This is a fun quiz to help you start thinking about and planning for Lent.
During the next 40 days, see how many of the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy you can complete. Take the time to learn about each work of mercy and how it can be applied to your daily life. Corporal Works of Mercy:-feed the hungry-give drink to the thirsty-clothe the naked-shelter the homeless-visit the sick-visit the imprisoned-bury the deadSpiritual Works of Mercy:-counsel the doubtful-instruct the ignorant-admonish sinners-comfort the afflicted-forgive offenses-bear wrongs patiently-pray for the living and the dead
We have a lot of resources to help you at Catholic-Link.org!
"I understand that, each time we contemplate with desire and devotion the Host in which is hidden Christ's Eucharistic Body, we increase our merits in heaven and secure special joys to be ours later in the beatific vision of God." ~ St. GertudeMake time in your schedule this Lent to be with Jesus. Find a Church that offers Adoration. Look over your schedule and see when you can set up a weekly time to visit Christ. It may be intimidating if you have never been to Eucharistic Adoration, but there is nothing difficult about going. While you are there you can pray, meditate, read, or just "be" in the presence of Christ.
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." ~ Matthew 25:40Have you been doing the same thing for Lent year after year? Decide to make this year different! Begin by spending some time researching local organizations that may need an extra hand. Homeless shelters, crisis pregnancy centers, and schools are great places to start. Take the talents God has blessed you with and use them to bless others. In this way, not only do we grow closer to Christ, but we become more like Him.
"Help yourself during this troubled period by reading holy books. This reading provides excellent food for the soul and conduces to great progress along the path of perfection. By no means is it inferior to what we obtain through prayer and holy meditation. In prayer and meditation, it is ourselves who speak to the Lord, while in holy reading it is God who speaks to us. Before beginning to read, raise your mind to the Lord and implore Him to guide your mind Himself, to speak to your heart and move your will. " - St. Padre Pio
Reading Catholic books can help us greatly in our faith journey. Commit to reading at least one during this Lenten season. If you are looking for a good place to start, click below for Catholic-Link's favorite books!
So often “stuff” gets in the way of our relationship with God and others. This Lent, decide to give away something every day. Detach yourself from the things of this world! We challenge you to dig deep and giveaway items that are hard to part with. It’s easy to giveaway junk, items we’ve outgrown or no longer use, and clothes that have gone out of style. Try to part with something you still like! Give your items to the poor, someone who could use it more than you, or friends and family members.
To put it simply, we fast because Christ invites us to do so:
“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”(Mather 6: 16-18)
Fasting is a powerful and beautiful way of living out penance and self-denial, both important realities in our Christian life. Still, we should always remember that at the heart of it all is charity. Or, as John Chrysostom puts it: “No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great.” All this isn’t to downplay the role of sacrifice and self-denial; Francis reminds us both that these activities must truly enrich others as well as saying: “I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt.”
Think creatively about what you can fast from! Chocolate is good, but is there something that would be harder for you? Hot showers? Social Media? Netflix? Gosspip?
https://catholic-link.org/images/infographic-4-reasons-for-fasting/
So often we get caught in a prayer rut. Doing the same thing day in and day out can lead to dryness and monotony in our prayer time. This Lent, find another way to pray and set aside a specific time to do so. Catholic-Link.org has many resources to help you find a type of prayer that will work for you. Plan on trying a few. Start here:
Lectio Divinia
Novena
Rosary
Divine Mercy Chaplet
This past year has been hard. Many of us have been alone and lost contact with friends and loved ones. This Lent, make an effort to reconnect...and not just over social media. Each day decide to do something intentionally. Write a letter, make a phone call, drop off a meal, send flowers, mail a package...find unique ways to invest in your relationships. If it's safe to do so in your area, plan time for coffee and dinner dates, walks in the park, and more!
Visit Catholic-Link.org for more resources!
We all know Lent is a penitential time of the year. However, what often happens during Lent is that many of the penances we adopt revolve around fasting, abstinence and prayer. Some of us give up coffee, desserts or snacks, others take on spiritual practices like trying to attend daily Mass.
But sadly, almsgiving, the traditional third form of penance in the Christian life is often neglected. This is unfortunate, because giving alms is a powerful way to grow in holiness. Catholic writer Scott Hahn even goes as far as saying that almsgiving is superior to prayer and fasting, because as he put it, giving alms includes both prayer and fasting, and surpasses them.
Why should I give alms?
Jesus gives us a clear mandate to give alms (Mark 6, Luke 12). Strictly speaking, almsgiving means giving financially or materially to someone in need. In a broader sense, almsgiving refers to acts of mercy, covering the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The fact that God blesses those who help the poor and needy is clear throughout the Bible. Giving alms purifies us and helps us grow in virtue, particularly those of charity, mercy and generosity.
We are called to give, driven by a love for God and neighbor. The famous maxim, “whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me,” derived from Matthew 25:40, is Jesus’ invitation to recognize his presence in the poor. Almsgiving is indicative of an authentic conversion of heart because it is rooted in real actions and sacrifices for someone else in need.
Thus, it must become more than us fumbling for change when encountering a homeless person, and certainly far more than just a nice, pious thought. Think about it: If we see a homeless man on the street, does it make sense to wish him well or would it make more sense to ask if the man would like some food to eat (see James 2:14-16)?
How can I give more?
Giving is one area that we as Catholics fare quite poorly. For instance, studies show that Catholics tithe just about one percent of their household income. One way to learn to give more is by examining our lifestyles and stuff we own. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, we can divide our possessions into things we absolutely need to sustain our lives (and the lives of those who depend on us); things that we need to maintain our state of life and position in society; and things that we do not really need, for they go beyond our present and probable future needs, and he categorized these as ‘superfluous’ possessions.
Visit Catholic-Link.org to read more and find 5 Ways To Give This Lent!
This Lent, focus on being humble. Saint Josemaria Escriva offers us a super helpful list to work on.
How often do you volunteer to help at your Church or in your community?
How often do you pray?
Which of these categories would your friends say you're an expert in?