Mark@fom4life: I failed as a Catholic blogger to post something on Ash Wednesday. #lent Oh Time, Tiredness, and Tardiness surround me.
A late beginning Lenten post and my late Lenten Devotional Book haven’t come in the mail as of yet.
CatholicBard@BardCatholic: Every Advent a new year begins
And we sing merry cheery Christmas Carols before Christmas begins.
But I ask you as winter is making is way out for spring to arrive
And Lent is already here, why do we not sing merry cheery Easter Carols?
Need a Spiritual Director? Contact Kristin
President Biden@POTUS: Today, I join Christians around the world in observing Ash Wednesday — and pray for those who have lost loved ones during the past year. Lent is a time to deepen our faith as we prepare for the joy of the Easter season.
Father Chris Pietraszko@FrChrisP: The church, as a community, is marked by ashes today. It means that as a community we have sinned. We have failed God and our neighbors. It must also mean that we are willing to change, but with God’s help.
Gianna Bonello@feliixculpaa: There was nothing more chilling than having ashes sprinkled on my head today as the priest said ‘you are dust & to dust you shall return’ in Italian … hearing it in a different language in a big stone church gave me CHILLS
Katherine Augustine �@kebayf: Less than ten minutes out of Mass and a passing cyclist has literally screeched to a halt, disembarked, and told me I’ve got something on my face
Elena@omnialnchristo: I was just walking home on a dark street when a man in hooligan attire suddenly stopped me, asked “is it Ash Wednesday?!”, sighed that he hadn’t known, then shouted “God bless!” and walked away
Fr M Schneider, LC����@FrMatthewLC: The oddest Ash Wednesday reminder I got was in the Restaurant Depot March flyer which had a half-page reminding restaurants when Lent was, & then listing all the fish deals that might draw in customers.
Obi-Wan Kenosis��JMJ✝️@elmago3221: I have no formal basis for this but it’s my personal take that no one is in a position to judge another person’s Lenten penance other than that person’s confessor/spiritual director
Fr. Casey, OFM@caseyofm: “I don’t fast or give up food items because it makes me irritable towards others.” Maybe this is because you/we don’t fast enough, and instead of ignoring the practice, we’re meant to PRACTICE it more. Virtues don’t just happen; they take time and effort.
Because, really, if there is a spiritual good that has guided the Church for centuries that makes you more irritable… that should serve as a point of self-reflection.
A good reminder that Lent isn’t about temporarily giving up something small for a momentary inconvenience, it’s about making lasting change.
Don’t give up something for Lent, give up something for life.
Fr. Ambrose@HoneyTongueMuse: Honestly Lent isn’t that big of a deal. Give up a lot of things or give up a few things. Give up sins or give up chocolate. Talk about what you’re doing with your friends or don’t. It’s fine. It’s just normal Catholic life, not some make or break test of your spirituality.
John Barrett II@Crazy_Catholic: Father what the heck are you talking about? The ancient Traditions of the Church are a massive deal and indeed without Lent there could be no Easter. The time of detachment is essential for the Christian and it wasn’t without reason that St. Benedict recommends perpetual Lent.
Nicholas@wowitsnicholas: The Church makes no requirement beyond fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstinence on those days and other Fridays of Lent, and his tweet is in response to people acting as though you’re “doing it wrong” unless you fast in any other way than how they do it. He’s right
Fr. Ambrose@HoneyTongueMuse: Yes, Lent is good and holy, and our traditions are good and salvific. The people I’m responding to, who say you have to do more than the Church requires, exactly a certain way with a certain attitude, are adding something unnecessary to the Gospel
John Barrett II@Crazy_Catholic: Ok as far as that goes we’re totally on board. Thank God that’s what you meant.
✊SicSemper@bmorekarl: What pairs well with trying to be less judgmental? Giving up booze or butter?
Fr. Tom Bombadil@calix517: Last minute idea for Lent: kneel on the floor each day and say 3 Hail Marys for the souls in purgatory. Lenten penances don’t need to be extreme, they just need to consistent. A little prayer and a little discomfort over 40 days is worth a lot to the souls in purgatory, and you.
Hannah Barraclough@HannahBarraclo8: I’m taking on a thankful lent. I’ve bought several packs of thank you cards and will be writing them each day to those who have blessed me, loved me, championed me. I’m taking up a thankful lent. Join me?
DEFCON Pezzulo@mary_pezzulo: I don’t know who needs to hear this but if you have religious trauma it’s a fine Lenten penance to do no penance this Lent, or to resolve to permit God to be extra nice to you this Lent, or to be merciful to yourself for Lent. Anything like that.
Resolve to buy yourself a treat every Wednesday and sit and eat it while pretending God is there on a date with you. You can do that.
You can resolve to do some painting or cross stitch or something else you like every evening for fifteen minutes.
Personally, I am going to go swimming at the rec center whenever possible this Lent. It is the only time I’m able to quiet my mind and meditate, when I’m swimming laps. And it’s not triggering like going to church. It’s easier to pray while swimming.
Gianna Bonello@feliixculpaa: Okay, revoke my catholic card… I ate meat today. I have low iron levels & haven’t been eating much lately due to a stomach issue and have been feeling weak & miserable. So I ate meat today because I need nutrition but feel so guilty still �
Someone tell me if I need to go to confession asap or if I need to get an actual medical exemption.
Rickard (��)@vagrantcatholic: Per the USCCB and Canon Law, you’re good. Do not feel guilty for taking care of yourself.
Sincerely,
A spiritual director
Elizabeth Harper@CadaverFormosus: It used to be ok to eat beaver on Fridays in Lent in St. Louis and I regret to inform you the only existing smoked bever joint is closed. Thankfully you can still get a Lenten muskrat in Delaware. (Absolutely rules that deviled eggs are a side option.)
☦@johnamonaco: Lent is not a spiritual strongman competition. The purpose of Lent is to prepare our hearts & minds for Easter through prayer, fasting, & almsgiving. Lenten practices are meant to stretch you—not to break you. It is better to do small things well than big things pridefully.
Friar Matt Foley, OFM Conv.@frathermatt: The goal of Lent is not to have a good Lent, but rather prepare us to renew our baptismal promises and have a better Easter
Friar Mario Conte@FriarMario:”These are the precious weeks of Lent offered by the Church to all Christians, in order to help them to reflect upon their profound identity as children of the heavenly Father and as brothers and sisters of all human beings.” St John Paul II
Pope Benedict XVI@P_BenedictXVI: Ash Wednesday is considered the “door” to Lent. The fundamental dimension of Lent is the conversion of the heart to God. Jesus indicates some of the useful instruments to accomplish an authentic interior renewal: the works of charity (almsgiving), prayer and penance (fasting).
Pope Francis@Pontifex: Today we enter the time of #Lent. Our prayer and fasting will be a plea for #peace in #Ukraine, bearing in mind that peace in the world always begins with our personal conversion, following Christ
Chezami@chezami: The Pope has asked us to fast and pray for peace in Ukraine. The Chief Rabbi of Ukraine asks Christians and Jews to pray Psalm 31. Seems like a fine thing to do today. I think it is a sign of great spiritual health that zillions of Catholics, including the generally non-observant, instinctively desire and show up for Ash Wednesday. There is something sane in the human soul that needs to be reminded, “You are dust and to dust you will return.”
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