Catholic Faith Refresher Course

       The focus of this Season of Lent is the Cross and penance as we imitate Christ's forty days of fasting, like Moses and Elias before Him, and await the triumph of Easter. We fast, abstain from meat on certain days, mortify the flesh, give alms, and think more of charitable works. We ask ourselves "How might I make amends for my sins? How can I serve God in a reparative way? How can I serve others today?" We act upon the answers during Lent, and with holy hope, anticipate these changes to become permanent in our lives.

       We also practice mortifications by "giving up something" that would be a sacrifice to do without. The sacrifice could be anything from a food to television to an activity, and it can entail, too, taking on something unpleasant that we'd normally avoid, for example, going out of one's way to do another's chores, performing "random acts of kindness," etc. We would hope in this manner to give up an habitual sin.

More on the Holy Season of Lent will follow in the days to come.