Lent

Lent 2010

Working in charity for justice

February 17 – April 1

Lent extends over six weeks from Ash Wednesday morning till Holy Thursday evening.  It is the season wherein Christians prepare for the great festival of The Three Sacred Days. This is the feast of humanity’s salvation and its highpoint is the celebration of the Great Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night.

During Lent Christians let themselves be opened to God and to others, especially the poor. Charity expressed in justice is the measure of the Christian life, as Jesus himself said: “People will know that you are my disciples by your love for one another” (John 13:35).

We are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God. ...Now is the favourable time; this is the day of salvation

- 2 Corinthians 5:20; 6:2b

The following may contribute to your Lenten response.

Lenten resources

• Benedict XVI Lenten message

• Special Lenten articles by Fr. Bruce Duncan, C.Ss.R.         
  • Benedict XVI and climate change: What more should the Pope say about poverty and climate  change?  Click HERE to read the article
  • Did Pope Benedict’s encyclical “On Integral Development” go far enough?
    Click HERE to read the article

• Other  justice writings

• Special Lenten series from Fr. Kevin O’Shea, C.Ss.R.
  • Leading up to Easter Fr. Kevin O’Shea has prepared two series of reflections for Lent.
    Click HERE to read Fr. O’Shea’s introduction and to download your copy of his reflections.

• Lenten Penance – Invitation to Reality by Edmond Nixon, C.Ss.R.

• The way of the Cross – two contemporary renderings