A Time Of Preparation and SpiritualGrowth

Adult Faith Formation - Learning

A Time Of Preparation and SpiritualGrowth

The liturgical use of ashes originated in the OldTestament times. Ashes symbolized mourning,mortality and penance. In the Book of Esther,Mordecai put on sackcloth and ashes when heheard of the decree of King Ahasuerus to killall of the Jewish people in the Persian Empire(Esther 4:1). Job repented in sackcloth andashes (Job 42:6). Prophesying the Babyloniancaptivity of Jerusalem, Daniel wrote, "I turnedto the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer,with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes" (Daniel 9:3).

The liturgical use of ashes originated in the OldTestament times. Ashes symbolized mourning,mortality and penance. In the Book of Esther,Mordecai put on sackcloth and ashes when heheard of the decree of King Ahasuerus to killall of the Jewish people in the Persian Empire(Esther 4:1). Job repented in sackcloth andashes (Job 42:6). Prophesying the Babyloniancaptivity of Jerusalem, Daniel wrote, "I turnedto the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer,with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes" (Daniel 9:3).

Jesus made reference to ashes, "If the miraclesworked in you had taken place in Tyre andSidon, they would have reformed in sackclothand ashes long ago" (Matthew 11:21).

Jesus made reference to ashes, "If the miraclesworked in you had taken place in Tyre andSidon, they would have reformed in sackclothand ashes long ago" (Matthew 11:21).

In the Middle Ages, the priest would bless thedying person with holy water, saying,"Remember that thou art dust and to dust thoushalt return." The Church adapted the use ofashes to mark the beginning of the penitentialseason of Lent, when we remember ourmortality and mourn for our sins.

In the Middle Ages, the priest would bless thedying person with holy water, saying,"Remember that thou art dust and to dust thoushalt return." The Church adapted the use ofashes to mark the beginning of the penitentialseason of Lent, when we remember ourmortality and mourn for our sins.

In our present liturgy for Ash Wednesday, weuse ashes made from the burned palmbranches distributed on the Palm Sunday of theprevious year. The priest blesses the ashes andimposes them on the foreheads of the faithful,making the sign of the cross and saying,"Remember, man you are dust and to dust youshall return," or "Turn away from sin and befaithful to the Gospel."

In our present liturgy for Ash Wednesday, weuse ashes made from the burned palmbranches distributed on the Palm Sunday of theprevious year. The priest blesses the ashes andimposes them on the foreheads of the faithful,making the sign of the cross and saying,"Remember, man you are dust and to dust youshall return," or "Turn away from sin and befaithful to the Gospel."

As we begin this holy season of Lent inpreparation for Easter, we must remember thesignificance of the ashes we have received: Wemourn and do penance for our sins. We againconvert our hearts to the Lord, who suffered,died, and rose for our salvation. We renew thepromises made at our baptism, when we diedto an old life and rose to a new life with Christ.Finally, mindful that the kingdom of this worldpasses away, we strive to live the kingdom ofGod now and look forward to its fulfillment inheaven.

As we begin this holy season of Lent inpreparation for Easter, we must remember thesignificance of the ashes we have received: Wemourn and do penance for our sins. We againconvert our hearts to the Lord, who suffered,died, and rose for our salvation. We renew thepromises made at our baptism, when we diedto an old life and rose to a new life with Christ.Finally, mindful that the kingdom of this worldpasses away, we strive to live the kingdom ofGod now and look forward to its fulfillment inheaven.

Lent is our time of preparation. During these 40 days, we ponder what it means

to “give up, take up and lift up.” Using thespiritual practices of prayer, fasting andalmsgiving, we deepen our relationship withChrist and discern where God is working inour lives.

As we begin our Lenten journey, we reflect onthose spiritual pillars that will help bring usinto a deeper relationship with God.

Lent is our time of preparation. During these 40 days, we ponder what it means

to “give up, take up and lift up.” Using thespiritual practices of prayer, fasting andalmsgiving, we deepen our relationship withChrist and discern where God is working inour lives.

As we begin our Lenten journey, we reflect onthose spiritual pillars that will help bring usinto a deeper relationship with God.

The season of Lent is the Church’s preparationfor Easter, a liturgical season of forty days.

The number forty pays a key role in severalpassages of both the Old Testament and theNew Testament.

The Gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke all tellus that Jesus spent forty days in the desert afterhis baptism in the Jordan River .

The season of Lent is the Church’s preparationfor Easter, a liturgical season of forty days.

The number forty pays a key role in severalpassages of both the Old Testament and theNew Testament.

The Gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke all tellus that Jesus spent forty days in the desert afterhis baptism in the Jordan River .

“Jesus …. Was led by the Spirit into the desertfor forty days to be tempted by the devil”((Luke 4:1-2)

Jesus experience in the desert reminds us of theIsraelites who were freed from Egyptianslavery only to wander in the desert for fortyyears on their way to the Promised Land.During that time they were tempted and theysinned.

“Jesus …. Was led by the Spirit into the desertfor forty days to be tempted by the devil”((Luke 4:1-2)

Jesus experience in the desert reminds us of theIsraelites who were freed from Egyptianslavery only to wander in the desert for fortyyears on their way to the Promised Land.During that time they were tempted and theysinned.

But when the devil tempted Jesus, he did notgive in to temptation . Because of his.faithfulness to God, Jesus overcame thetemptations he faced.

In a sense, Lent is a desert experience for eachof us. It is a time when we step away from theworld and reflect in prayer.

But when the devil tempted Jesus, he did notgive in to temptation . Because of his.faithfulness to God, Jesus overcame thetemptations he faced.

In a sense, Lent is a desert experience for eachof us. It is a time when we step away from theworld and reflect in prayer.

It’s important to take time to reflect on howYou’re living your faith. These are themoments God’s voice comes to us the clearest.

Preparing for Easter during Lent by refocusingour lives on God makes us read to take part inthe Easter celebration.

It’s important to take time to reflect on howYou’re living your faith. These are themoments God’s voice comes to us the clearest.

Preparing for Easter during Lent by refocusingour lives on God makes us read to take part inthe Easter celebration.

Prayer We pray for others in the global church. We

reflect on what type of person God calls us tobe, and we ask for his guidance in living up toour potential. There are many ways topray, and many individuals and communitiesthat need our prayers.

Prayer We pray for others in the global church. We

reflect on what type of person God calls us tobe, and we ask for his guidance in living up toour potential. There are many ways topray, and many individuals and communitiesthat need our prayers.

Fasting We fast, or give things up, as a reminder to

remove things in our lives that get in the wayof our relationship with God. When we feelhungry or choose not to eat the things we like,we are reminded that everything we have is agift from God. Our fasting also reminds us ofthose who do not have enough food, whoexperience hunger without a choice. God callseach of us to care for those who are in need.

Fasting We fast, or give things up, as a reminder to

remove things in our lives that get in the wayof our relationship with God. When we feelhungry or choose not to eat the things we like,we are reminded that everything we have is agift from God. Our fasting also reminds us ofthose who do not have enough food, whoexperience hunger without a choice. God callseach of us to care for those who are in need.

Giving We give alms with a spirit of generosity to our

brothers and sisters in need, honoring Jesus’call to serve our neighbors. This Lent, throughour sacrifices, we can empower and transformthe lives of our brothers and sisters in need.

Giving We give alms with a spirit of generosity to our

brothers and sisters in need, honoring Jesus’call to serve our neighbors. This Lent, throughour sacrifices, we can empower and transformthe lives of our brothers and sisters in need.

How to Practice Lent/ CRS Rice Bowl Crsricebowl.org/about/ How topractice Lent.

Stephen T. Rehrauer, CSR Provincial. Journey of Faith for Teen:Enlightenment. E2(826313). Denver. Liguori, 2016

Ash Wednesday – in Two Minuteshttp://bustedhalo.com/video/ash-

Wednesday-in –two-minutes

Ash Wednesday Movie - 3:15Sam Petershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAxtCfJ9SLk

Ash Wednesday – in Two Minuteshttp://bustedhalo.com/video/ash-

Wednesday-in –two-minutes

Ash Wednesday Movie - 3:15Sam Petershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAxtCfJ9SLk

Celebrate a Catholic Lent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkgHQGdPwMo

Journey Through Lent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkgHQGdPwMo

Celebrate a Catholic Lent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkgHQGdPwMo

Journey Through Lent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkgHQGdPwMo