Lent begins Wednesday with ashes distributed at four Masses, 6:30, 8, Noon, and 7 pm. This year we shake things up a bit as we will have stations at noon each Friday. As this time is the most attended on Ash Wednesday, so on Fridays we hope it is available for those who can break from work nearby.
During Lent, Fr. Meyer and I have shaken up the times when we will be available in the confessional this season. Besides the standard weekly Saturday afternoon confessions at 3:45 – 4:45, one or both of us will be available, at varied times some. We will publish those times next week. We are not planning a general Penance Service this year, but thought it helpful to allow more individual confession slots. There will be general penance services at a couple of neighboring parishes– where many of the local priests will be available.
Ash Wednesday is a special day of discipline. The rules of fast and abstinence are as follows,
Ash Wednesday (Wednesday March 1, 2017) and Good Friday (April 14, 2017) are days of
abstinence for all Catholics over the age of 14. On these two days, fast, as well as abstinence,
is also obligatory for those from the ages of 18-59. Abstinence means refraining from meat. Fast
means one full meal a day, with two smaller meals and nothing between meals (liquids are
permitted). No Catholic will lightly excuse himself or herself from this obligation.
All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence from meat. Here again Catholics will not hold
themselves lightly excused, but if there is a serious health problem, this obligation would not
apply.
We should strive to make all days of Lent a time of prayer and penance. Following are several
resources that can aid in finding different forms of prayer and penance.
Living the Eucharist Lenten program: http://www.livingtheeucharist.org/.
Best Lent Ever daily reflections from Dynamic Catholic: http://dynamiccatholic.com/bestlentever/#signup
USCCB: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/prayer-resources-for-lent.cfm
Please also take the time to visit http://www.archstl.org/bible to follow the events surrounding The Saint John’s Bible here in St. Louis for the year.
Lent is a Season of reflection, penance, fasting, and service.