Gospel: Mk. 7:1-13Gospel: Mk. 7:1-13

How do you prepare yourself for the season of fasting, abstinence

and almsgiving?

What is Lent?What is Lent?Revised VersionRevised Version

Mr. YaresCLF Class

What is Lent?What is Lent? Lent is one of the five Lent is one of the five

liturgical seasons in liturgical seasons in the liturgical year.the liturgical year.

During this time the People of During this time the People of God are called to God are called to commemorate and reflect on commemorate and reflect on the Lord’s passion through the Lord’s passion through spiritual preparation, spiritual preparation, conversion, and penance.conversion, and penance.

This Holy Season is an This Holy Season is an invitation to renew our invitation to renew our baptismal call. To live as Sons baptismal call. To live as Sons and daughters of God and and daughters of God and disciples of Christ, our Lord disciples of Christ, our Lord and savior.and savior.

What is the meaning of the What is the meaning of the word Lent?word Lent?

Lent is a Germanic word Lent is a Germanic word that basically that basically means spring means spring season.season.

The Latin equivalent is The Latin equivalent is quadragesimaquadragesima a word a word meaning “forty days”. meaning “forty days”.

Spring is a time of Spring is a time of changechange and renewaland renewal

The winter is over life The winter is over life begins to grow again.begins to grow again.

Lent is a spiritual spring, a Lent is a spiritual spring, a time for time for spiritual growth spiritual growth and renewal.and renewal.

Did you know?Did you know?

Lent is preceded by Lent is preceded by the first section of the first section of Ordinary time and Ordinary time and followed by the followed by the season of Easter.season of Easter.

When does Lent Begin?When does Lent Begin? The season of Lent begins The season of Lent begins

on on Ash WednesdayAsh Wednesday..

Did you know? Did you know?

Catholics are not the only Catholics are not the only Christians celebrating Ash Christians celebrating Ash Wednesday. Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday is Ash Wednesday is celebrated by other celebrated by other Christian denominations Christian denominations such as: Lutherans, such as: Lutherans, Episcopalians, Anglicans, Episcopalians, Anglicans, and Methodists.and Methodists.

Did you know?Did you know? On Ash Wednesday one On Ash Wednesday one

billion Catholics around the billion Catholics around the world go to Church to world go to Church to receive the Ashes during receive the Ashes during mass or outside the mass.mass or outside the mass.

Catholics then begin the Catholics then begin the Holy season of Holy season of LentLent..

Why is it called Ash Why is it called Ash Wednesday?Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday is so called Ash Wednesday is so called because on this day Ashes because on this day Ashes are used to mark Catholics are used to mark Catholics on their foreheads as a sign on their foreheads as a sign of conversion and of conversion and repentance. repentance.

Did you know?Did you know?

The ashes used on Ash The ashes used on Ash Wednesday come from the Wednesday come from the blessed palms left over from blessed palms left over from the previous year. the previous year.

The palms are burnt to The palms are burnt to produce the ashes. Ashes are produce the ashes. Ashes are considered sacramentals and considered sacramentals and are blessed before their use.are blessed before their use.

What is the meaning of the What is the meaning of the Ashes?Ashes?

A. The ashes are a symbol of A. The ashes are a symbol of repentancerepentance and and conversionconversion..

B. The ashes act as a B. The ashes act as a reminderreminder that we are called that we are called toto die die to to sinsin and and returnreturn to to God wholeheartedlyGod wholeheartedly. .

C. The ashes are a symbol C. The ashes are a symbol that reminds us that that reminds us that life is life is fragile fragile and that one must be and that one must be readyready to face our creator to face our creator..

What phrases are used to What phrases are used to impose the ashes?impose the ashes? During the Ash Wednesday During the Ash Wednesday

service two phrases or service two phrases or formulas are used to formulas are used to impose (place) the ashes impose (place) the ashes on the forehead of on the forehead of Catholics.Catholics.

These formulas are:These formulas are:

“ “Turn away from sin Turn away from sin and be faithful to and be faithful to the Gospel”.the Gospel”.

“ “You are dust and You are dust and into dust you shall into dust you shall return.”return.”

What is the meaning behind What is the meaning behind these phrases?these phrases? These phrases are These phrases are

invitation to:invitation to: A. RepentanceA. Repentance B. ReconciliationB. Reconciliation C. PenanceC. Penance D. DiscipleshipD. Discipleship

How do we prepare spiritually How do we prepare spiritually for Lent?for Lent? A. By A. By letting go of letting go of

sinful behaviorsinful behavior B. By seeking B. By seeking

conversion conversion ((interior interior changechange))

C. By C. By practicing practicing PenancePenance

D. By following the D. By following the teachingsteachings of Christ. of Christ. (Discipleship)(Discipleship)

E. By E. By practicingpracticing the the three three pillarspillars of Lent. of Lent.

What is Penance?What is Penance? Penance: is Penance: is makingmaking

amendsamends

Amends = Amends = Making upMaking up for what we do for what we do wrongwrong..

Lent is an opportunity Lent is an opportunity to to clean upclean up the inner the inner messmess and and fixfix our lives our lives and our relationship and our relationship with with God God and and neighborneighbor..

Gospel: Mt. 6:7-15Gospel: Mt. 6:7-15

How should you pray?How should you forgive?

What are the three pillars of What are the three pillars of Lent?Lent?

A. PrayerA. Prayer B. FastingB. Fasting C. AlmsgivingC. Almsgiving

How can we improve our How can we improve our prayer life during Lent?prayer life during Lent? Increase and improve the Increase and improve the

quality of your prayer quality of your prayer experience.experience.

You may do this by You may do this by dividing your prayer time dividing your prayer time in in three parts:three parts:

A. Morning A. Morning B. AfternoonB. AfternoonC. EveningC. Evening

Spend Spend 15 to 20 minutes15 to 20 minutes alone, alone, meditatingmeditating, , talkingtalking to to GodGod..

How can we improve our How can we improve our prayer life during Lent? prayer life during Lent? A. A. Become familiar Become familiar

with the with the life and life and teachings teachings of Jesusof Jesus by by reading the reading the GospelsGospels..

B. B. Each dayEach day readread a a different chapter from different chapter from each of the each of the Gospels.Gospels.

C. Try to C. Try to visualizedvisualized what is happening.what is happening.

What is Almsgiving?What is Almsgiving? Almsgiving is Almsgiving is another word another word

for for Charity.Charity.

A. Charity is A. Charity is lovelove in in actionaction..

B. Charity is a way to B. Charity is a way to reach reach outout to to those who are in those who are in needneed..

For example: collecting food For example: collecting food cans for the hungry, cans for the hungry, sponsoring a child in a sponsoring a child in a needed area, supporting needed area, supporting your local diocesan your local diocesan charities.charities.

C. Almsgiving is a form of C. Almsgiving is a form of self-denial, sacrifice on self-denial, sacrifice on behalf of others.behalf of others.

Pope Benedict XVI’s Message for Lent Pope Benedict XVI’s Message for Lent 2008 2008

(excerpt)(excerpt) ““For this year’s Lenten Message, I wish to spend some time For this year’s Lenten Message, I wish to spend some time

reflecting on the practice of almsgiving, which represents a reflecting on the practice of almsgiving, which represents a specific way to assist those in need and, at the same time, specific way to assist those in need and, at the same time, an exercise in self-denial to free us from attachment to an exercise in self-denial to free us from attachment to worldly goods. The force of attraction to material riches and worldly goods. The force of attraction to material riches and just how categorical our decision must be not to make of just how categorical our decision must be not to make of them an idol, Jesus confirms in a resolute way: “You cannot them an idol, Jesus confirms in a resolute way: “You cannot serve God and mammon” (serve God and mammon” (Lk Lk 16,13). Almsgiving helps us to 16,13). Almsgiving helps us to overcome this constant temptation, teaching us to respond overcome this constant temptation, teaching us to respond to our neighbor’s needs and to share with others whatever to our neighbor’s needs and to share with others whatever we possess through divine goodness.” we possess through divine goodness.”

To read the entire message please visit the following link:To read the entire message please visit the following link:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/dochttp://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20071030_lent-2008_en.htmluments/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20071030_lent-2008_en.html

How long is the season of How long is the season of Lent?Lent?

The season of Lent The season of Lent is is fortyforty days long days long not not counting counting Sundays.Sundays.

What is the Biblical meaning What is the Biblical meaning for the number forty?for the number forty?

In the biblical sense forty is In the biblical sense forty is a time ofa time of purification purification and and preparation.preparation.

A. It took forty years for A. It took forty years for Israel to get ready and Israel to get ready and enter the promised Land.enter the promised Land.

B. It took forty days and B. It took forty days and forty night for the earth to forty night for the earth to be purified from sin in the be purified from sin in the story of the flood.story of the flood.

C. Jesus C. Jesus prayed forty days prayed forty days and forty nights to prepare and forty nights to prepare for his public ministryfor his public ministry..

What is discipleship?What is discipleship? Discipleship is the Discipleship is the

process of process of learning to learning to be a be a discipledisciple..

The word disciple The word disciple means “means “student”student”..

Student is the one who Student is the one who learnslearns from the from the master.master.

Discipleship Discipleship is learning is learning to be like to be like ChristChrist..

How do we learn to be like How do we learn to be like Christ?Christ?

A. Study Christ’s A. Study Christ’s teachingsteachings..

B. Let Christ’s B. Let Christ’s teachings affect teachings affect your your lifelife..

C. C. FollowFollow Christ’s Christ’s teachingsteachings

D. D. WitnessWitness Christ’s teachings Christ’s teachings in your life and in in your life and in the worldthe world..

Reflection from Reflection from “The Cost of Discipleship”“The Cost of Discipleship”

"Christianity without discipleship is "Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. It always Christianity without Christ. It remains an abstract idea, a myth remains an abstract idea, a myth which has a place for the Fatherhood which has a place for the Fatherhood of God, but omits Christ as the living of God, but omits Christ as the living Son. … There is trust in God, but no Son. … There is trust in God, but no following of Christ." following of Christ."

Dietrich BonhoefferDietrich Bonhoeffer

What is the Color of Lent?What is the Color of Lent?

The liturgical color The liturgical color of Lent is of Lent is purple.purple.

Purple is a Purple is a symbol symbol of of Penance.Penance.

What story is read the first What story is read the first Sunday of Lent?Sunday of Lent?

The story of Jesus The story of Jesus being being temptedtempted in in the desert.the desert.

The story is found in The story is found in Matthew 4:1-11Matthew 4:1-11

What are the three universal What are the three universal temptations?temptations?

A. The temptation for A. The temptation for pleasurepleasure regardless of the regardless of the consequences.consequences.

B. The temptation for B. The temptation for power;power; the need to control the need to control and dominate others. and dominate others.

C. The temptation for C. The temptation for popularitypopularity, the need to , the need to be greater than God. Self-be greater than God. Self-idolatry.idolatry.

Like Jesus, We must avoid Like Jesus, We must avoid these trappings in every these trappings in every day life.day life.

Why are Sundays not counted Why are Sundays not counted during Lent?during Lent?

Because Sunday Because Sunday is is the day of the the day of the ““resurrection”resurrection”..

For Christians For Christians every Sunday is every Sunday is like a like a mini mini EasterEaster..

What is the climax of the What is the climax of the season of Lent?season of Lent?

The climax of the season The climax of the season of Lent is of Lent is Holy Week.Holy Week.

Holy Week begins on Holy Week begins on Palm SundayPalm Sunday and ends and ends with the with the Holy Triddum.Holy Triddum.

Triddum means: three Triddum means: three days. These days are:days. These days are:

Holy Thursday, Good Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday.Friday, Holy Saturday.

The Community of FaithThe Community of Faith During Lent parishes expand the During Lent parishes expand the

opportunities for sacramental opportunities for sacramental confession. Don’t miss this confession. Don’t miss this opportunity.opportunity.

Also during Lent many parishes Also during Lent many parishes have penitential services and have penitential services and parish missions. Make plans to parish missions. Make plans to attend.attend.

Lent is great time for devotion and Lent is great time for devotion and personal piety. This is a great personal piety. This is a great opportunity to pray the stations of opportunity to pray the stations of the cross and meditate on the the cross and meditate on the Lord’s passion.Lord’s passion.

Lent is a great opportunity to go Lent is a great opportunity to go on a retreat. Contact your local on a retreat. Contact your local diocese and find out what retreats diocese and find out what retreats are taking place in your diocese. are taking place in your diocese. Invite others to come along.Invite others to come along.

Resources onlineResources online

The U.S. Bishops’ conference has The U.S. Bishops’ conference has great online resources for this Lenten great online resources for this Lenten season. season.

Their link is:Their link is:

http://www.usccb.org/lent/http://www.usccb.org/lent/

Thomas Merton’s PrayerThomas Merton’s PrayerMY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am that I am following your will does not mean that I am

actually doing so. actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in But I believe that the desire to please you does in

fact please you. fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that I hope that I will never do anything apart from that

desire. desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the

right road though I may know nothing about it. right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem

to be lost and in the shadow of death. to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will

never leave me to face my perils alone. never leave me to face my perils alone.

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