Why DO we get ashes on our foreheads? Short answer: To remind us that we are mortal and that we need God’s grace and forgiveness for our wrongdoings. Longer answer: Ashes have been used along with sackcloth and fasting since ancient times to symbolize repentance, mourning and sorrow. Almost every culture used ashes for this purpose, not just the Jews, though they are who we inherited the practice from. There are multitudes of examples in the Bible of people putting ashes on their heads or rolling or sitting in ashes as a way of repentance from some wrongdoing or sin. You can see many of them quoted in this article: http://ww2.netnitco.net/~legend01/ashes.htm .

Why do we fast and abstain from meat? These are related in that we are making a sacrifice of food. In fasting we sacrifice all food (well, down to one meal and two snack-type meals). The purpose of this is to make ourselves uncomfortable in a way that reminds us that all we have and need comes from our Father in Heaven. In our uncomfortable-ness we are reminded that we cannot do anything without Him who created us and the entire universe. Our grumbling tummies should prompt us to pray for those who feel this hunger every single day, to offer up our hunger for the reparation of souls in purgatory, or to the end to abortion, or to the repeal of this HHS mandate or any other persecution going on in our world. Abstaining from meat goes along in the same vein. In preparing meatless meals, we are reminded again, who it is who gives us our “daily bread” and to whom we should be thankful for all our blessings. To make the small sacrifice of not eating meat we are reminded of the ultimate Sacrifice…Jesus Christ, who secured our salvation in His passion, death and resurrection.

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Almsgiving , Prayer and Penance: The Three Pillars of Lent

Almsgiving is the practice of giving some of our resources to those in need. This year we will have a Penny War to collect money for the Ashes to Easter Diocese project. Each week during Lent, bring in your spare change to RE and have your child put the pennies in their grade-level canister and the silver coins in others’ canisters. The pennies count as 1 point each and the silver counts as minus 1 point. Each week I will tally the points so everyone can see who’s “winning”. The grade with the most points will get a special surprise at their Easter Party on April 11.

Prayer during Lent should point us toward Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. Adding  to or replacing your regular prayers with some that may help you focus more on this is a good way to incorporate it into your Lent. You can also go to Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 6PM in the church, volunteer to Stand and Pray for the 40 Days for Life campaign (coalitionforlife.com), pray the Sorrowful Mysteries or the Miserere, meditate on the daily readings, attend daily Mass, add special intentions for those whom you know in need of prayer.

Penance is the practice of giving up something for Lent. “What did you give up for Lent?” is the common question asked today. Some people will tell you, others will not. If you need accountability because you know you will “cheat”, then tell someone your Lenten sacrifice. If not, then you may want to keep it to yourself. Jesus warns us not to make ourselves stand out when we make sacrifices. Remember the Pharisees? They would publicly repent and make themselves generally obnoxious to show the people that they were “following the Law”, when what they were actually doing was Vanity in the worst way.
 
Jesus tells us that when we fast we should get dressed and clean ourselves up like normal and go about our business as usual. When we give alms, we don’t shout out how much we just dropped in the collection basket. And when we pray, close the door and our Father in Heaven will reward us for our efforts. (Mt. 6:1-8, 16-18)

Going to Confession during Lent is a good practice, too. Father Patrick will be available to the Elementary students in grades 2 – 6 on Wednesdays during Lent. Regular Confession times are Thursdays 4-5PM and Saturdays 4:15-5:15PM in the Church. Several Penance Services will be held throughout Lent, also:
March 8, 7:00PM – St. Mary’s, Caldwell
March 22, 7:00PM – St. Mary’s, Bremond
March 26, 7:00PM – St. Francis of Assisi, Franklin
March 27, 7:00PM – St. Mary’s, Hearne
March 28, 7:00PM – St. Mary’s, College Station
March 29, 10:00AM & 6:00PM – combined St. Anthony, St. Joseph, St. Teresa @ Christ the Good Shepard Chapel, Bryan
April 2, 7:00PM – St. Thomas Aquinas, College Station

I pray that your Lenten practices bring you closer in relationship to our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!