. By the end of Lent, we should have accomplished some “wallpapering and painting” of our souls. First though, we had to peel back and discard some of the old ugly stuff.

Maybe some of our “ugliness” is anger, impatience, or worry. We are angry when things don’t go the way we want them to go. We show impatience with the people in our lives we perceive as standing in our way. We worry needlessly about things we cannot change instead of changing the things we can. It reminds me of the commercial on TV where the voices proclaim, “I want it all, and I want it now!” This could well be the anthem for our time.

If you want to be open to the workings of the Holy Spirit in your life, you must rip anger and worry out of your life, just as we did with the old wallpaper. Left behind will be a wounded and scarred wall, but the Holy Spirit is waiting with a bucket of beautiful new paint. I bet He will even let you choose the color.

Lenten Journey

Of all the liturgical seasons of the Catholic Church, Lent is my favorite. It is the time when Holy Mother Church tells us to slow down. We are to remember that the joy we celebrated at the birth of Our Lord is going to end in His death and resurrection. I’m convinced that if I have a lousy Lent, the whole rest of the year will not unfold as it should.

The Church has these liturgical seasons for a reason. If left to our own devices, we would wander about and waste lots of time trying to figure out how to grow in holiness. Each year we are able to follow and meditate on the life of Our Lord. And each year the Church provides us with the means to expand and enlarge our understanding of the mysteries of our faith.

Lent represents a time of growth for us. The church maintains an attitude of quiet. Bells are silenced and alleluias are not heard. There is less to distract us from our mission of prayer and fasting. In the quiet, hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, acting through the Church, as it calls you to conversion of heart and mind.

Super Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

I don’t think it is purely coincidental this year that Super Tuesday falls on the day before Ash Wednesday. Lent will be a wonderful time for a symbolic purification after being subjected to the blathering and just plain ugliness of political campaigning.

We have just a few days until the beginning of Lent. On Wednesday we will be anointed with blessed ashes symbolizing several different things. In the Old Testament, ashes symbolized mourning, mortality and penance. Today, we think in terms of prayer, penance, and almsgiving. All of these things are worthy of our consideration in a special way during Lent.

This year’s Lenten message by Pope Benedict XVI is focused on the theme of almsgiving. If we are living our Catholic faith, almsgiving is a given, not to make a pun. Perhaps, what our Holy Father is saying is that we should stretch just a bit. If you give up your Starbucks for Lent how about doubling the amount you would have spent and give that money to a worthy cause? That would be stretching.

Search your soul for defects of your character that separate you from God. Take notice of the times you escape into self-pity, greed and envy. Let go of any arrogance you may harbor. Recognize that without God you are nothing more than the ashes that were placed on your forehead.

Some good spiritual reading is always a good idea for Lent, as well as being more consistent with your prayer life. Lent is a wonderful time to read the Gospels and join yourself to the passions of Christ.

Don’t wait for Ash Wednesday to think about the things you may like to do for Lent. If you do, you will wake up on the eve of Easter and wonder where Lent went. Make Lent a part of your conversion journey and plan accordingly as you would for a vacation trip.