LENT Starts Today!

Today, February 21st 2007, begins the amazing liturgical season of Lent. In the shadow of the Cross, we Catholics are asked to spend the next 40 days sacrificing, praying and contemplating just exactly what Jesus did for us all when he willingly gave up his life for us on the Cross.

Some folks look on Lent as a time of "sack cloth and ashes" where we mope around, denying ourselves of all pleasures and bemoaning our fate and that of the whole World.

This is aboslutely ridiculous -- Lent is a wonderful time for ME to reflect on my life and to spend the next 40 days preparing for the Lord's resurrection. Yes, I will deny myself things that I want to do -- but not for the denial itself, but for the chance for God to get to work and help me to do what He wants me to be busy with.

Some of the books I'll be reading over the next 40 days include:

• The Faith Explained by Fr. Leo J. Trese -- a wonderful, readable explanation of all things Catholic
• True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis Marie de Montfort -- a classic text about the Catholic devotion to Mary -- what is owed her and how best to show her our love
• Magnificat's Lenten Companion -- daily readings for Lent

For the kids, we'll be spending our after-dinner time doing family read-alouds rather than watching movies or dispersing. Lent is a wonderful time to spend with family, encouraging the values and togetherness so important in today's world.

Some of the read-alouds in the basket:

• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
• The Mitchells: Five for Victory , Canadian Summer, or Friendly Gables -- all by Hilda vanStockum
• The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
• Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
• Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong
• Mossflower by Brian Jacques (2nd in the Redwall series)

All of these books have good family values, are wonderful adventure stories and teach lessons without being too didactic. They also have the benefit of being such good stories most will want to listen!

So, please dear reader remember that Lent, although a time of penance and sacrifice, can also be a time of joy and getting rid of baggage that keeps us from being the people of Faith that God would have us be!