Lent 2015

This is an excerpt from Lent, The season of, Catholic Church Dictionary:

     For many reasons Forty is a Scriptural number.  Forty years the children of Israel were under discipline in the pilgrimage in the wilderness.  Moses fasted forty days in the mount.  Elijah was forty days in the wilderness.  Forty days the Ninevites fast and repent them their sins to avert judgement foretold  by the prophet Jonah.  And forty days did our Lord fast in the wilderness when about to enter upon His public ministry.
     From these references we learn that it is both Scriptural and helpful that this Season of Penitence should be prolonged for us, that bearing in mind these incidents of "forty years" and "forty days" of devotion and discipline which characterized the history of God's people, and also our Lord's example, we may be like minded in prayer, in discipline and in  turning to God.


Comment:

I was doing some research on Lent; when I came upon the definition of Lent in the Catholic Dictionary on line. The above is not the entire definition; you can go on line and find it. Being a seventy-two years old senior; I can assume that I have practiced the Lenten traditions for over forty years.
Anyways, seniors do not have to fast; except on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. But, that dose not mean that we are totally exempt. We can still do fasting or maybe some kind of penance. Here are some ideas that I came up with for anyone; not just for seniors.
Using the Scriptural number of 40:

    PRAY the Rosary. Four decades of the rosary equals 40 Hail Marys

    VOLUNTEER 40 minutes of your time, i.e. run an errand for an elderly neighbor,  baby-sit your grand children or a neighbor's  children.

     LISTEN to a family member, friend or neighbor who need  to talk about a problem. Show compassion.

     ATTEND a Lenten mission

     CONFESSION- Go  to confession and say some prayers while waiting on line.

I hope this inspires you as well as myself!

Peace + Blessings to all and remember.....

DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF HIM