Lent kick off last week, launching a season of penance and spiritual reflection during which time Catholics the world over immerse themselves in a 40-day period of abstinence and fasting. In our time, some of the most popular luxuries to give up include social media, sweets, electronic devices, and caffeine. Some of the more die-hard Read more
Lent is a time to ask for God’s grace to chip away at hypocrisy, which is seen in the natural human attempt to appear “worthier than we are,” Pope Francis said. “I must appear to be what I am, and that is our work in Lent,” the pope said March 8 during his early morning Read more
As we move into Lent, the Church draws us inexorably towards Jesus’ last days. It is a solemn journey. I used to see the passion as dramatic crime involving evil plotting against an innocent man. Pharisees, Sadducees, Judas, Pilate, Herod, a hysterical crowd, they were all villains. There were a few goodies amongst the baddies Read more
Nearly one-quarter of McDonald’s Filet-of-Fish sandwich sales take place during Lent when many fast-food customers are abstaining from meat. That’s exactly what the McDonald’s operator who first put the cheese-topped sandwich on his menu had in mind back in 1962. According to an account in Reader’s Digest, when Cincinnati McDonald’s franchise owner Lou Groen noticed that Read more
Need a creative way to add some spiritual reflection to your day-to-day this Lent? Try Busted Halo’s InstaLent photo challenge is here to help. You’re invited to join the Busted Halo InstaLent Photo Challenge throughout the Season of Lent (until Easter). Lent is a time to reflect and draw closer to God, so we hope Read more
A Catholic priest should not have a woman in his bedroom at night, but I have become quite dependent on Alexa. She turns the light on when I come into my room, and she turns it off after I am in bed. When I have to get up in the middle of the night, she Read more
This year, Jews and Muslims have been invited to join in the German Karneval celebrations in Germany. Traditionally, in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, Catholic cities in Germany hold huge street celebrations. Parades and parties provide revellers with a last binge of drinking, dancing and singing before the 40 days of fasting in Read more
There is a saying, “Pray as you can, not as you can’t,” and I’m one of those people who can’t pray some of the words in the changed liturgy. The problem is not ‘consubstantiation’ and a sprinkling of clumsy English, but a couple of statements that have no meaning for me. For example, I can’t Read more
As we near the end of Lent, it’s a good time to stop and assess how we have done thus far. Before the revision of the Roman Missal in 1970, this coming Sunday, the Fifth Sunday of Lent, was referred to as “Passion Sunday” and marked the beginning of Passiontide. In his incredible fifteen-volume work Read more
The Tearfund has issued a lenten challenge –The Great Wardrobe Clean Out. Set a time to look in your wardrobe Repurpose, reuse recycle Stop it building up again The challenge is part of the Tearfund’s Lenten campaign. People who signed up, received a daily email suggesting people to rethink ethical consumption Read more