THE THREE PILLARS OF LENT

PRAYER: Lent is a time to restore priorities in our life by making sure that God always comes first. Please consider attending daily Mass, making a good examination of conscience and confession, committing to a weekly hour of Eucharistic adoration, and praying the rosary as a family.

FASTING: Abstinence goes along with fasting as ways of strengthening our self-control and doing penance. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of both fasting and abstinence. All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. Fasting (one full meal and two smaller snacks not to equal a meal) is obligatory for all those ages 18-59. Abstinence from all meat products is binding on those age 14 and up.

ALMSGIVING: “Alms” are gifts we freely give to help others. These are not to be confused with “tithes” or “first fruits” which is the way the Bible speaks of the offerings made directly to God—now expressed in the fifth precept of the Church as “you shall help to provide for the needs of the Church” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2043). We are only able to give alms in charity after we satisfy in justice our Christian duty to support the work of the Church. Lent invites us to further stretch our generosity to help our brothers and sisters in need.