With this week’s commencement of the Lenten season in our Catholic tradition, I share a few resources that have spoken to me from two of my favorite Jesuits, our pastor and our Pope. I hope for a reflective time ahead to thoughtfully prepare for the glorious Easter season that awaits…I’ll definitely be ready by then!! Blessings on your week ahead.
“Lent is a time when we admit to God, ‘I need you.’ Lent is about generosity, so let us say thank you….accompany someone, and listen to them. Look through the eyes of faith and we will see that Lent is a journey through generosity….the generosity of God to ourselves, and the generosity of ourselves to others. Let us pray for sincerity of heart, and pray for how we can lift up others. Let us allow God to touch us and shake us…Lent is about bringing us closer to God.”
– Alejandro Baez, SJ, St. Agnes Church, San Francisco
A Prayer at the Beginning of Lent
As we embark upon this season of Lent, let us pray that we embrace the opportunity to:
Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and have trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill our hearts with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so we can listen.
We ask our Loving God to bless us with God’s peace, God’s joy, and God’s love.
– Attributed to Pope Francis
Keeping the Faith 