Practical Tips for Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It begins six weeks of attempting to deepen our relationship with Jesus, Lent is the prelude for the celebration of his passion, death, and resurrection that saved all humankind, including you. Usually people give up things as their Lenten practice, things like candy and TV. All […]

The Cross of Christ, a Redeeming Symbol

On Ash Wednesday, people around the world will have a cross traced on their foreheads with ashes. It is a sign of death, but also of new life, thanks to Christ. My favorite crucifix used to hang in Cleveland Benedictine’s St. Andrew Abbey. It showed Jesus on the cross … but he was leaping off […]

A Lenten Resurrection and the Pieta

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday! What happened? It seems like I just put away the Christmas decorations. As I get older, time seems to be on fast forward. As we edge toward Lent, it’s time to decide what we will make of it this year. How will we invigorate our spiritual selves? Repeat our New […]

Ash Wednesday and Evangelization

A mom once told me that her four-year-old came home from school on Ash Wednesday with ashes on his forehead. When she asked, “Who gave them to you?” he said, “God.” “And what did God look like?” she asked. “Well, he wore a purple dress and had white hair,” the boy responded. Ash Wednesday and […]

A Prayer Method to Jumpstart Our Spiritual Life

Ash Wednesday. This is an auspicious day to begin blogging. The whole Church is entering Lent, the season intended to be a new spring. We hope to revitalize our spiritual life and strengthen our relationship with God. My goal in writing this blog each week is to be a midwife for others as they try […]