This Lenten season, we look forward to journeying with you through the spiritual desert as we come to a deeper understanding of the cross in our lives. We created this page to help you and your family enter fully into the season.
[St. Paul] evokes the image of sowing and reaping, so dear to Jesus (cf. Mt 13). Saint Paul speaks to us of a kairós: an opportune time for sowing goodness in view of a future harvest. What is this “opportune time” for us? Lent is certainly such an opportune time, but so is our entire existence, of which Lent is in some way an image. All too often in our lives, greed, pride and the desire to possess, accumulate and consume have the upper hand, as we see from the story of the foolish man in the Gospel parable, who thought his life was safe and secure because of the abundant grain and goods he had stored in his barns (cf. Lk 12:16-21).
Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ. (From the United States Confrence of Catholic Bishops)
Wednesday, March 2 through Thursday, April 14
This spiritual journey we are embarking on is an opportunity for us to reinforce three spiritual pillars that sustain the life of a disciple of Jesus. Below, you'll find some ways you and your family develop the three pillars:
An examen done at the end of every day can help you become more aware of the habits and attitudes that hold you back or distract you from becoming the saint you were made to be.
This Lent, try going to one more Mass than you normally do. Participating in a Mass during the week can help sustain the spiritual momentum from the weekend.
Mass is celebrated Monday-Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Join thousands of people across the world in this prayer challenge that will help you deepen your relationship with God while meditating on the depth of Jesus' sacrifice.
Support Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley or the young children served by HopeAustin.