Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has published its first Te Reo Māori version of the Lenten reflection programme, a booklet used for reflection, prayer and discussion of the Gospels during Lent. Julianne Hickey, Director of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand says the Catholic Church recognises the importance of ensuring that people can pray, discuss and listen to Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Lent’
The cosmic outcast
Tuesday, March 19th, 2013
Catholics from China admit feeling embarrassed when they see a crucifix. Beyond the image of a tortured man suffering execution, the crucifixion depicts total humiliation, or “loss of face” as the Chinese say. To them, this seems harsher than the physical pain. The trouble with the crucifix is we no longer see it, but rather Read more
Roadside crosses mark the growth spot
Friday, March 1st, 2013
‘Why on earth do people use crosses to mark road deaths,’ asked my friend as we were setting the world to rights over a glass of vino. ‘It seems strange,’ she said, ‘it’s not as though they’d all be believers.’ Her question penetrated. I turned to talk to her but instead found myself looking back Read more
Living Lent …
Tuesday, February 26th, 2013
It is the season of Lent. I struggle to find a meaningful, significant, relevant means of living this season – consciously, authentically, deliberately. Attending the Stations of the Cross is a traditional Lenten practice. But my recent experience seems to make a mockery of this devotional prayer. A formula recited at such a rapid pace Read more
Online retreat options for Lent
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013
Fran Rossi Szpylczyn is a self-described “church nerd.” You could say she is something of an Internet one, too. A blogger for six years, she currently writes for three faith-related blogs — one for her own parish, one for the parish where she works as the office manager and onefor the Times Union newspaper in Albany, N.Y. That’s not counting her Read more
What Jesus taught in the Garden of Gethsemane
Tuesday, March 20th, 2012
It’s only in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Judas and the Roman soldiers arrive to arrest Jesus, that the early community — the disciples of men and women, the first church — finally come to understand Jesus. There they realize just how serious Jesus is about life-giving nonviolence. Lent invites us to come to the Read more
Three myths about the church to give up for Lent
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
I realize this comes a little late, but if anybody’s still on the market for something to give up for Lent, I’d suggest that the following misconceptions about the Catholic church and about Christianity in general would be dandy bits of intellectual junk to cut loose in the spirit of the season. Naturally, the venues Read more
Lent: Ashes-to-go hit US streets
Friday, February 24th, 2012
Episcopal parishes throughout the United States kicked off Lent by bringing ashes to the streets. Dubbed “Ashes to Go”, the church put a contemporary spin on the Ash Wednesday practice of smudging a cross of ashes on people’s foreheads by offering the ashes in train stations, coffee shops and other public spots. The practice began Read more
Self-inflicted pain; exchanged for pure soul
Tuesday, March 15th, 2011
Giving up a bad habit for Lent may make you feel less guilty or cleanse your soul if you are religious. This is the outcome of a University of Queensland research that identifies some self-inflicted pain helps ease the psychological burden of immoral behaviour. Researchers wanted to test the hypothesis that people seek out pain Read more
Brewing blogger on Lenten beer fast
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
A blogger is planning to give up food for Lent and drink beer for Lent. J Wilson, who is a home brewer intends to blog about his experience as he investigates a 300 year old tale about doppelbock beer, that is “liquid bread,” first developed for Lent by Bavarian monks in Munich, Germany. Wilson said the got Read more