Today Catholics all over the world observed Ash Wedesday which is the beginning of Lent. I made it to the noon service and am really glad I went. One of my weak points is that I don’t always go to mass as often as I should. I will try to do better.
One of the questions I always ask myself is what am I going to either give up for Lent or try to incorporate into my life. I tend to stress eat so I think a good thing would be to try and not allow my self to eat under stress but to walk the dog. I thought about giving up smoking for Lent, yet, with my being sick I am not really smoking that much anyway and now that I can smoke again they taste awful so I may quit on my own.
I picked up a booklet at church today that I am sure that many Catholics have picked up to which is supposed to help us make this Lent a growing spiritual time for us. I started to fill that out.
I already pray the rosary and chaplet of Divine Mercy everyday, but I think I am going to try and make the Stations of the Cross and even try to make daily mass during Lent.
One thing I try to remember is that God knows I am far from perfect and make many mistakes but he looks at my heart. I feel really blessed to be a Catholic and to be part of such a wonderful church that helps me to be a better Christian. I liked what the Father talked about in being a positive force in the world and to keep trying to make a difference for good in the world and to fight those moral battles that must be fought and to always remember to live and act with honor, courage, compassion and to help others.
I pray that we as a church will love each other better and forgive each other of our faults and not judge each other. That we will try and put into practice the social teachings of Jesus and to be active in our faith as Catholics. I know alot of people don’t really like Vatician II but I think there was a lot of good that came out of it. Why shouldn’t we Catholics play an active role in issues that effect our generation? I think of the environment as one issue that is very important that we take an active role in.
Anyway, I am glad I went and was blessed to have gone to church again. I always feel so good when I go to mass.
