We’re Lent 2008 already! Hopefully we will all have the best Lent ever–that we might have the best Easter ever.

Two things that outline what Lent is all about—-

The message of Ash Wednesday’s Gospel was basically: Don’t give alms, pray and fast for others to see. “Look how holy i am”. Rather, give alms, pray and fast, unconspiously, out of love for God who sees all things.

And from Gospel Reading of the second day of Lent:

And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it.
For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

Almsgiving, prayer and fasting, the three main practices of Lent, entail taking up the cross daily and following Jesus–losing our lived for his sake.

This year Our Lady of Lourdes’ feast day falls in Lent. Monday February 11th, will also be the 150th Anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions at Lourdes to St. Bernadette. It’s only fitting that it should because Lent is about doing penance and that is the heart of the message of Our Lady at Lourdes: “penance, penance, penance…do penance and pray for poor sinners”. And it was in Lourdes that I understood that carrying the cross with Jesus for poor sinners is a necessary part of this life that we might be happy-world-without-end in the next. Learn more about Lourdes 150th Anniversary and the special indulgence here.

Lent is living 40 days in the wilderness with Jesus. I’m entering into a 30 day retreat tomorrow right here in the house…please keep me in your prayers!

Our Lady of Lourdes pray for us!