Divine Mercy Novena

Hello beautiful women,

I pray that we all have a reflective Good Friday as we head into the joyous Easter Season!

This morning, my almost mother-in-law reminded me that the Divine Mercy Novena is starting today as we are nine days out from Divine Mercy Sunday.  I will be joining her in praying this Novena every day for the next nine days.  Just thought I would post this in case anyone else is interested.

Here is a link for what to pray for each day: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#1

Blessings of Peace and Joy be with you!

Feelings

Yesterday Father Jim spoke some powerful words in his homily that really hit home in a way I didn't expect.

His point was this:  The way YOU feel about the presence (or lack of) of God in your life IN NO WAY determines God's actual presence.  Jesus was despairing in the garden, and despairing on the cross, but he KNEW that God was there with him.  Even if he didn't feel the presence, he knew God was there.

I sometimes rely on my feelings of God's presence more than I realize.  I think that if I am not feeling this overwhelming warmth and direction, like I have experienced, that God must not be that close.  But the truth is, REGARDLESS of my FEELINGS, He is always right here.  His presence surrounds me all the time, every day.

(Happy Holy Week)

Serenity, Courage and Wisdom

God grant me the serenity to accept the thing that I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.......Anxiety is the opposite of grace.....I think that if I had to pick 2 prayers or phrases that I most often turn to in times of stress, confusion, frustration, embarrassment, disappointment, lack of understanding, regret [which I guess despite my fervent claims that I do not regret things, if I am truly honest with myself, there are things that I regret. I just am grateful for the lessons learnt because of the choices made, which is an entirely different thing.....back on task!] it would be those two things. My grandmother had a stained glass triptych-like thing that was in her bathroom that had the first prayer on it. You see, her husband was an alcoholic and from what she told us that was one of the prayers that her in the support program. It was perfect because the first panel was this beautiful image of a dove kissing the golden letters of "God" that are surrounded by warm blue glass, making a rich juxtaposition of light, dark, warmth, cool and all very simple. The next panel has, you guessed it, the word "courage" made from red glass fortified with a structure [that never made sense to me] but the overall feeling was that of true ability to accomplish that which needed to be done. And the final panel was written in script, clear glass with blue? Maybe it had once been black but being in the sun turned it blue, but it was lightly written while also being very purposeful and beautiful: Wisdom to know the difference.

Today "help us to set our affections on things above, not on the passing vanities of this world" really stuck out to me. Vainly, [har har, get it?] I have never really thought that I had difficulty focusing my eyes on God, but in truth my affections are not always properly positioned. I wish I could take that triptych with me wherever I went. I honestly don't know where it went---my grandmother's house burned down two December's ago and I believe that it was there [where else would it have been?]. But even without it, that image, those words, they make me stop in my tracks. Close my eyes. Refocus my thoughts on where they should be: things above.

Walk humbly

So, I don't know if any of you have heard the song "Courageous" by Casting Crowns.  If you haven't, you should listen to it.  I had heard it a few times on the radio.  When I was getting ready for some driving last weekend I decided to buy the song on itunes with some leftover gift card money I had from Christmas.  Well, as I listened to the song a few times, I realized that it was calling men to be courageous in our society.  Regardless of who the song was aimed for, I found inspiration in it as well.  The ending of the song loops these words: "Seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God."
"You have been told, O mortal, what is good,
and what the Lord requires of you:
Only to do justice and to love goodness
and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Today I am going to meditate specifically over the meaning of "walk humbly with your God."

Zumba: Good for the Soul

Lent for me has been very interesting. I began it with the best intentions, trying to really deepen my relationship with God and be transformed by Easter. Now, halfway through, I couldn't feel further from that goal. I have actually been feeling rather discouraged. I've even taken up a terrible habit as of late: one of comparison. For the first time in my life, I have been comparing all aspects of my life to others...not a good idea. I walk around thinking I am not smart enough, pretty enough, thin enough, holy enough, kind enough...etc. Particularly, I have been feeling so frustrated with my Lenten progress, thinking I have been failing and merely wasting away this time of Lent. The whole thing is ridiculous, I admit; it's like gossiping, but in reverse, because the person I am talking poorly about is myself. And despite my prayers, the comparisons and feelings of inadequacy continue. 


Fast forward to this afternoon, when I and my roommate are the ONLY ONES in Zumba class. I love Zumba, despite the fact that I am not a dancer, at all (fact!). So, there I was, with just my roommate and the instructor- who is obviously very talented and fluid in her movements. It was as if God was putting all my discouragement and feelings of inadequacy right in front of me, in a rather silly way that made me confront them. And it was beautiful. Nothing drastic happened, but right there, in Zumba class, I began to think about just how ridiculous I was being. God loves me, for me. Despite how inadequate I feel. And although I can't "feel" God transforming me this Lent, He is. He is right by my side, always, despite these continual "tempting thoughts" to tear myself down. And I even began to see my "frustrations" with my Lenten progress as a blessing--it's Jesus' unique way of allowing me to share in His suffering. So, although I am sure I will still be tempted to compare myself to others (and find myself falling short), God taught me something very important today, and I am excited to continue my Lenten journey with Him, recognizing my faults but being most aware of His enduring love. Zumba is good for the soul! :) 

But now, thus says the LORD,

who created you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name: you are mine.

When you pass through waters, I will be with you;

through rivers, you shall not be swept away.

When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned,

nor will flames consume you.

For I, the LORD, am your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your savior.

I give Egypt as ransom for you,

Ethiopia and Seba--in exchange for you.

Because you are precious in my eyes

and honored, and I love you,

I give people in return for you

and nations in exchange for your life.

(Isaiah 43: 1-4)

You've become my soul's delight

Part of my Lenten promise has to do with music which is why so many of my posts have had song lyrics attached.  I am in awe of how God led me to this Lenten promise, and has really spoken to me through these last few weeks.

Anyways, I was singing a worship song in my head when I woke up this morning.  I got into my car, turned on my music, and the same song was playing through my CD player.  I think that God was trying to speak to me about direction this morning.  The song is called Running; here are some of the lyrics:
I am running, running after you.
You've become my soul's delight.
I am running, running after you.
Here with you I find my life.
One thing I have desired, this will I seek after
to dwell in your house forevermore.
Now, I'm running after, the things that really matter.
You've become my joy and song.

I was reminded of some specific times in my life when my soul has been so fervently running to my God and living with one sole purpose.  As these memories were unveiled, I thought also about the commitment that I am going to make to the man I Love in just a little more than two months.  While I might run down the aisle to my future husband on my wedding day, I know that what I am really running towards is a man who helps direct and strengthen my soul.  So many of my memories this morning were of times when he has witnessed for me his faith and trust in God.  I am so thankful to have been blessed with a man who will constantly challenge me to look carefully at where I am running. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywuP03l_hRk

Pilgrim path to heaven

As I read Elizabeth's entry about waiting and Liz's entry about the Communion of Saints that surround us every day, a true sense of comfort came over me.  Just knowing that the women on this blog are experiencing very different feelings and reflections this Lent makes me realize how similar and different our faith is.  It sounds so very contradictory.  As Catholics, we have the same routines that create a unity between us all no matter where you are in the country or in the world.  We can go to Mass in Italy and still generally understand what is going on around us.  However, our individual relationships with God are so different...at least how we view them.  Some of us talk to Him in a very formal manner, some are extremely free and speak to Him like a best bud, but we all find some comfort in Him.

Today, I am trying so hard to just remember the Communion of Saints, the community around me, and the relationship I have with God above.  We are on our "Pilgrim path to Heaven" and we have to make the choices along that path.  This is the second time in over a year that a priest has been removed from the priesthood in my life.  Today, there are so many questions going through my head and so much anger, but instead of letting that anger thrive, I'm working on my relationship with God.  These are the times that Satan thrives.  He feeds on these moments and wants nothing more than to bring us Christians down.

I'm reminded of C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters. Lewis satirizes Satan and writes from his perspective.  “We want the Church to be small not only that fewer men know the Enemy but also that those who do may acquire the uneasy intensity and the defensive self-righteousness of a secret society or a clique.” Well, Satan, you're not getting me this time.  I am a Catholic Christian and I'm proud of it. 

Waiting behind the train

So, this morning I was walking to work, and I got stuck behind a long train.  For those of you who have spent some time in Harrisonburg, you know this feeling well.  Luckily, I left my house 30 minutes early, so I didn't have to worry about being late... this time.  As I stood watching the train go by, one car at a time, I got to thinking.

In so many seasons of life I feel as though I am waiting.  I am waiting to know which decision to make next, or what job I will have, or where I should go.  Especially in transition periods of life, I am praying and asking God to reveal His plan.  Sometimes I don't understand the answer to my questions until I am already fully immersed in something.  Sometimes I feel like I never understand the answer.

But sometimes, God sends a big train right in front of me that I have to stand behind and watch and wait.  Often times, there are messages on the train, and God gives us the time to wait and ponder these messages as the rest of the train passes.  I think sometimes I get so caught up in asking for a "sign" of some sort that I miss the big obvious messages on the train right in front of me.

Here's to keeping my eyes WIDE OPEN today.

Teach us, O God.

Hello everyone! I'm sorry Lent is almost halfway over and I am just now writing in this blog- I've been so busy with immersion week, where I went to my education practicum in a kindergarten class every day for a week, and then a week of volunteering at a school in the Bronx during spring break. But I've been saying/ meditating on our prayer every day, sometimes a few times a day, and it has been really powerful for me!

These past two weeks of experience in the classroom were really important, but not in the ways I thought they would be. I went in looking to learn more about being a teacher, to improve my classroom management skills, to understand child psychology better... But I ended up learning more myself than my students did.

The kids in the Bronx have it so rough. The poverty, violence, and just general depression of those streets are not something I can accurately describe with words. These children didn't ask to be poor. They didn't ask to be born addicted to drugs because their mothers were addicts and used while they were pregnant. They didn't desire to live in a place where they couldn't go outside to play because it's too dangerous. And there I was, worrying when a few kids were speaking out of turn and disrupting the lesson I was trying to teach.

In the grand scheme of things this is nothing. The tiny details of life are not important. In fact, nothing in this life is truly of importance with the exception of love. God is building up His incredible kingdom, and out of love, He is using these impoverished, broken, abused, neglected, lonely children. All that matters is that I learn to love Him, and them through Him, and together we will walk out of the empty promises of this world into a world that is only love.

I went to the Bronx to teach math, English, history, science, art, music... But our Teacher wants us to learn only one subject. Education is so important in this world, and you should of course always have your mind open to learning. But to be ready for our new, eternal, and perfect life with Christ, we must open our hearts instead so that God can teach us to love as He loves.

In Good Company

As I prayed our pilgrim prayer today the line that stuck out to me was "...in the company of your faithful people..."   I had dinner last night with one of my best friends and her husband.  They are very wonderful, holy people, and one of my favorite things about hanging out with them is that they love to talk about the Catholic faith and the church (they are evangelical Christians).  One of the things they asked me about yesterday was the saints--they wondered if there were some I knew about, if I had studied them, how I approached them, and they shared that they really liked the idea of the saints and all of their inspirational stories.  I am sure I gave them way more than they anticipated hearing... I basically exploded stories about St. Therese, St. Francis, St. Catherine, St. Gianna, every St. Elizabeth I know... 

The discussion made me so grateful for the communion of saints.  We are so blessed by their examples, and their prayers and we don't even realize it!  We do not walk this pilgrim's path alone, not by a long shot.  We are surrounded, and lifted up by the beautiful saints.  Even when our earthly friends and family members don't spur us on to holiness, or when we are physically alone, they are there interceding for us.  It gives me courage and joy and hope to know that we are in such good company this Lent, and always.   

Transfiguration

So, today the Gospel reading in Church was the Transfiguration of Jesus.  (Mark 9:2-10)  The deacon spoke today and started out with a little history lesson before asking the congregation how often we are transfigured in our lifetime.  I think that everyone's mind was saying, "That has never, and probably will never happen to me."  But the deacon continued:  When you are baptized, your are wearing a "dazzling white" garment and your body and spirit are cleansed and transformed.  Every time you receive the Eucharist, your body and spirit are transformed.  When you are married, the bride is in a "dazzling white" garment and two lives become one.  The lives of the bride and groom are transformed.  A person receiving Holy Orders does so in a "dazzling white" garment and their body and spirit are transformed.  Finally, after you die, a "dazzling white" garment is placed over the coffin to prepare you for the journey of transformation into eternal life.

Wow.  There are all of these opportunities to be transformed in body and spirit in my life.  All of these small transformations lead up to eternal life.  I go through a pilgrimage of small transformations before reaching my final destination.  Today I am going to focus my prayer and meditation on this verse: "And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them."  What a beautiful sight.  But, this sight is no longer so far out of reach.  I recall my own baptism, approaching the Eucharistic table as I have so many times in my life, and the preparations I am going through to be a bride in "dazzling white"  in only a couple months.

We Become What We Worship

Blessed Sacrament is offering a video series by Fr. Robert Barron about Catholicism. Last night was the first session and my husband and I both attended.  It was an amazing session about the identity of Jesus. One of the things that he said that really stuck with me is that "we become what we worship."  I think Lenten sacrifices are a great way to take a look at what our objects of worship are and re-focus our sights on the Lord. This Lent I am I spending less time on the internet in the evenings and more time being present with my family and caring for my house. I am reminding myself that if I am to become what I worship, that I should be aiming for holiness and union with God; not emulating people I have never met that I read about on a blog.  I need to be more focused on my own life and not on Facebook.  I am actually loving this "sacrifice" that I am making because I can see tangible evidence of it making me a better wife, mother, friend, and person.  Have a wonderful weekend!!

PS--I tried thsi recipe this week and if you are looking for something cheap, healthy and delicious to add to your meatless dinners; you have to try this:

Corn and Black Bean Quesadillas

• 1 can of black beans (drain off the clear liquid)
• 1 cup of frozen corn
• 1 package of taco seasoning mix
• 2 cups of shredded cheese
• flour tortillas

Mix first four ingredients together.  Put 1/4 cup of filling inside a tortilla, fold in half and cook in a frying pan.  This recipe makes about 10 quesadillas. Delicious!!

Made for Another World

"If I discover within myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."  C.S. Lewis

I have this as a "sticky note" on the background of my computer, so I read it just about every day.  Today, I felt the need to share.

Stations

This afternoon, I took the opportunity to attend stations of the cross. While I'd love to say that this was an choice, it was one of those "requirements" for school. Check!

Well...God surely spoke to me in the repetition of a few phrases: Jesus Died on the cross to save us from our sins. Jesus rose from the dead to give us new life. Jesus, thank you for loving us so much.

It's as simple as that...Jesus did all of this: this journey, this fast, this death...for us. My Lenten promise is to work on my word choice. Am I always speaking as Jesus would? Am I always representing Christianity through my words? While it's difficult at times, it is okay to fall. Jesus, thank you for loving us so much that you can forgive me even in a time of repentance. Thank you for giving us new life. Thank you for saving me from my sins. Please continue to watch over me and give me opportunities to strengthen.

Family

A few days ago my future mother-in-law emailed me this paragraph from her scripture study.  I have read the words over quite a few times now and I find such amazing comfort within them.  Right now, I live two and a half hours away from my parents and sister, even farther from both of my brothers, and two hours from my soon-to-be husband.  While I have an amazing community in Harrisonburg, I can't help but miss my family.  But this paragraph is about our unchanging, heavenly family.  No matter where I am, in the presence of my earthly family or not, I can feel my heavenly family's arms around me.  As I walked to work this afternoon, the sun was so bright and warm for the first time in a while.  I couldn't help but feel the arms of my Father, Brother, and Mother reaching down to hold me.  As I journey, I need to remember my family that always was, always is, and always will be.


"We learn from this first lesson that trials are meant for something greater than the angst they cause, and temptations cannot only be met head on but also overcome.  Whatever obstacles may come our way, be assured that you have a glorious family support network to meet you in the midst of your challenges and cheer you on: your loving heavenly Father; your older brother, Jesus; the power of the Holy Spirit; Mary; and all your spiritual siblings, the Saints."  (Came from the Catholic Scripture Study, Epistle of St. James, Chapter One Introduction)

The Leader of the Pack

Little heirs of the Kingdom of Love,
You come to earth to acquire virtues that enable you to
be happy in eternal life.
Each of you is so much more than your corporeal substance.
That you will rejoice for all eternity in my presence 
As we praise and thank our Father for His great love for each of us.


Allow me to take you to Jesus now dear little children.
He has much to teach you in these final days.
Find him in the quiet of your hearts.
He is everywhere that you go.
The cosmos cannot contain Him.
Jesus is Heaven.
Peace little children.
Come with me now in peace to Jesus.
He awaits you...


-Excerpt from: The Secrets of Mary...

I love this, she is calling to us for Him. This excerpt is from The Secrets of Mary: Gifts from the Blessed Mother, it is a much longer prayer and just as beautiful, but these parts resonated in me.  The Lenten Season is such a complex and passionate journey-there is so much emotion and growth to embody. In fact, it is such a paradox to our Human Condition. Here we are faced with a time that encompasses such great sadness with such great joy. Our brains are not equipped to understand that battle. We all sit so scared of death, yet, we all know the triumph that comes forth. We are here to LIVE to DIE and it is only in DEATH that we understand what it means to LIVE. This humbles me during this time of sacrifice.  Mary said "Yes" to the most significant creation of human life (talk about a loaded question). Mary said "yes" to the birth of our Savior, but don't disregard her "yes" to the death of her son. I am encouraged this season to walk with our Mother Mary, I have so much to learn from her. For she truly understands the paradox of life and death. 

The Psalms

Hey y'all,

I hope these past few days have been fruitful for you.

I don't want to make a new post everyday for the Psalms if any of you are praying them with me so I will edit this post throughout Lent to update you on the Psalm you are to be praying. I'm almost positive Daniel is following the lectionary but I'm not sure which one, and I think he makes changes to it.

Also if anyone is praying the psalms and wants to discuss maybe something that came up while praying either write a post, comment on this, or write your reflection directly in here :)

Date:    2/23/12  

Psalm: 1

Reflection:   I was struck by the imagery of the stream, and water. I try to remember my baptism, as it is so important, so this Psalm really reminded me of this.  Also it reminded me of how thirsty we get during this lenten season for Jesus.  We can get thirsty waiting. - Heather - 

Date: 2/24/12

Psalm: 8

Reflection:  A few years ago I went on a cross country road trip with some of my friends.  We were camping near Arches National Park in Utah, and we had crawled into our tent, ready to settle in for the night.  For some reason or another, one of us needed something out of the car, and proceeded to get out of the tent.  At the beckoning of the other, the 2 of us still in the tent came out and saw the most beautiful night sky I have ever seen.  The air was crisp, and the sky was blanketed in the brightest stars.  Psalm 8 reminds me of these moments when I am in complete awe of Creation.  - Elizabeth - 

Date: 2/26/12
Psalm: 25:1-10
Reflection:                                                       

Date: 2/28/12
Psalm:
Reflection:       

Ash Wednesday

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to Ash Wednesday mass at the cathedral here in Richmond. It was kind of a crazy day: I had an interview at 9a, I had to work at 10a, I had a theatre showcase at 7p. The only real time that I had to be able to go to mass was the middle of the day: 12:15p mass at the cathedral. Check! It was hectic getting there, and as I walked in and found my seat, I mentally planned how I was going to leave early [after communion] so I could get back to work on time. 12:15 rolled around an good old Nick Stein walks up to the podium:

Our hearts are with the VCU community this day. As many of you probably saw/read in the news, there was a car accident last night involving 3 VCU students, who also happened to be members of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart/VCU CCM community. 2 of the three students are at MCV and are doing alright, but last night during surgery, Carolina Perez passed away. She was a member of the Leadership Council here at CCM and an important part of this community. Tonight there will be a rosary service said in her honor after the 7p mass. She was the leader of the Rosary ministry here at VCU. There are counselors available.....

Shhhhuuuuooooccckkkmmmmm. All thoughts in my mind stopped. I was struck with utter sadness. There were students throughout the cathedral softly crying, and a few people who were having difficulty catching their breath; a lump rose in my throat. How short life is. For whatever reason, I've always thought that a certain amount of time is guaranteed. I've never had a definite number, but there's some threshold that exists. Even as I've grown older, this notion that these children that I love dearly have so much time, my parents, my sisters, my friends---we're all in the midst, not close to the end. To my credit, I have sought to live with purpose each day, but not enough [to be frank]. On this pilgrimage, every single breath is a gift. I don't think I've ever conceptualized what that means to the extent that this moment propelled me to do. I make no promises to never need to re-learn/re-realize this Truth, but it has sufficiently woken me up.
As Emily in Thornton Wilder's brilliant Our Town wisely says,

"Does any human ever realize life while they live it? --every, every minute?" 

I think in the perspective of the pilgrimage, each moment on the journey [or contemplating about the journey] is a bestowal, filled with intricacies, nuggets of sagacity, opportunities for growth and expansion and change and challenge. Who would have thought?
My heart and prayers continue to go out to the VCU community. May her memory be eternal!

What are you worth?

I have $20 I would like to give you.  Do you want it?  Before you take it, I have to tell you that it is crumpled up and torn in a few places. People have written on it and it is missing a corner.  Do you still want it?  Of course you do!! It's 20 bucks!  It doesn't matter what it looks like, it is still worth $20.  The paper and ink that make up the substance of that bill are actually quite worthless. The only reason that money has value is because of the gold that the U.S. treasury backs it up with. 

It is the same with us.  The collection of cells that we are made up of have very little value without the backing of God.  He is who gives us our worth.  And some days we are pretty crumpled. Torn. Missing pieces. Be we still have value. Because we are His.  He created us in his image and our value and worth is a reflection of Him.  Our value does not come from ourselves. It comes from Him who created us.

We are not worthy; but we are priceless.

Not So Crazy Days

Today has been a very long day for me, and I have not stopped moving from class to work since very early this morning.  Last night I told my fiancee that it was going to be a "Crazy Day."  However, I have felt so loved and blessed today as I made the journey into Lent.  The homily I heard this morning reminded me that this time of repentance and sacrifice in Lent is not about me.  It is not about me focusing on my sins and begging for pity while I am fasting.  This is a time to recognize the ABUNDANT GRACE of God, our Almighty Father.  God is ready to forgive and move past our faults, so that we can take clearer, more precise steps toward our Heavenly destination.  Wow.  As I reflect on the prayer this line: "in the way of holiness" is jumping off the page at me.  Probably because Refiners Fire was sung at Mass this morning.  All day long I have been singing these few lines in my head:

"My heart's one desire

is to be holy.

Set apart for you, Lord.

I choose to be holy."

I will choose to accept the abundant Grace my Father is offering and I will choose to be holy, set apart, this Lent.  While today may have been a "Crazy Day" on the surface, my heart was so peaceful and calm because of the message God sent.  When I leave work tonight and crawl into bed I will ask God to "Purify my heart, Cleanse me from within, and make me HOLY."

Praying the Psalms

I'm almost postive only like 3 people reading this blog know me so let me do a quick intro to say I'm a first year Duke Divinity Student. I'm studying to become a Deacon in the United Methodist Church and feel specifically called to disabilities ministry. Th

Praying through the Psalms is a spiritual discipline that I had started after Thanksgiving for my Old Testament class. It was a graded assignment to begin with since we had to keep a journal discussing literary imagery, allusions to OT and NT blah blah blah. (It is interesting but not important) SOOO for Lent my fiancee (so strange to say because we got engaged this past weekend) are praying through the Psalms together and I'd like to invite you ladies to take on this spiritual discipline if you are still looking to start a new one.

Praying the Psalms sounds WAY more intimidating than it is, you can do it I promise. Everyday I will pray the prayer that we're all praying together. I'll read through the Psalm once and reflect. I keep a journal when praying so I will scribble words or images that jump out at me. I will read it again and then go where the Spirit leads. Somedays I find hymns to sing that relate to the Psalm, other days I pray for people who relate to the Psalm, and other times I journal about the Psalm and how it has affected me. One thing I was confronted with when reading the Psalms was the anger found in them, I encourage you to read Psalms from another persons perspective when you encounter Psalms that are not clicking for you. (as in reading the psalm as a marginalized individual, country, sexual identity)

Todays Psalm is Psalm 51 and a hymn to go along with it is my favorite hymn Wash me Throughly by Charles Wesley:

Love in Him,
Heather Hincher

Lenten Ideas for Kids

The Religious Education Coordinator at my church (Blessed Sacrament in Harrisonburg) gave these calendars out this past weekend for the children. There are 42 ideas of things to do during Lent. Some of them involve giving something up for the day, some of them are Bible readings or prayers and some of them are kind gestures toward others.  They are not necessarily meant to be done chronologically and they will not last you all the way through Lent (because some of them are meant to be done on Sundays and Sundays are not counted in the 40 days of Lent).
You can see a copy of the PDF here.  I will also list the activities so you can make you own for your family.  I made a photocopy of the calendar and then will cut it up and let my kids pick out of the jar every morning. Then we will glue it back onto the original and try to fill up the calendar.
Here are the activities:

• Help your Mom or Dad with something without being told.
• Sit quietly for a few minutes and talk to God. Listen to God too
• Give up something you like today (TV, dessert)
• Add some of your own money to your Rice Bowl to help those who have little
• Say a prayer or World Peace
• Attend Stations of the Cross at your chuch
• Read KLuke 4:1-13
• Participate at Mass. Sing the songs and pray the prayers
• Say something nice about each family member at the dinner table
• Pray for all the people who may need a job
• Read Mark 1:12-15
• Call your Grandparents just to say "hello"
• Make a special treat and share it with someone else
• Say a family rosary together
• Read Matthew 18:21-35
• Tell family members you love them...out loud
• Write a letter to your Mom and Dad to thank them for their love for you
• Give up watching TV today
• Attend your parish's reconciliation service
• Forgive someone who had hurt you
• Play a game with your fmaily
• Shake hands with the priest or deacon after Mass
• Hug someone today
• Read a story about a Saint today
• Do not complain todya
• Help clean up after dinner
• Read John 8: 31-42
• Skip a favorite treat today
• Take a walk with your family
• Thank God for your family and your life
• Read John 5:1-18
• Draw a picture of Jesus and hang it on the refrigerator
• Do not yell or raise your voice in anger or frustration today
• Pray for the homeless
• Take out the trash without being told
• Attend Palm Sunday Mass. Talk with your family about what will happen to Jesus this week
• Smile at everyone you meet today...make a new friend
• Pray before you eat and ask God to take care of hungry people too. How can you help them?
• Take cookies to a neighbor
• Sleep without your pillow tonight. Pray for those who have no bed to sleep in or pillow to use
• Read Psalm 23 with your family-remember the Lord is your shepherd
• Make Easter cards to share with family and friends

 Any other ideas?  Share them in the comments.

Good questions

I came across these questions today and thought they were really helpful in focusing my discernment for what to "give up" for Lent.  I thought perhaps they might benefit you ladies as well! 

10 Questions to Ask Yourself
1. When I wake up on Resurrection Sunday morning, how will I be different?
2. From what do I need to repent?
3. Is there one particular sin in my life that repeatedly gets in the way of loving God with my whole heart or loving my neighbor as myself? How do I address that sin over the next 40 days?
4. Is there anyone in my life from whom I need to ask forgiveness or pursue reconciliation?
5. What distractions most commonly interfere with my time in prayer/Scripture?
6. What spiritual discipline do I need to improve upon or want to try?
7. What are some things in my life that I tell myself I need but I don’t?
8. Why am I giving this particular thing up? How does giving it up draw me closer to God and prepare me for Easter?
9. What am I going to tell myself when self-denial gets hard?
10. Is it necessary/helpful for me to share the nature my fast with others or should I keep it private? 



 They were found on this blog.

Welcome

We made not be geographically close this Lent, but we can journey together united in prayer.  As we pray this Pilgrim's Prayer for the entirety of Lent, let us share how the Spirit moves and works in us and those around us.  Let us make our steps purposeful on our journey.

Teach us, O God ,

to view our life here on earth

as a pilgrim’s path to heaven,

and give us grace to tread it courageously

in the company of your faithful people.

Help us to set our affections

on things above,

not on the passing vanities of this world,

and grant that as we journey on

in the way of holiness

we may bear a good witness to our Lord,

and serve all who need our help

along the way,

for the glory of your name. 

Amen