LENT starts with Ash Wednesday... But What Is Ash Wednesday?

On this first day of Lent, Christians attend liturgical activities and receive ashes on our foreheads in the form of a cross, signaling a sign of our faith and a reminder of remorse for our sins. We are told “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel,” when we receive the ashes. 

With these ashes, we recall our origins from the earth, as well as how our bodies shall return one day to the same form (as indicated by the dictum “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return”). 

In true fashion of life coming full circle, the ashes are produced from the burning of palm fronds of the preceding year’s Palm Sunday, which comes the week before Easter Sunday and marks the welcome Jesus received from followers upon his return to Jerusalem prior to his crucifixion. 

While many people traditionally eat plenty on Shrove Tuesday, Christians are called upon to fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday. As outlined in the Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law: 

“Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. “ Canon 1251

What Is Lent?

With ashes administered, we now begin Lent, a period of forty-six days (forty when Sundays are excluded) that commemorates the time Jesus spent in the desert prior to beginning his public ministry as Messiah. 

As described in the gospel readings according to Matthew, Mark and Luke, following his baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert, where he fasted for forty days and was subject to temptation by Satan. 

To honor this sacrifice and conquest over the devil, Catholics and other Christians elect to set aside the season of Lent to refocus on Jesus as we look ahead to his death on the Cross and rejoice over his miraculous return. 

What Do We Do during Lent?

Lent is a time when participants can carry out a three-fold mission, with the key pillars being fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. Certainly, these components are not new within our Catholic teachings nor are they reserved only for Lent, as we are encouraged to practice them regularly throughout the year. However, a special and renewed focus on each of them during Lent can foster growth and appreciation within our collective faith and respective spiritual journeys.

God, heavenly Father,

look upon us and hear our prayer during this holy Season of Lent.

By your good works You inspire us,

help us to discipline our body and to be renewed in spirit.

Without You we can do nothing.

By Your Spirit help us to know what is right

and to be eager in doing Your will.

Keep us from sin,

and help us live by Your commandment of love.

God of love, bring us back to You.

Send Your Spirit to make us strong in faith and active in good works.

Open our heart to Your love,

and prepare us for the coming feast of the Resurrection of Jesus.

Nourish us with Your Word of life

and make us one with You in love and prayer.

Fill our heart with Your love

and keep us faithful to the Gospel of Christ.

Give us the grace to rise above our human weakness.

Guide us in Your gentle mercy,

We ask this through our Christ our Lord. 

Amen

Good St. Anne. Pray For Us!

Lenten Prayer

We have chosen to fast

Not with ashes but with actions

Not with sackcloth but in sharing

Not in thoughts but in deeds

We will give up our abundance

To share our food with the hungry

We will give up our comfort

To provide homes for the destitute

We will give up our fashions

To see the naked clothed

We will share where others hoard

We will free where others oppress

We will heal where others harm

Then God’s light will break out on us

We will find our joy in the Lord

We will be like a well watered garden

We will be called repairers of broken walls

And together we will feast at God’s banquet table. Amen

Good St. Anne pray for us.

LENT/LITURGICAL SEASONS/MY FAITH

Let’s recap. Lent comes along every year. And every year you think you should give up something that will be A) difficult, B) life-changing, and C) creative.

I present to you 102 things to give up for Lent. I stretched every muscle in my brain to come up with this list for you. Now you absolutely have NO excuse that you “can’t think of what to give up for Lent” because I DID ALL THE THINKING FOR YOU. And my head hurts now.

What you should really give up (or take up) for Lent:

1.     Snacking between meals.

2.     Cracking your knuckles.

3.     Plumber’s crack.

4.     Instagram filters.

5.     Being a backseat driver.

6.     Listening to music in the car.

7.     Texting and driving.

8.     Making out.

9.     Using emojis to avoid talking about your true feelings.

10.  Talking about true feelings through text instead of in person.

11.  Not inviting your friends to Mass with you! SCARY! Reputation!

12.  Rolling your eyes at your parents.

13.  Spitting out your gum on the street, parking lot, sidewalk.

14.  Wishing for someone else’s life, relationship, or possessions.

15.  Complaining.

16.  The phrase, “I can’t even.”

17.  Only talking to Jesus when you need something.

18.  Only talking to Jesus when you “feel” like it.

19.  Wearing clothes too tight and drawing attention only to your body.

20.  Pride. Instead pray the Litany of Humility every day.

21.  Being selfish. Give away something every single day, be it time,              money, or something you own.

22.  Greed. Don’t buy anything besides the essentials during Lent. Food. Lent Companion. Transportation costs. Allergy medicine.     Bare minimums!

23.  Laziness. Give up TV and commit to going to a walk every day and praying the rosary.

24.  Gossip. Write 40 affirmation notes (or a note every time you slip up and gossip).

25.  Impure thoughts and actions, fast from eating between meals and from sweets. Train your body to be obedient to your will.

26.  Saying “God” or “Jesus” outside of a prayer, memorize Ephesians 4:29 and repeat it on the hour, every hour during the day.

27.  If you lie, get up. Walking is cool.

28.  If you’re angry, take up kickboxing.

29.  If you’re complacent, take up Zumba.

30.  If you’re my mom, please don’t do either.

31.  If you’re addicted to porn, sign up for CovenantEyes.com.

32.  If you occasionally look at porn, sign up for CovenantEyes.com.

33.  If you’re an emotional eater, keep a food/feelings journal,find your triggers.

34.  If you’re wasteful, volunteer once a week at a soup kitchen.

35.  If you have road rage, don’t drive.

36.  Just kidding. See #28.

37.  If you don’t trust God, pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy every day.

38.  If you’re judgmental, pray for every person you see.

39.  If you’re vain, give up makeup or your mirror.

40.  If you have no idea what sins you struggle with, do an examination of conscience every night.

41.  Listen to Fr. Mike’s podcasts. He’s cool and humble about being cool.

42.  Give up tanning. You so pret-taaaayyy… alread-aaayyy…

43.  Watching VHS tapes and not rewinding them.

44.  Forgetting to water your plants.

45.  Forgetting to wear pants.

46.  Fake cleaning your room.

47.  Using the word “can’t.”

48.  Using the word “bae.”

49.  Using words that don’t glorify God. See #26.

50.  Bad jokes.

51.  Trolling online.

52.  Being sarcastic.

53.  But that’s impossible for you so forget it.

54.  Oh my gosh I need to stop being sarcastic. Pray for me.

55.  Do back to back to back novenas for the Life Teen Staff and Missionaries.

56.  Pizza.

57.  Gluten.

58.  Eating meat.

59.  Eating animal products.

60.  Talking about your special diet to get attention.

61.  Texting the opposite sex to get attention.

62.  Sexting.

63.  Sending snapchats of strangers.

64.  Sending snapchats to strangers.

65.  Not smiling at strangers.

66.  I’m on a roll with the strangers topic.

67.  PIZZA ROLLS. Sorry Tostinos.

68.  Not apologizing when you should because it’s hard to admit you’re wrong.

69.  Not going to Confession because it’s scary.

70.  Not dancing out of the Confessional with the joy of an innocent newborn!

71.  Getting your nails done.

72.  Making excuses to not go to daily Mass.

73.  Thinking about food all during daily Mass.

74.  Eating donuts as a reward after daily Mass.

75.  Sugar and/or creamer in your coffee.

76.  Drinking more than 1 cup of coffee.

77.  Underage drinking.

78.  Energy drinks.

79.  Soda.

80.  Buying spiritual books and not reading them.

81.  Buying into the idea that RELATIONSHIP GOALS should be like movies and Tumblr pictures.

82.  Not reading the lives of the saints because they “might” be boring.

83.  Not asking your favorite saints to intercede for you.

84.  Taking off your saint medals, saint bracelets, scapular…etc. Leave it on bruh.

85.  Leaving Facebook and/or Twitter open while you’re doing homework.

86.  Checking your phone every 2 minutes. (LOL. You know it’s 30 seconds.)

87.  Opening the fridge just to look at the same stuff that’s been there all day.

88.  Telling yourself you’re fat.

89.  And stupid. And anything less than the truth that you’re an amazing beloved child of God.

90.  Leaving lights on.

91.  Hiding your light under a bushel basket.

92.  Not instagraming the shizam out of your bushel basket because it’s rare to have one.

93.  The basket is metaphorical. #92 was sarcastic. Please go back to #54.

94.  Pulling the victim card when things go wrong.

95.  Being embarrassed when you need help from a therapist in order to live a happy, full life.

96.  Not going to counseling or therapy because you think it means you’re weak. (Newsflash, it means you’re the opposite — Hulk-like-strong-and-courageous.)

97.  Pretending you don’t have time to go to Adoration.

98.  Pretending you don’t have time to pray at home.

99.  Staying closed off to the glory of God’s presence around you all day ‘ery day.

100.          Refusing to recognize God in your neighbor.

101.          And God in your family. Even the most annoying members. God loves them. How will you?

102.          Hiding your faith from those around you. It’s Lent. Share what God is doing in your life these 40 days. #Lent

That only took all year for me to come up with this list. I hope it helps. I hope it made you smile. And I hope it blesses your Lent this year.

I’m praying for you.

Photo by William Bird, logo added.

To enter more deeply into the season of Lent with a daily prayer companion, check out Glorious Wounds.

About the Author

Christina Mead

I'm just striving for sainthood through lots of imperfect ways. I daydream about heaven, where I want to be the patron saint of lifeguards. I think I might paint my nails just so I can pick it off. I wrote a book about Mary and what she taught us about being a Catholic girl. It's called "That One Girl" and I think you'd like it! Follow me on Twitter @christinamead.

• Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling in them.

• Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of life.

• Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.

• Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God.

• Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.

• Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

• Fast from anger; feast on patience.

• Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.

• Fast from worry; feast on divine order.

• Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.

• Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.

• Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.

• Fast from hostility; feast on non-resistance.

• Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.

• Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.

• Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.

• Fast from discouragements; feast on hope.

• Fast from facts that depress; feast on verities that uplift.

• Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.

• Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.

• Fast from shadows of sorrow; feast on the sunlight of serenity.

• Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

• Fast from problems that overwhelm; feast on prayer that undergirds.

Reprinted from Marist Messenger, March 2003

Fast and Feast Daily Prayers

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Throughout Lent we will be looking at the idea of Fasting and Feasting and how each day we can work to fast from one thing that darkens our hearts and the way to bring light by feasting on something else.

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling in them.

When we judge others by the clothes they wear or their hair or the things they can or can’t do, we are speaking more about our own insecurities and fears than anything else.  Judging others makes the argument that you must have this or do that to be worthy.  Our worth does not rest on someone else’s idea of what is good.  Our worth is based on being created in the image and likeness of God and that Christ dwells within us, that we are whole and holy people.

Compassionate God, Help us during this day of Lent not to judge others but to recognize Christ in them.

Today let us work to be a light of Christ in our world. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.

Darkness has always had a sinister ring to it.  

Not many children are afraid of the light…but in the darkness, monsters can live in the closet. 

People generally don’t fear walking through a well-lit alley…

it’s the dark alley in which a mugger might be lurking.  

The path may not be known to us but at least if we can see it, we feel better.

Light brings confidence – darkness encourages fear.

We can also walk in a spiritual darkness when we choose to push God away, when we see no hope or reason to bring faith into the decisions that we make.

And maybe it has nothing to do with choice, but that we do not know God.

We do not know what God calls us to and how we will live that out.

We can walk in the natural light or darkness and we can also walk in spiritual light or in darkness but in either case, you cannot walk in both at the same time.

Light Eternal, Be with us as we journey from darkness to light, Seeking your will and way.

Guide us in the choices we make and the lives we touch.

Help us to recognize when we are walking in apparent darkness  And help us to live in the reality of light

Where we can see clearly and know abundant life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.

How often do we use words to create a toxic environment around

and then follow it up with those famous words “I was just kidding.”

We use words to hurt others, to push people away,

to show our own strength in any situation.

However words that pollute don’t say “I am in charge.”  

What they say is “I am a bully. I am weak. I am afraid. I am wounded.”

When we choose to bring a kind word and a peaceful heart to every situation what we are really saying is “I am safe, secure, confident, gifted, and worthy.  And so are you.”

Gentle And Loving God, Many times we do not have the right words to speak.

Either we have remained silent when someone needed us to use words of love or we spoke using words that pollute.

Change our hearts so we can use life giving words at the right time and in the right place.

Keep our hearts open to your will in what we say, think, and do and help us to put our faith, hope, and life in you.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of life.

I’m tall and he’s short. He is rich and I am poor. 

We are popular and they are not. 

Do these judgments cause us to move further away from people? 

We have been created to seek out meaningful relationships where our differences do not separate us but only serve to enhance the fullness and richness of life.

If we recognize that no matter what, we are created in the image and likeness of God and that is our most common ground.

Creator God,

Help us to see that the commonality in all people is you.

Help us to celebrate the gift of those around us and be witnesses to your love.

Help us to build relationships that are healing and healthy, as we reach out to others

And help us to rejoice in the unity of Life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God.

In churches, mosques, ashrams, "healing rooms," prayer groups and homes millions of people around the world offer prayers daily to heal themselves, family, friends, co-workers and even people far away. Prayer is the thing that most people turn to first when it comes to health and health issues.

Every major world religion believes in prayer for healing. In times of illness, all religions look towards their source of authority."

If we allow ourselves to be consumed with negative thoughts, then in many ways we become those thoughts.  And part of the challenge that we face everyday is to live in a positive space, to live in hope, and to believe that God will heal us in ways we may or may not understand.   

Anytime we take the opportunity to pray, whether it be for ourselves or for others, we are opening up our hearts to God will in our lives.

Healing God,

You invite all who are burdened to come to you.

Touch our souls with Your compassion for others; Touch our hearts with Your courage and infinite Love for all;

Touch our minds with Your Wisdom, And may our mouth always proclaim Your praise.

Teach us to reach out to You in all our needs, and help us to lead others to You by our example.

Bring us health in body and spirit That I may serve You with all our strength.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.

Nearly everyone has been hurt by the actions or words of another. These wounds can leave lasting feelings of anger, bitterness and even vengeance — but if we don't practice forgiveness, we may be the ones who pay most dearly. By embracing forgiveness, you embrace peace, hope, gratitude and joy.

Forgiveness doesn't mean that we deny the other person's responsibility for hurting us, and it doesn't minimize or justify the wrong. We can forgive without excusing the act. Forgiveness brings a kind of peace that helps us go on with life. Letting go of grudges and bitterness makes way for compassion, kindness and peace.

If we're unforgiving, we may pay the price repeatedly by bringing anger and bitterness into every relationship and new experience. Our lives may become so wrapped up in the wrong that we can't enjoy the present.

Faultless Lord,

enduring death for me, You have taken on our sins: Your sacrifice of forgiveness was absolute!

Grant us the strength to also forgive others, To excuse their hurtful actions against us.

Forgive our sins as we aspire to forgive others. Help us to recognize true forgiveness by your actions

And always seek to follow your example. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from anger; feast on patience.

Anger can be considered as one of the most natural human emotions. A little amount of anger is actually essential for our survival however, anger that sits in the pit of your stomach all the time, isn’t what we talking about.  Anger is one of those emotions that we are so easily able to justify because “He Made me mad” or “she said this ” or “he pulled out in front of me.”

But in fact we have to practice patience.  Nature teaches us that very thing.  We can’t hurry nature. Seasons come. Seasons go.  And in between, we learn to wait.

For some, waiting in a line at the grocer's almost feels like waiting for a long, harsh winter to end. They pace or foot-tap, rattle pocket change and make snide remarks about slow service. Impatient people cast a gloomy cloud wherever they go. Patience is one way to bless others as well as ourselves. It's a lifelong gift we can pass on to our children and grandchildren.

Lord, teach me to be patient – with life, with people, and with myself.

I sometimes try to hurry things along too much, and I push for answers before the time is right.

Teach me to trust Your sense of timing rather than my own and to surrender to Your greater and wiser plan.

Help me let life unfold slowly, like the small rosebud whose petals unravel bit by bit,

and remind me that in hurrying the bloom along, I destroy the bud and much of the beauty therein.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.

We can modify our personal worlds by changing our belief systems and our thought patterns. According to the New Testament, as we change we continue to overlap our personal worlds with God's real world.

Worry or anxiety comes from how we "make sense" of our personal world.  In our culture, it is acceptable and perhaps even expected that each of us spends a certain amount of time worrying about everyday issues.

Some might wonder, If God allows bad things to happen, how can I trust Him with the details of my daily life

Trust God with Everything. Build a relationship with God. If we truly want to please God, we will have to make the decision,  saying "I will trust God with my salvation and with every detail of my life." The writer of Hebrews tells us that we have to seek God, believe in Him, and believe that He rewards the seeker (see Hebrews 11:6).

O GOD, our thirst for you is pushed aside, ignored, or simply quenched by something else,

something worldly, something more popular than you.

But you never go away, never stop, never leave the depths of our hearts.

Like an underground spring, you are fresh and free, breaking through.

Help us prepare a place for you in the depths of our souls.  We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others. It is one of the oldest and most common means of spreading information.  The problem is that gossip is never a good thing.  It is spread in order to hurt someone, or to have something on them, or to make them look worse so I look better.  Sometimes our moms are actually right like with the saying “If you can say something nice don’t say anything at all.”

It is important for us not to give in to the temptation of being included or in the know about everyone and everything.  It seems too easy to just lean over when someone says “hey did you hear …” but we not called to that.  God calls us to purposeful silence.  To build up rather than tear down.  To stop talking long enough to hear what God has to say.

Lord Jesus, Son of the Most Holy, In your time people spoke badly about one another, Even to the point of crucifying you.

But your words only reflect light in our day

Help us to truly work to follow you by respecting others, That we may never gossip against anyone.

Guide us on the right path of life, Where hurtful gossip does not exist.

And give us the strength to stand up to those who spread destruction And for those who are hurt by gossip.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

If we feast on discontent, we live in a grumpy, never satisfied, unhappy life.  So lets try something. Could we all just be grateful for 2 minutes?  Could we tried to feel a little gratitude for the people who love and care for us, for what we have and all that we enjoy around us?

Why should the simple act of thinking about who and what we are grateful for make such a big difference in our lives?

Just a few reasons:

• Because it reminds you of the positive things in your life.

• Because it turns bad things into good things.

• Because it reminds you of what’s important.

• Because it reminds you to thank others.

What do we give thanks for?

• Our parents and grandparents and all they do

• Our siblings who teach us to share, negotiate, laugh and be loyal.

• Where I live, my, home, my neighbourhood, my country.

• That we can go to school , have a job, and live in freedom.

• For strangers who’ve shown us little acts of kindness.

• And for God who has given us a life full of the Wonder and mystery.

Gracious God, in the busy-ness of our days, we sometimes forget to stop to thank you for all that is good in our lives.

Our blessings are many and our hearts are filled with gratitude for the gift of living, for the ability to love and be loved,

for the opportunity to see the everyday wonders of creation, for sleep and water, for a mind that thinks and a body that feels.

Help us to recognize with gratitude, everything in our lives and give us the strength to live out of that gratitude

in the way that we love other and appreciate others. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.

Some people see the glass as half empty. Others see it as half full.

When you think about it, most people are optimists sometimes and pessimists other times. Ironically, a lot of times things turn out how the people tend to feel about them. Henry Ford once said, "If you think you can,   or   you think you can't, you are right!"

But let’s be honest, we must always do our part and put positive, productive action behind our thoughts in order for anything to really work out.  We cannot simply think things into existence, no matter how optimistic we are, if that is all we do. And when it comes down to it, that's not really optimism, but delusion.

Being optimistic breathes life into you every day, being pessimistic does not--it actually drains you.

Optimism inspires people to new and greater heights. Being pessimistic diminishes and underestimates people to new lows.

An optimist improves people around them. On the contrary, a pessimist drags their energy down.

And if you're an optimist, you would naturally find and feel that good things happen to you.

Creator God,

Help us to seek and find the optimistic side of things.

Jesus, journey with us as we make our way in what is often a complicated life 

and we ask the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to follow in your way.  We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.

How long is your list? My mother,  my father,  my siblings,  my room,  my job, my lack of a job,  my boss,  my chores around the house,  my clothes,  other peoples clothes,  how long the line is,  that people are talking about me, that people don’t even notice me,   the cafeteria food,   the cold weather,   the hot weather,   the rain,   the snow,   the humidity,   time – not enough or to much,   the photocopier,  one way communication,   talking to much,   being over-worked,   my teachers,   my students,   my work load,   my life and that no one appreciates me.

How can so many people all be so good at one thing? Complaining started way back in history. Look at Cain and Abel. And then there were the Israelites. People have forgotten how to live.   Everywhere you look in God's word, you'll find scripture where Jesus talks about being appreciative. Instead of whining about all that's negative, Jesus preaches about looking for the positive.

When we appreciate, we grasp the nature, worth, quality, and  significance of the pieces of our lives.  We place a special value on those people, events and things that bring us life, joy, challenge, hope and love.   

Creator God,

your gifts of love are countless and your goodness infinite.

We come before you with great appreciation for the many things you have given us.

Open our hearts to concern for our fellow men and women, so that we may share Your gifts in loving service.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.

Our minds are an incredibly powerful tool, and as you have probably heard before, we only use a small portion of it every day. Our thoughts play a significant role in how we view the world, and the positive vs negative thoughts we carry with us can be the foundation for all sorts of things in our lives, both good and bad.

We can control our thoughts and therefore we can control whether our thoughts are positive or negative. Our minds control our thought processes and can be the catalyst for living a positive, happy life, or a life of doom and gloom. What choices have you made?

Begin each day in a positive manner. Open the drapes to let the sun shine in, put on some of your favorite music, tell yourself a positive thought or two...whatever it takes to start your positive thinking. You will be amazed at what these simple changes can bring to your life.

JESUS, We place all our trust in your Sacred Heart and surrender ourselves to your will. Come into our lives, drive away our fears, stop our restless strivings and show us new ways of pleasing you.

TEACH us to discern the good in others and to love them with an affectionate smile, a gentle nature, a patient ear and an affirming word.

PRAY that we will become alive again with awe and appreciation of truth and courage to oppose evil. Remind us always that we are created for happiness, for the joy of living in the presence of God.

PRAY that WE may have the inner peace that comes from confidence, surrender and affirmation.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from discouragements; feast on hope.

Life is full of failures, rejection and more than a fair share of discouragement. I believe that the difference in how persistent people are often comes down to how they handle the discouragement that comes from the same situation.

But we are a people of hope.  Hope, in its widest acceptation, is described as the desire of something together with the expectation of obtaining it. 

We hope for wisdom  -  We hope for peace

We hope to one day rest with the angels and saints

We hope in the resurrection

I want all of these things and I have an expectation of obtaining them.

In scripture Micah says “But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

For people of faith, Hope is the enduring orientation of the human spirit towards final union with God. It is considered as a goal that can be attained with God’s help, but without divine help impossible to attain.

Never let go of hope. It is what intimately connects us with a God who created us in his image and likeness for grace and glory.

God of Hope

Who has graciously promised every blessing, even heaven itself,

We rely on your infinite power, goodness, and mercy, and on your sacred promises.

We confidently hope to obtain pardon of all sins, grace to serve you faithfully in this life, and eternal happiness in the next;

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.

The truth of the matter is that we could spend every waking hour looking at the worst things in life.  The TV, satellite and cable stations make murders, abuse, rape, neglect, violence, heartache, and indignities seem like an unavoidable, accepted part of life.  So much so that we as a society have in some ways accepted that this lack of respect for the human person is okay.

But the truth of the matter is that we are all created in the image and likeness of God and are worthy of love, respect, dignity, and care and we deserve to be treated as such.  We also have the responsibility to treat other with this truth in mind.

If we simply lived according to the truth that uplifts us then we would care for our families, for the poor, for those in need.  We would bring dignity to people around us and to ourselves.  We would work for justice in the world and we would do our part to contribute to the goodness that can surround us.

Creator God, Help us to recognized the truth of our beloved selves.

A self that is not weak, but strong, Not flawed or damaged, but whole and perfect. Not full of pain, but basking in peace.

Not doubtful, but sure. Not proud, but humble, Confident, loving, serene and joyful.

 All negativity will be transformed in you and we invoke Your Light.

Bring us into union with you and the Holy Spirit as we journey the path to the truth. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith. 

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from laziness; Feast on enthusiasm.

Lack of motivation and enthusiasm can show up everywhere, at home, at work, in relationships, in pursuing goals and in everything else. This often brings indifference, unhappiness and dissatisfaction. Motivation and enthusiasm show themselves as desire and interest, and as a driving force that pushes to take action and pursue goals.

Do you lack motivation and enthusiasm?

Do I…

·         act passively,

·         blame everything and everyone for my circumstances,

·         often come up with many excuses why I shouldn't or cannot accomplish tasks

·         doubt my own ability to accomplish things so I just don’t even try.

Every time we are enthusiastic, we strengthen our view of being someone who is enthusiastic. As you identify with your positive qualities, you make them an integral part of who you are.

From the negative perspective, a bank robber is someone who robbed even one bank. A carjacker becomes one even if he’s only done it once.

Apply this pattern to positive actions. One act of kindness means that you are a kind person. Viewing yourself this way will motivate you to be consistently kinder. One act of courage means that you have courage. You are more likely to act courageously from then on. And a single instance of enthusiasm entitles you to a self-image of someone who has the attribute of enthusiasm. Now you can be more enthusiastic more often. This itself is something to be enthusiastic about.

Heavenly Father, help me always to remember that I can accomplish all of my goals as long as I have enthusiasm. 

Let me never forget that enthusiasm is at the root of all progress. 

And let my enthusiasm be contagious so that all of those with whom I come in contact might also share in the same enthusiasm that motivates me.

Guide my thoughts and my actions as I pass through the hours of this day.  

And let my work and all that I create always be a testimony to You. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for us.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a Great Day Saints!

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.

The way a person lives can't help but speak of what he believes in.

Is he sold on what he believes in, is he unsure about it or maybe he just doesn’t care?

If he believes in something, does he have a concept of its greatness, or is it just a one among many beliefs that can be discarded when some new interest comes along?

God promises heaven to those who believe in Jesus Christ.

If we believe in the greatness of the promises and in God's faithfulness to fulfill them, we'll live differently. The greatness of God's promises calls for faith that obeys and faith that looks beyond death.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph were men who lived for God's promises. Like the other men and women cited in Hebrews 11, they lived at crucial junctures in their lives, "by faith" - by believing in the promises of God.

God promised them a multitude of descendants living in a land that he promised to give them. The promised land for us, and even for them, is a picture of something more. It's a new world, where we reach out to those who are in need, where we care for the environment around us, where we all work to bring dignity and grace to each and every person that we meet.

 We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Good Morning,

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fast from problems that overwhelm; feast on prayer that builds a strong foundation.

Prayer is one of the most powerful ways to find inner peace, yet sometimes we forget to use that blessing to the fullest advantage.  In this hectic, fast-paced world, we find it difficult to pause and pray.  But when can we pray and experience the serenity of this gift from a loving God.

We can pray

·         In the shower

·         While driving

·         While cooking dinner

·         While getting dressed in the morning

·         While waiting in line at the supermarket

·         When trying to find just the right words to say to our family and friends.

There is power in individual prayer and in community prayer as well which is why we bring prayers for staff and students to you during morning prayer.

So today we pray…

Gracious and loving God,

We pray for all staff and students as they complete this academic year.

We pray for all who have lost loved ones and that those who have left this life will rest with the angels and saints this day and always.

We pray for all families connected to the St. Anne’s family, that they will be strengthened in love, faith and courage.

We pray for all those who struggle with academics, addiction, loneliness, hostility, and negativity.

And we pray that we may be held in God’s loving embrace as we seek peace in our hearts, our homes, our school and our world.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Throughout Lent we have looked at the idea of Fasting and Feasting and how each day we can work to fast from one thing that darkens our hearts and the way to bring light by feasting on something else.

Fast from the negative; feast on the positive.

I guess when we boil it all down, every single day of our Lenten prayer brings us to this idea …

Live the negative and you are giving in to the angry, pessimistic, complaining, bitter, lazy side of life.

And you can do that, but there is no joy.  And people spend there entire lives searching and seeking things that will fill them up or make them feel better about themselves or make them feel loved or make them not feel at all.

Live the positive and you find patience, gratitude, enthusiasm, prayer, forgiveness, faith, truth, hope, and peace. And you easily find joy.

And if we live with just these things mentioned, everything else falls into place because we are patient with our families, we are grateful for the blessings we have, we pray for and forgive others, you get the idea.

Fast from the things that take away life and Feast on the things that truly bring life.

Almighty and Everlasting God, You have given the human race Jesus Christ, Our Savior as a model of humility.

He fulfilled your will by becoming Man and giving His life on the Cross.

Help us to bear witness to You by following His example And make us worthy to share in His Resurrection.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a great day, Saints.

Easter Triduum: For three full days, from Holy Thursday evening to Easter Sunday night, the Church celebrates the Paschal mystery of Jesus Christ. This is his work of saving us by his dying and rising: one great act of God’s love and mercy for us. We celebrate because Jesus has brought us into his paschal mystery by baptism. With him we are baptized into death to sin; with him we rise to live a new life for God.

Holy Thursday

Evening Mass: We remember the Passover feast of the Jewish people and the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples when we celebrate the Eucharist this evening. Before he offers himself on the cross, Jesus takes bread and says, “This is my body.” He takes a cup of wine and says “This is my blood of the new covenant shed to save all sinners. Do this in memory of me.” We obey him each time we come together to celebrate the Eucharist.

• Washing of the feet. At the Last Supper, Jesus washed his apostles’ feet to give them an example of love and service. Its re enactment is a reminder that all Christians are called to love and to serve others.

• Communion under both forms. Jesus told us to remember him by eating and drinking. Tonight especially everyone is invited to eat the bread of life and drink the cup of salvation.

• Procession. At the end of the Mass, the Eucharist for the Good Friday communion celebration is carried reverently through the church and reserved in a place of honour.

• Adoration. Until midnight, members of the community spend time in prayer and adoration, remembering the Lord Jesus, whose death and resurrection saves us.

Good Friday

Spirit of the day: The meaning of this day is clearly indicated by its name in English: it is “Good” Friday, the day when God did wonderful things for us by the suffering and death of his Son. Out of his death God has brought us light and life, making it possible for us to be saved. This is indeed a good day for the world.

Paschal fast: This morning we begin our two day fast in preparation for the Easter vigil. We eat less food than normal and cut out entertainments. We wait until the Easter vigil to wear our spring finery. These are days for prayer and meditation, not for shopping or driving or being entertained: Friday and Saturday form a sort of mini Lent, and are actually the origin of that season.

Liturgy: Around 3:00 o’clock, the time of our Lord’s death on the cross, we come together in church to remember what Jesus has done for us. In the service of the word, we listen to the solemn proclamation of Jesus’ passion according to John, then offer prayer for the world and for God’s people, the Church.

We venerate the cross, and eat the life giving Body of the Lord in communion.

In our homes we keep the paschal fast all day. All members make an effort to observe silence and to spend more time in prayer.

• If we do not have a cross in our family room and in each person’s room, this would be a good day to put these crosses in place.

• At other times during the day, we may go to a service at our parish church, or have a quiet family celebration of the way of the cross.

Lord Jesus, we give you glory, you are the saviour of the world!

Holy Saturday

On this day, the body of Jesus lay in the guarded tomb and the frightened disciples hid behind locked doors. In the Church, Holy Saturday is a quiet day, the great Sabbath rest. The paschal fast continues and we avoid entertainments and distractions, as on Good Friday. During the day, the catechumens (elect) make their final preparations for baptism.

Easter

Easter vigil: This service is the most important celebration of the Church year. It takes place during the dark hours of the night. It has four distinct stages:

• Light service. After the blessing of the new fire, the priest lights the Easter candle. This represents the risen Lord and is a visible reminder that Jesus is the light of the world.

• Liturgy of the word. Nine readings from God’s word lead us from creation through God’s saving works to his greatest work, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. We listen with faith, reflect on the word and respond by singing psalms. The homily helps us to recognize God’s mighty works in our midst.

• Christian initiation. Our baptism into the death and rising of the Lord Jesus is at the centre of tonight’s celebration (Romans 6.3 11). In each parish, water for baptism is solemnly blessed. Catechumens who have prepared over a long period of time now reject Satan, profess their faith in Christ and are baptized, confirmed, and nourished with their first Eucharist.

The rest of the people renew their baptismal promises and are sprinkled with blessed water in memory of their baptism. Tonight is celebrated as the baptismal anniversary of the whole Christian community.

• Eucharist: The first Mass of Easter is celebrated with great splendour. We rejoice because Christ has been raised from the dead and because we are renewed in him. Once more we begin our task of sharing the good news of salvation with everyone we meet.

Easter day: The joyful celebration of our Lord’s rising continues. 

Alleluia! meaning “praise to God!” is our shout of joy.

If you think of the liturgical calendar as the “circle of life”, the mystery of Christ unfolds. The significance and beauty of how Christ calls us to live our lives through him comes to light.

GREEN is the liturgical color of Ordinary Time that we find on priestly vestments and in our church decor. It is the color of life and hope.

Ordinary Time is divided into two time periods. Following the Baptism of our Lord is the first period, which continues until Ash Wednesday. Pentecost Sunday starts the second period of Ordinary Time, the longest liturgical season, as it continues until the Advent season begins again.

Ordinary Time is anything but ordinary  

This is a time of conversion, maturation, and quiet growth. It comprises the longest time on the liturgical calendar when the faithful consider the fullness of Jesus’ teachings and miracles while on this earth. One symbol often found in Ordinary Time is comprised of two fish and a basket of bread — symbolizing Jesus’ “Loaves and the Fishes” miracle. (See Matthew 14: 13-21.)

Prayer for Ordinary Time

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Almighty ever-living God,

who govern all things,

both in heaven and on earth,

mercifully hear the pleading of your people

and bestow your peace on our times.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Prayer for Ordinary Time

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Almighty ever-living God,

who govern all things,

both in heaven and on earth,

mercifully hear the pleading of your people

and bestow your peace on our times.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Beginning the Church's liturgical year,  Advent (from, "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to") is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas.

The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas. From the earliest days of the Church, people have been fascinated by Jesus’ promise to come back. But the scripture readings during Advent tell us not to waste our time with predictions. Advent is not about speculation. 

Our Advent readings call us to be alert and ready, not weighted down and distracted by the cares of this world (Lk 21:34-36). Like Lent, the liturgical color for Advent is purple since both are seasons that prepare us for great feast days. Advent also includes an element of penance in the sense of preparing, quieting, and disciplining our hearts for the full joy of Christmas.

The use of the wreath and candles during Advent are a longstanding Catholic tradition that was originally adopted by Christians in the Middle Ages as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas.

The wreath and candles are full of symbolism tied to the Christmas season. The wreath itself, which is made of various evergreens, signifies continuous life. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life we find in Christ.

Celebrating ADVENT

Sunday November 28th, we begin the season of Advent by celebrating the 1st Sunday of Advent. Advent is our time of preparation and time of waiting for the coming of Jesus. It is a rich and powerful season of the Church year.

We often miss Advent's power because these December weeks are full of secular Christmas parties and preparations for Christmas. Each year, the busyness of this season serves to distract us from having an Advent season that truly prepares us for the celebration of Christmas, with all its meaning.

We must see through the 'eyes of faith' when we look at our Advent preparations for Christmas rather than the “lens of society” i.e. the computer, the phone, the tv or movies.

Through eyes of faith, we see the birth of the Christ-child, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace. We see that it is being with family that is the gift, the shared moments of grace that are important.  It is practicing goodness, generosity, hospitality and humility that give us the deepest sense of peace, joy and love.  We see those in need, the homeless and the hungry not just the overwhelming consumerism in the world.

The First Week of Advent

Jesus, Son of Mary, you are the hope in our messy world. This Advent, help us slow down, listen to your voice, see through "windows of faith" and focus on what’s really important. We place our HOPE in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas. We ask this through Christ of Lord. Amen.

The Second Week of Advent

Jesus, our Brother, you entered our world on Christmas as the Prince of Peace. This Advent, as we strive to look through the "windows of faith" and become the-best-version-of-ourselves, fill us with a deep and abiding peace. Help us share that PEACE with everyone we encounter, especially those who need it most. We ask this through Christ of Lord. Amen.

The Third Week of Advent

Jesus, the Christ-child, help us focus on you during this busy season. May we stay aware of the JOY you bring into our lives. When we look through the "windows of faith" we find you in the everyday moments and we can come with hearts of gratitude to your manger on Christmas. We ask this through Christ of Lord. Amen.

The Fourth Week of Advent

Jesus, Guiding Light, may the light of your love always shine in our hearts. As Christmas draws closer, we marvel at your great LOVE for us. Let your love transform every aspect of our lives, help us to see through "windows of faith" and touch everyone we encounter. Our hearts are open to you, Jesus. We ask this through Christ of Lord. Amen.

Advent Prayer for Families

Heavenly Father, your son Jesus is your greatest gift to us, 

a great sign of your love. 

Guide us as we strive to walk in that love 

together as a family this Advent. 

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, 

bring us closer to each other and to your son. 

Give us the grace and strength we need every day, 

help us to always trust in you 

and help us to look through "windows of faith" 

to see the world around us. 

Come, Lord Jesus, lead all people closer to you. 

Come and dispel the darkness of our world 

with the light of your love. 

Amen.

Good St. Anne. Pray For Us.